Podcasts about Rice Owls

Rice Men's Track & Field Head Coach Jon Warren discusses notable performances at the American Conference Track & Field Meet in Denton. Women's Track & Field Head Coach Jim Bevan discusses another conference championship and his retirement from coaching.(Timestamps are estimated)2:45 - Coach Warren wraps up the men's team and some of the standout individual results4:50 - Strong showing in the javelin5:40 - Outlook for next season7:10 - Postseason preview for his athletes10:30 - What it means to be a Rice Hall of Famer 13:30 - Coach Bevan joins to discuss his latest conference title15:00 - The story of Mckyla Van der Westhuizen's 1st place in the javelin16:20 - Savanah Sims in the triple jump & Alice Taylor's high-scoring meet21:00 - Great efforts from Barbora Malikova, Sydney Freeman, and Cullen Merrell 24:15 - What Jon Warren is going to miss most about Jim Bevan26:30 - Why now was the right time for Coach Bevan to retire28:00 - What he will remember about his time at Rice30:00 - What Andrea Blackett brings as the next head coachYour presence matters! We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls football, basketball, and baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsContact the podcast:Email J.P. (jp.heath@ricesportsproperties.com)X/Twitter @RiceOwlsVoiceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Following an upbringing as an expat in Jakarta, Indonesia, today's guest is applying his unique worldview to the management consulting industry and helping clients solve complex business challenges with digital solutions. David Aldrich, a Rice Business alum from the Professional MBA Class of 2015, serves on the Rice Business Alumni Association Board and is a practice lead at EPAM Systems, a management consulting firm where he focuses on energy and AI. David joins co-host Brian Jackson '21 to discuss his journey of growing up abroad and how the Rice MBA helped him pivot into consulting. They also explore how AI is reshaping the consulting industry and how Rice Business became not just his alma mater, but a lifelong community and support system. Episode Guide:00:00 Meet David Aldrich02:00 Growing up in Jakarta05:27 Landing in a Philosophy Major07:38 Venturing Into Startup Sales at FlightAware12:00 Pivoting to Consulting Through a Rice Professional MBA18:09 Life at EPAM Systems21:47 Finding Digital Solutions for Clients Through AI28:55 What Makes a Good Consultant31:36 The Ukraine War's Impact on EPAM37:09 Life Outside of Work39:38 Giving Back to Rice41:12 Alumni Breakfast Series42:59 Future of AI Consulting46:39 ClosingThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:An advice for students who want to get into consulting17:12: My advice to students that want to go into consulting is you need to get really good at the AI piece, right? Study right now and get proficient with tools like Anthropic, tools like, you know, ChatGPT's Codex, tools like, you know, Gemini's Nano Banana, and, like, PaperBanana, the new one that they just announced. You have to be proficient in this space and be certified in this space, too. Like, Claude just announced a certification program. You can go get certified as, like, an Anthropic Claude architect. It's free. You can do it. Like, these are things that I think you need to have on your resume to position yourself for value, regardless of what strategy you take. If you want to go into strategy consulting or Big Four or technology, having those new skills on how to create agent capabilities for clients is going to be the table stakes to separating yourself from, I think, other people who are also looking to go into consulting.Adapting to AI with caution26:15: I don't think you should stop AI adoption because of that potential, but I think it's important to understand that there's things that you can do right now to enhance productivity by using these tool sets. There's other things that require, I think, a little bit more due diligence, and is it the right decision to completely re-architect the way we work with agents? Because what's good for Anthropic and how they might not be the best thing for your company long term.What makes a good consultant29:10: A good consultant is not afraid to ask questions, to push clients, and, kind of, challenge thinking. I think there's an art to being able to do that without offending and pissing clients off, and understanding when you have the opportunity to, kind of, push hard to get clients thinking in a different way. I think the other key part is being able to be hungry for any opportunity and not scared to learn any new topic, right? Because the nature of consulting is that you're being thrown into a bunch of different businesses, and no matter how much you've worked in a specific industry or at, like, businesses, there's always going to be something new that they're doing, whether it's from a technology that they're using, a process that they're following, the nomenclature that they're using.Show Links: Learn more about EPAMTranscriptGuest Profile:David Aldrich | Rice BusinessDavid Aldrich | LinkedIn

Owls Men's Golf Head Coach Justin Emil joins Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. They recap the spring season and Coach Emil previews the upcoming regional.(Timestamps are estimates)2:45 - Reaction to making the NCAA Athens Regional3:45 - Scouting out the University of Georgia Golf Course6:20 - When things started to click this spring season12:30 - Improved play of Lukas Boandl15:00 - Daniel Zou and the use of analytics in golf22:00 - Reggie Zhu's clutch play lately28:15 - How huge it is to add of Rice Women's golf (Hear Coach Berglund's episode on Apple here or Spotify here)30:30 - Closing message to fans and supportersYour presence matters! We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls football, basketball, and baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsContact the podcast:Email J.P. (jp.heath@ricesportsproperties.com)X/Twitter @RiceOwlsVoiceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rice baseball Associate Head Coach Clay Van Hook and second baseman JC Davis join Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath.