Networking and Leadership Opportunities

At Rice Business, we emphasize co-curricular programming to enhance essential business skills. Through MBA networking events and leadership opportunities, our Professional MBA students gain valuable skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, strategic thinking and leadership.

You'll develop and practice those skills during your two years in the program, and connect with business leaders across industries.

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The Capstone Course gives Professional MBA students the opportunity to participate in a real-world applied learning activity outside of work and the traditional classroom. It brings together student teams and their professors to develop recommendations that can help grow community organizations.

The Capstone Course is required during the spring semester of your second year.

Past cases have included local community organizations such as: AAMA, Bering Omega, Collaborative for Children, Healthcare for Homeless, Hermann Park Conservancy, Historic Houston, Ibn Sina, KIPP, Neighborhood Centers Inc, Passport for Care, Rockwell Foundation and Shell Center for Sustainability.
Rice Business offers MBA students ample opportunities — including summits, conferences and competitions — to network with industry and business leaders. Some of the best examples are:
The Rice Business Board Fellows is a year-long experiential learning program that matches talented, energetic and committed Rice MBA students with local nonprofit boards to serve as nonvoting board members.

Both students and organizations benefit from the Board Fellows program. Students gain leadership skills and nonprofit experience. Organizations can utilize student energy and ideas.

Applying is required, and matches are based on skills, background and organizational needs, as well as student interests.
A health care specialization track is offered to Professional MBAs as an enhancement to your degree. This health care track is aimed at health care professionals working full time who are seeking to advance themselves in the industry. The health care courses are offered year round and supplement regular electives.
The Leader as Coach co-curricular program prepares you to be more proficient at an essential component of leadership – the ability to coach and develop individuals and teams.

The program is organized into 18 synchronous classroom hours, 12 self-study hours and six self-scheduled practice coaching sessions with other classmates. In-person instruction takes place across three modules that are six hours each.

From the Leader as Coach program, students learn to:
- Connect with people and create psychological safety.
- Partner with others to identify developmental goals and improve performance.
- Achieve sustainable change for individuals and teams.
- Elevate leadership with self-coaching tools.
“This has been one of the most transformational programs that I have participated in. My leadership journey before now was always focused on execution and problem solving, with less emphasis on the needs and development of people around me. Now, I am more present in my conversations, keen on the feelings and messages that people share with me. This change has not only been impactful at work and social settings, but more importantly at home.”

- Sujeev Chittipolu
Rice Business offers over 30 diversity, professional and social clubs for students to join.

These clubs aim to help students develop leadership skills, learn about various professions, build stronger relationships with each other, and foster a sense of community. Clubs allow students to follow their passion or try something new.
To succeed in a global economy, it is imperative to understand other cultures.

The Global Field Experience (GFE) is an adventurous, immersive program built into the core curriculum that opens minds and changes perspectives. Students apply what they learn in classes to consulting projects abroad. The GFE builds strong, experienced global partners and leaders, and is required for all MBA students.

Previous destinations include:
- Chile
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Peru
- Colombia
Looking to expand your horizons and learn from the best? Check out The Washington Campus (TWC). TWC is a non-profit, non-partisan, higher education association based in Washington, D.C. that promotes and supports public affairs and public policy education for current and future organizational leaders. In 3- to 5-day educational and professional development courses, you'll meet with lobbyists and government officials to grow your network and learn essential skills as a business leader. With options in healthcare and general public policy, TWC sessions are scheduled year-round, with select dates that fit the Rice academic calendar. All MBA students are eligible to participate.
Work schedule permitting, Professional MBA students can experience a wide variety of industries in cities across the country through Career Treks. Facilitated by alumni and coordinated by Career Development Office staff, Career Treks help students explore business areas and roles available for internships and post-MBA job opportunities.

Past treks include:
- Week on Wall Street (New York City)
- Technology Trek (Austin, Seattle, Silicon Valley)
- Energy Trek (Houston)
- Health Care Trek (Houston)
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