(All timestamps are estimates)2:45 - Coach Van Hook on what clicked in the sweep vs UAB4:40 - Instincts of JC Davis6:45 - Kutter-Gage Webb's versatility9:10 - Paul Smith's impact on the offense13:00 - The stability of the pitching staff15:00 - What made coming back to Rice the right fit for Coach Van Hook17:45 - Playing for Augie Garrido and coaching under Wayne Graham19:30 - His favorite Wayne Graham story25:00 - JC Davis on the Owls offense recently26:30 - Balancing baseball with his classes27:20 - Favorite and most challenging class28:00 - Impressions of life at Rice29:30 - His baseball story from Argyle and Weatherford College to Rice32:30 - His recruiting process and talking to Coach Pierce for the first time34:30 - Influences from his parents and coaches37:00 - Favorite MLB player, superstitions, snacks, team comedian and the best barber on the teamYour presence matters! We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls football, basketball, and baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsContact the podcast:Email J.P. (jp.heath@ricesportsproperties.com)X/Twitter @RiceOwlsVoiceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yan "Anthea" Zhang, the Fayez Sarofim Vanguard Chair of Strategic Management at Rice Business, has spent more than two decades researching the decisions that make or break organizations: CEO succession, corporate governance, and the gender dynamics shaping who rises to the top.On this special live episode, Zhang joins host Maya Pomroy '22 to share what her research reveals about the leap from functional roles to the C-suite, and why taking risks is non-negotiable for career advancement (especially for women). She also opens up about her origin story — from being part of the first-ever cohort at Nanjing University's business school to building a life and career in Houston — and why, after 25 years, Rice still feels like home.Plus: her latest research on AI-powered customer service, advice from her "Last Lecture" and how Rice Business Executive Education's Executive Leadership for Women program is giving women the tools and community to rise.Episode Guide:00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro03:19 Professor Zhang's Origin Story05:09 Hong Kong and USC07:46 Why Rice Feels Different12:32 CEO Succession Insights17:45 Executive Leadership for Women Program19:04 Challenges Women Still Face24:54 Teaching Global Strategy30:06 Managing Uncertainty & Frameworks For Risk36:25 How AI is Transforming Online Sales38:47 Advice to Students The Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:On creating a safe space for women to grow in the workplace19:58: For people who want to move up the career ladder, we need mentors. But a lot of times, people in more senior positions are still men, right? So, that's why both male and female mentors are all important. Because there are still so few women in senior leadership positions, right? That's why if you only rely on more senior female leaders to champion for you, to mentor you, that's not sufficient. You really need mentoring from both male and female leaders. So, I think that is why one benefit of our program is that we really target women who already have some leadership experiences. We create a safe space for them to share their concerns, challenges, and also allow them to share best practices with each other in a safe space. So, we really needed that.Why asking is important for women17:15: [Anthea Zhang] Dare to ask, dare to take risks, dare to get into areas, functions you are not comfortable with, you are not familiar with, which are those factors that are really key. And you have to show your track record instead of saying, "I want to," having a plan or having ambition is not sufficient. You have to show the track record.Higher leadership role means greater responsibility14:35: For people who already made it to top management team positions but still focus on more function-based roles, if you want to make it to the overall leadership role like a CEO, you have to take profit and loss responsibility. You have to expand the responsibility of your position. You know, of course, we see some people transition from CFO to CEO, but what is required for a CEO position is way more, it is way broader than, like, the CFO or chief marketing officer. Show Links: Executive Leadership for Women | Rice BusinessEnergy Transition Strategy | Rice BusinessExecutive Education | Rice BusinessTranscriptGuest Profile:Professor Yan "Anthea" Zhang | Rice BusinessLinkedIn Profile

New Women's Golf Head Coach Joanne Berglund joins Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath.(All timestamps are estimates)3:00 - What appealed to her about starting the women's golf program at Rice5:00 - Her background and what led her into golf and later coaching8:00 - Getting the word out about a new program and assembling a staff12:15 - Process of assembling her roster and a breakdown of each player17:30 - Connection of the new group and the countdown to the first offseason20:00 - Getting the tournament schedule together22:20 - Women's Golf Excellence Fund 24:00 - Closing message to fans about this unique endeavorYour presence matters! We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls football, basketball, and baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsContact the podcast:Email J.P. (jp.heath@ricesportsproperties.com)X/Twitter @RiceOwlsVoiceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CONFERENCE CHAMPION Women's Tennis Head Coach Elizabeth Schmidt joins Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. They discuss her Owls winning their first American Conference championship at the George R. Brown Tennis Center. Coach discusses the resilience of her team, the unique night of her star player the night before, and the "fight for every inch" motto of the team. She also discusses the homecourt advantage of the George R. Brown Tennis Center, the depth of the roster, her staff and some keys for the NCAA Tournament.American Conference Most Outstanding Player Divna Ratkovic (19:15) gives an update on how she's feeling after a 24-hour period of sickness, a scooter accident, and conference championship. She recaps the key points in the winning match and a celebratory team dinner and the campus celebration. After talking about her balancing of academics and tennis, she delivers an inspiring message of toughness before talking about winning Scholar Athlete of the Year, and what she does off the court. She concludes by talking about the rest of the team and what brought her to Rice. Your presence matters! We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsContact the podcast:Email J.P. (jp.heath@ricesportsproperties.com)X/Twitter @RiceOwlsVoiceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Professor Yael Hochberg made the decision to come to Rice, she had a vision for building an entrepreneurship program like no other — it would be one for the modern era that would set the pace for entrepreneurship education going forward. Now, more than a decade later, Rice consistently ranks number one in the country for entrepreneurship and is leading the way in world-changing innovation through hubs like the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie), which offers experiential learning opportunities and co-curricular activities.In this episode, Professor Hochberg, head of the Rice Entrepreneurship Initiative and Lilie, joins co-host Brian Jackson '21 to discuss how she brought her vision for a modern entrepreneurship program to life at Rice, the incredible innovation that has come from Lilie over the last 10 years and what the future holds for entrepreneurship education in the age of AI. Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction to Professor Yael Hochberg00:37 Her “Accidental” Entrepreneurship Origins05:50 Why She Chose Rice & Her Vision for Better Entrepreneurship Education09:18 Inside the Liu Idea Lab16:22 Student Startup Wins19:53 Alumni Network Power22:59 Research-Driven Teaching 30:32 AI and Entrepreneurship35:02 What's Next for Lilie41:47 The Most Rewarding MomentsThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:On the entrepreneurial spirit at Rice39:31: [Brian Jackson] When I think about the entrepreneurial spirit that's present at Rice, I think a big driver pulling that in is the recognition we consistently get, be it Princeton Review ranking us as a, you know, the nation's top graduate school for entrepreneurship seven years in a row. When you think about that success, what do you think is the biggest driver behind it? What's making that possible?39:54: [Yael Hochberg] I think it's a combination of many things. It's our students, our amazing students who come in with the drive to create things. It's our alumni who are willing to stand behind us and support us. It's people like Frank Liu who were willing to see the resources that were necessary here on campus to, to truly support entrepreneurial ventures. It's the amazing staff and faculty at Lilie who, you know, give 90 to a hundred-hour weeks, 365 days a year to make sure that our students have the support that they need, that our faculty have the support that they need.Entrepreneurship can be taught if there's a drive04:43: People always ask me, what do you mean you can teach entrepreneurship? Why do you guys even bother with entrepreneurship programs? People are either born as entrepreneurs or they're not. They either have that entrepreneurial drive or they don't. I think there's something to that, and that it is true that I can't take someone without the drive and turn them into an entrepreneur. But I can take someone who has that latent drive and who is interested, and I can give them tools and frameworks that will help them be successful if they pursue entrepreneurship. I happen to be one of these people who has that drive. I like to build, I don't like sitting still. When I see problems, I don't like to simply say, “Hmm, that's really annoying.” I try to solve them.AI is changing how fast you can build and test ideas31:02: The tools that are available today really do change how you think about things, because the tools offer you an opportunity to build things faster than you could ever imagined before, to test things faster than you could ever imagined before. We have classes where nearly all of our classes are experiential. The students are actually building something. They're doing something, they're walking through the process, and they're getting it in the wraps, right? And it may be on something stupid like Uber for cats, I don't care. I want them to learn the process and actually go out and experience it. And when the right idea comes along, they'll already know how to actually do it.Show Links: The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and EntrepreneurshipTranscriptGuest Profile:Yael Hochberg | Rice BusinessYael Hochberg's WebsiteYael Hochberg on LinkedIn

Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Scott Abell stops by to chat with Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. They discuss many topics after the conclusion of spring football.(Time stamps are estimated)1:00 - Spring Showcase recap2:40 - Comparing second spring vs. his first spring3:30 - Staff additions - Tevin Madison (CBs) and Eli Rasheed (DL)5:30 - Evaluation of the QB room8:30 - What percentage of the roster is set?12:30- Some players and position groups that stood out in the spring15:30 - Impact of proposed NCAA "5 for 5" rule 18:15 - Excitement of opening vs HCU 19:30 - Closing message to fans and a big offseason event for coach!Your presence matters! We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsContact the podcast:Email J.P. (jp.heath@ricesportsproperties.com)X/Twitter @RiceOwlsVoiceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach David Pierce recaps the series vs UTSA with Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. Coach Pierce says they have to get the offense going, but he has liked the pitching of Tanner Wiggins, Braden Sharp and Ty Baker recently. Coach also likes Cole Green's performance at the top of the orderPaul Smith joins the podcast to give a first-hand account of his baseball journey and how he adapted to the coaching change last season. He also delves into his class schedule at Rice, pregame routines, and the team's keys for the rest of conference.Your presence matters! We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsContact the podcast:Email J.P. (jp.heath@ricesportsproperties.com)X/Twitter @RiceOwlsVoiceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Eric George joined the Rice Owls in late 2023 after 4 years at Clemson where he started as the Senior Associate AD/CFO before being promoted to Deputy AD. He is a business-minded strategist with a CPA that has worked for some incredible athletic directors. This conversation is mostly focused on how George thinks in his job, how he learns from others, and how he and his wife processes opportunities that led him to Rice and the ones that he will have in the future. I finish by asking Eric about the trend in FBS AD hires going younger lately and how that might change his approach. Eric is very focused on his deputy role at Rice and learning from Tommy McClelland, but I know he will be a great AD for some school at some point. 0:000 Introduction2:25 Proud Rice Initiatives So Far # 15:45 HEA: AD Chair Strategy Sessions7:18 Proud Rice Initiatives So Far # 28:50 AD Vantage - Where Victory is Vetted10:10 Learning from Great Athletic Directors13:55 Studying Athletic Director Content & Interviews16:35 How Eric Keeps Thoughts Organized for Future AD Role23:55 Career Design & Processing Opportunities33:40 Onrise - Mental Health Care for Athletes34:41 Balancing AD Ambitions with Deputy AD Demands37:20 The Evolving Role of the FBS Athletic Director42:40 FBS Presidents Taking Chances on Younger First-Time ADsHEA is presented by PILYTIX, an AI tech company for higher education institutions and sports organizations. Increased Donations. Fast, Effective Targeting. Improved Performance. Learn more: ⁠https://pilytix.ai/AD Vantage empowers athletic directors with comprehensive staff data, performance analytics, and AI-powered candidate insights to make smarter hiring, compensation, and retention decisions in an era where every dollar counts. Learn more: https://www.athleticdirectorvantage.comOnrise provides complete mental health Coverage for your Athletes. One call. Same-day setup. Your athletes get immediate access to peer support from retired pros, licensed clinicians, and 24/7 crisis care. Less than one in-house FTE. No hiring hassles. No initiative fatigue. Learn more: https://onrise.care

Bob Dittmar has big goals for the Virani Undergraduate School of Business. As the school's associate dean and Houston Endowment Professor of Finance, he aims to increase Rice Business' national footprint, making it a household name for top-tier business education from coast to coast. Dittmar came to Rice in 2022 after teaching for nearly 20 years at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. He's taught finance courses across Rice Business' degree programs, including in the undergraduate and MBA programs.On this episode, Dittmar joins co-host Maya Pomroy '22 to share what sets the Virani Undergraduate School of Business apart from other undergraduate business programs — and his advice for prospective students who are trying to decide if Rice Business is the right fit for them. He also delves into his fascinating research on options and how to assess risk more clearly, especially when the signals aren't obvious.Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction to Associate Dean Bob Dittmar01:59 Early Influences and Academic Journey03:11 Discovering a Passion for Finance04:59 College Years and Mentorship08:55 Research on Options and Market Psychology16:05 Role as Associate Dean for the Virani Undergraduate School of Business18:05 Teaching Finance and Real-World Applications23:02 The Psychology of Investment Decisions25:54 Understanding Risk and Uncertainty29:35 AI's Role in Education and Work33:31 The Unique Culture of Rice University37:17 Future Vision for the Virani Undergraduate School of BusinessThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:Taking the Rice beyond Houston38:03: My goal at Virani is really largely to try to expand Rice's national footprint to some extent. So I think, you know, if you grew up in Houston, you know a lot about Rice, and you know, Rice is a great institution. Rice is a great institution and really hard to get into. Yeah, absolutely. You know, I mean, look, you know, our median student is, you know, in the right tail, basically, of most students across the country. But look, when I was growing up in Chicago, Rice really was not on my radar. There were a few liberal arts schools in the Midwest that I kind of thought about, but Rice never kind of came up. But I do think that Rice needs a little bit more visibility on the coasts. And that is especially important in business and finance in particular, where New York is so much the center of activity.How do you know if Rice is for you?41:01: If you want to be at a place that is truly collaborative, that has a rigorous education and provides opportunity and really cares about its students, then I think Rice is the right place for you. Think about Rice as a whole institution and how you feel on campus, and compare that to how you feel on the campuses of these other universities. And again, this is a little weird to say, because I am a finance guy. I am supposed to be cold and rational about all these things, but how you feel about these kinds of things, I think, is usually a pretty good indication of what actually is right for you and what is going to suit you.Why Rice is a special place to get your business degree34:29: At the business school at Rice, you get a lot of what I think makes Rice as an institution special. Which, you know, our students are a little quirkier maybe, but they are also a little nicer and less, you know, maybe not quite so cutthroat, I guess, maybe is what I would some ways, much more collaborative. And so I think that, combined with the fact that Rice has this STEM focus that it always has, so it is grounded in a really rigorous way of, kind of, approaching things, really combines together to make this a very special place to get your business degree.Show Links: TranscriptGuest Profile:Robert Dittmar | Rice BusinessProfessional WebsiteLinkedIn Profile

Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach David Pierce recaps the Owls series win over FAU (4:15) with Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. They also discuss learning how to win and fight (9:15), Garet Boehm's big weekend at the plate (12:20), and how the offense has gelled. They wrap up with some insight into Patrick Hallmark, head coach of UTSA and former Owls assistant with Coach Pierce.Garet Boehm joins the podcast (17:45) to discuss his two huge home runs vs FAU. He gives some insight into balancing baseball with his class schedule (20:15), his favorite players growing up, and his family influence to come and play for Coach Pierce.Your presence matters! We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsContact the podcast: Email J.P. (jp.heath@ricesportsproperties.com) X/Twitter @RiceOwlsVoice See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dean Miller has worked at Rice since 2009 and is wrapping up his tenth year as the Associate AD for Sports Medicine & Performance. He talks with Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath about his time on south Main (3:15) with Rice student-athletes and the great group of trainers on campus (14:30). He talks about the evolutions in sports medicine over the years and he also tells the story of his friendship with the late Kobe Bryant (21:00), and what's next on the horizon for him.Your presence matters! We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most companies think they're customer-focused. Many are wrong.Vikas Mittal, the J. Hugh Liedtke Professor of Marketing at Rice Business and faculty director of the Center for Customer-Based Execution and Strategy, has spent his career helping CEOs, MBA students and others learn the difference between truly serving customers and simply appeasing them. In this episode, Vikas joins host Brian Jackson '21 to explain why so many corporate strategies fail: the buzzwords, shiny-object initiatives, and mission-statement retreats that produce 50 priorities and zero focus. He shows what it looks like when organizations commit to the one or two things that genuinely create customer value — and stay the course.He also shares how this approach comes to life through his Executive Education course, Strategic Growth Through Customer Focus, and the Center for Customer-Based Execution and Strategy, which produced a landmark report – interviewing over 3,000 customers to reveal what actually drives value across industries and what doesn't.Plus: his famous sneaker collection and why he thinks everyone should write with fountain pens.Episode Guide:00:00 Guest Introduction: Meet Professor Vikas Mittal01:21 From Family Business to PhD03:26 Why Most CEOs Don't Actually Know What Their Customers Want05:54 Trend Chasing and Misalignment11:28 The Science of Customer Focus17:45 Building The Center for Customer-Based Execution and Strategy21:20 Executives Unlearning Legacy Strategy32:29 How Colorful Sneakers Changed His Life40:52 Final Focus TakeawaysThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:Strategy is an ultimate dark art26:10: Strategy is the way it is done in companies. And I repeat this all the time, it's the ultimate dark art. Nobody knows why we are doing it, but everybody believes we have to do it just because my predecessor told me this is how we should do it. And you ask the predecessor, why are you doing it? Well, my predecessor told me this is how we do it. Right? And it's the ultimate dark art and people just keep doing it.Defining customer focus11:36: Customer focus means using science to figure out what creates value for customers, which is very different than just asking the customer what would you want? And believing that whatever the customer tells you is right and just doing it. When academic research calls the CEO01:40: Surprisingly, a lot of the work I ended up doing with CEOs and companies came from CEOs at different companies reading my research, published in academic journals, you know, which is completely the opposite of what a lot of people think, that if you publish in academic journals, people don't read it. I was blown away, how many times I got contacted by companies say, we've got such and such paper of yours, can you come and help us? Show Links: The Center for Customer-Based Execution & StrategyRice Business Executive EducationStrategic Growth Through Customer Focus ProgramThe Center for Customer-Based Execution & Strategy's Customer Value ReportGuest Profile:Vikas Mittal | Rice BusinessVikas Mittal | LinkedIn

Vice President & Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland sits down with Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath and they discuss a wide array of topics across the department. (All timestamps are estimated)2:20 - The historic run of the women's basketball team and the end of the men's season5:10 - Seth Huston's swimming and diving title6:30 - Tommy's one-year anniversary of the David Pierce hiring8:50 - Rice is hosting the South regional semi-final and final at the Toyota Center12:10 - Some excellent, long-time Rice athletics employees are retiring17:00 - The Gateway Project update19:10 - Discussions of The SCORE Act and sustainability efforts in college athletics 24:00 - Final message to Rice fansYour presence matters! We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls basketball and games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds leads off the episode with Luke Mauro discussing the Owls many American Conference accolades. They recap Senior Day and look ahead to the conference tournament in Birmingham.American Conference Player of the Year Victoria Flores (17:30) reveals where she was when she found out the big news. She also discusses her different personality on the court and how special playing on this team has been.We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls basketball and baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the past decade, Rice Business has scaled with intention.MBA enrollment has doubled. Faculty ranks have grown. New MBA formats have launched. The Virani Undergraduate School of Business was established. And a new building will open soon, designed to further fuel collaboration, research and innovation.In this conversation, Dean Peter Rodriguez reflects on the strategy behind that momentum — from championing the Online MBA to building one of the nation's strongest entrepreneurship ecosystems in the heart of Houston. He discusses AI's impact on business education, the evolving energy landscape, and the leadership lessons that come with guiding a school through rapid transformation, all while shaping the next chapter for Rice Business.Episode Guide:00:00 Meet Dean Peter Rodriguez01:20 Online MBA Origins and Vision for Growth07:50 Virtual Campus Advantage09:41 From Space Crunch to Expansion: Designing the New Building16:29 Launching the Virani Undergraduate School of Business21:51 AI and Business Education28:46 Dean Life and Daily Headwinds29:23 Why Rice Ranks High & Houston's Entrepreneurship Advantage36:32 What Deans Learn on the Job43:37 Next 50 Years Vision48:25 ClosingThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:On Rice MBA's Growth over the decade01:37: If there was one overarching theme of the last decade, I think growth is it. The question is always like, well, why growth? Or growth for what? And of course, clearly want growth for the good outcomes, and that good outcomes all start with pursuing the mission.We have a mission to create and disseminate knowledge at the vanguard of business and the business disciplines. And so that is what we really do. And when I was really looking at the job almost exactly 10 years ago and thinking about where Rice was and where it needed to be, one of the first conclusions that was easy to draw was that it needed to be about twice as big as it was, at least, you know, and, and it is not that growth is all good, but why would I say that? And the thinking was, you know, in order to advance that mission, we needed more tenure track faculty. And there the foundation on which more or less everything else proceeds.How does the Rice Business navigate AI? 22:19: On the basic part of our mission, which is delivering an education, we have to do two things. We have to prepare people to think really critically and to be able to assess them as individuals without this incredible, unprecedented tool. That is to say, what can Peter do of his own accord? What does he know? And then I have to train him very aggressively to make sure that with the tool, he is also highly capable, far more capable to do some things, and as capable as anybody in any university in the country is using the tool. So there's sort of almost sounds like martial arts mastery. You know, you have to sort of, wax on, wax off, you know, learn these sort of things that are apart from the tool, and then you are sort of empowered. That's where we are, is trying to do that.Houston loves risk takers30:59: Houston loves risk takers. It is part of the environment, it is part of a Texas thing too, but, you know, it is going to space, drilling out in the Permian Basin or deep in the ocean, putting in an artificial heart, whatever it is. I think there is a real admiration for trying hard things and picking yourself up if you fail and not being discouraged because things did not go right the first time.Show Links: Rice Business New Building PlansTranscriptGuest Profile:Peter Rodriguez | Rice BusinessLinkedIn 

Swimming Head Coach Seth Huston recaps the Owls American Conference Championship with Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. They discuss individual accomplishments, the senior class, and his long, successful tenure on South Main. Senior Ava Hamblett (21:15) talks about the keys to the championship, her path to Rice and her career plans.We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls basketball and baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds leads off Rice Unfiltered. She talks with Owls broadcaster Luke Mauro about the Owls thrilling win at ECU, the huge games down the stretch, and her aversion to snow.Junior guard Hailey Adams (15:00) discusses her soccer background, engineering studies, and cooking specialty. Men's Head Basketball Coach Rob Lanier (23:30) joins Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. They recap the narrow setback at Tulane and the tough schedule to finish the season.Sophomore forward Eternity Eguagie (35:30) tells his basketball backstory. He also talks about the Owls keys down the stretch. We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls basketball and baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leveling up your game just got so much easier, thanks to the new cutting-edge technology from BeONE Sports — a startup that uses mobile motion-capture and AI to enhance athletic performance, prevent injuries, and support coaches and athletes at every level.Co-founded by former Division I athlete Scott Deans '22, the idea for BeONE started right here at Rice Business. Scott has loved sports since his days playing football, and through the EMBA program, he found a way to bring his passion and business acumen together.He joins co-host Brian Jackson '21 to discuss his early career journey through architecture, the 12 years he spent at bp and what ultimately led him to Rice Business. They also dive deep into the exciting technology being used at BeONE and how the company's partnership with Rice Athletics is helping student athletes optimize their performance and prevent injuries.Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction to Scott Deans and BeONE Sports01:02 Scott's Athletic Journey and Transition to Architecture05:55 From Architecture to Analytics at BP12:56 Pursuing an MBA at Rice University16:36 Founding BeONE Sports and Its Technology28:23 Partnerships and Applications of BeONE Sports37:44 Challenges and Advice for Entrepreneurs42:20 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:On building company your passionate about19:35: I sometimes imagine if I had chosen the other, one of the other companies, and I was like, there is no way I would be here after four years, grinding through the trenches, as they say, on something that did not matter to me. So, yeah, I think that is a huge, huge point in any entrepreneurial journey, that it has to matter to you; otherwise, you are not willing to compromise and go through all the pain in order to make it successful.How the Rice program helped Scott build his business28:30: So another big piece of the program at Rice was really focused on, like, building a team. And I have been a coach for a long time. I have been part of teams and built teams, so teams are, in my opinion, the linchpin, really the basis for product and a business and all those things. But part of that process is everybody's recognizing what they are good at and what they are not good at, and then where you have gaps. You need to find people who are strong in those areas. So, recognize really quickly the areas that I am not strong at and, Jason, basically from a business side and many other sides, filled those perfectly.The importance of asking better questions09:55: Always try to ask better questions, and this has been a mantra of mine since I was a little kid. I think. Because, you know, there are always going to be answers. You can always find a solution. But is the solution the right one? And is there a better question we could be asking to, you know, a lot of rework or pivoting and changing. And so it creates a mindset of constant flux, like you are in constant change. And that is not an easy mindset for many people.Show Links: BeONE Sports “Rice partners with BeONE Sports to transform athlete performance with AI technology” | Rice BusinessTranscriptGuest Profile:Scott Deans | LinkedIn

Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach David Pierce talks with Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath about a variety of topics.(Estimated timestamps)2:30 - Series win vs Northwestern4:40 - Benefit of starting midseason last year now that this season has started6:50 - The coaching staff he has assembled9:20 - Danny Lehmann recognition at First Pitch Dinner12:50 - What fans can expect from the offense14:50 - Pitching staff and bullpen20:30 - Message to fans22:10 - Nephew Klint Kubiak named the head coach of the Las Vegas RaidersWe want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls basketball and baseball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this special edition of Rice Unfiltered from the West Servery Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath intros the show speaking with Jackie Carizales, McMurtry College coordinator.Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds talks with Luke Mauro (7:00) about the Owls winning streak, their toughness and the big stretch coming up.Dominique Ennis (19:00) talks about many things: her record-breaking time at Rice, growing up with five brothers, interests outside of basketball and pregame routines.We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls basketball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anthony and Alex react to the hiring of Mike Bloomgren as the New York Giants' new Offensive Line coach. A veteran coach with deep ties to the Bill Callahan system and a track record of producing first-round talent at Stanford, Bloomgren is the final major piece of the Harbaugh staff overhaul. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Not every job will feel like the perfect fit, but for David Verbitsky '10, every new position is an important stepping stone in your career, and an opportunity to learn and grow. When David wanted to pivot his career from engineering to finance, the path led him straight to an MBA at Rice Business. His experience at Rice spring boarded him into a career in investment banking with a special focus on agriculture and food. Over the past 15 years, he's worked as the global head of agriculture and nutrition investment banking at Goldman Sachs, as the global head of AgTech and sustainable food investment banking at Nomura Greentech, and as a member of the global chemicals and agriculture investment banking team at Barclays.Now, David is applying all of his industry expertise to his own investment banking firm, Verbitsky Capital. In this episode, he chats with co-host Maya Pomroy '22 about how Rice Business prepared him for a successful career in finance, what he learned through every job change and where he thinks innovation in the agriculture sector is heading next.Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:59 David's Early Career in Engineering03:06 Transition to Business School and Finance06:09 Investment Banking Journey08:59 Shift to Agriculture Sector18:20 Navigating the VC Fund Experience21:30 Exciting Deals in AgTech23:24 Challenges and Lessons Learned29:44 Building and Leading a Team with Verbitsky Capital31:37 Future of AgTech34:35 Career Advice and Final ThoughtsThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:The importance of judgement in every leader31:19: [Maya Pomroy]: What do you look for in leaders?31:26: [David Verbitsky] I do not really know if you can quantify or measure it, but it is judgment. The only way you can really see that is seeing people in action, right? It is seeing, okay, when you are in a difficult situation, or maybe it is not even difficult, but when you have to make decisions. And take responsibility for things. And some of it is, could be very easy, like simple things who just, we are in the middle of a deal and you gotta just decide on what, how you move forward. Right. How do you take decisions? How do you move forward? How do you take accountability? How do you, in certain circumstances, decide not to do something? Which is probably more important in many different ways.On networking and constant learning36:16: [Maya Pomroy]:What would you say to someone that is sort of considering maybe an MBA to really pivot their own career.36:25: [David Verbitsky]  So first and foremost, I would say it is all about relationships. And her ability to, to maintain them. Right. That, that is part networking, but it is also just part effort of just people you already do know. Maintaining those relationships. Do you think that is first and foremost is the most important thing? Do not burn any bridges. Right? Keep them, keep them all active and then building off of that just sees opportunities when they present themselves, be open to things. Because they might be the wrong choice, but. You should learn something from every new step you take.From missteps to momentum37:04: Going to Goldman Sachs and switching a hundred percent into agriculture was a big opportunity, which I was like, I do not know, but let us try it out. Right? Those things worked out incredibly well. And then I had a bunch of missteps of like trying, trying to go and do startup or VC fund that just was not the right fit, or go into a place that was good for a while, then was not, and then just, it leads you here. So like. Realize when an opportunity presents itself and do not be afraid to take it. Which is the right piece of advice. Just be aware and realize this is an opportunity. Maybe it is not the right one, but be, I think, very mindful.Show Links: TranscriptGuest Profile:David Verbitsky | LinkedInVerbitsky Capital

Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds leads off the podcast with Owls broadcaster Luke Mauro discussing the huge road win at UTSA and the Owls road success this season. They also discuss the great play of Victoria Flores, the different styles the Owls have used, and the big February stretch that is coming.Senior forward Shelby Hayes (13:00) talks about her favorite players and what her role has been this season. She discusses her tough style of play and dealing with adversity and her now famous mask. She goes into detail about balancing her schoolwork and basketball and also shouts out her favorite professors and classes at Rice.Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath talks with Mens Head Coach Rob Lanier (22:30) about the Owls adventure coming back from Charlotte and the setback in the Queen City. They talk about Trae Broadnax going over the 1,500-point milestone, Jimmy Oladokun's physical play, the win at ECU, and the focal points in February.Nick Anderson (33:45) revels what went into his decision to come to Rice and why it was the perfect landing spot. He breaks down his path to Rice, where his toughness originated, and his interests outside of basketball.----We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls basketball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds leads off this episode with Owls broadcaster Luke Mauro. They discuss the Owls winning streak, the solid play of Aniah Alexis, and what the great fan support means.Aniah Alexis (So., Waller, TX) joins the podcast (15:00) and discusses what is special about this year's team, her path to Rice, and her pregame superstitions.Mens head coach Rob Lanier (23:50) joins Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath to discuss the recent close setbacks and the improved play of Jalen Smith and Eternity Eguagie.We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls basketball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textWe sit down with Coach David Pierce to map Rice Baseball's return to form, from NIL and portal strategy to a back-to-basics culture that puts development first. Along the way, we trade wild super regional stories, spotlight the American's growth, and rally Houston around Reckling Park.• NIL and portal as tools, not identity• scholarship stacking and need-based aid clarity• keeping a young core and raising standards• facility pride at Reckling Park and small fixes that matter• Gateway Project linking Rice Village to game day• the American's talent depth and Omaha hopes• East Carolina's Jungle and handling hostile crowds• Wayne Graham legacy and private-school baseball model• Houston community nights vs family weekends attendance plan• parity lessons from Indiana football applied to roster buildingBe sure to like, follow each of our social media platforms, subscribe to our YouTube page for freeSupport the showPlease like and follow each of Stories Inside the Man Cave Podcast social media links on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Tik Tok.

When it comes to working in military intelligence, strong leadership skills and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure are key. Just as important to a mission's success is being a good team player.Those were the lessons and skills Chris Stillwell '24 carried into his two career pivots after his time working as a military intelligence officer for the U.S. Army. His first pivot landed him a role at Kearney in Dubai focusing on M&A integration and strategy consulting. Chris then decided to pursue an MBA at Rice Business to sharpen his financial skills and pivot once again into the world of investment banking. Now an investment banking associate at Bank of America, Chris joins co-host Brian Jackson '21 to discuss his military experience, why he chose Rice, how the program helped him make a major career transition, and his advice to those considering an MBA to pursue new career opportunities. Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction to Chris Stillwell01:03 Military Intelligence: Separating Fact From Fiction02:15 Roles and Responsibilities in the Army03:08 Leadership and Decision Making in High-Pressure Situations08:07 From Military to Consulting09:49 Living Abroad: Challenges and Cultural Insights15:02 Transitioning to an MBA at Rice University18:13 Involvement and Networking at Rice20:56 Entering Investment Banking: Preparation and Challenges25:37 Day-to-Day in Investment Banking28:46 Advice for Career Pivoters and VeteransThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:The moment Chris realized that Rice gave him an edge over his peers[20:48] Brian: Going into investment banking, was there, like, now an elevated sense of confidence of, Okay, I've done this before; I'll do it again?[20:56] Chris: Maybe some blind confidence sometimes. Yeah, you could even ask my parents. I went home for like four days for the Christmas break the year I was recruiting. And I was studying flashcards with my mom of all the IB 400 questions. And I was like, “I'm not going to get a job. You know, like all these people around me are much smarter than me. There's a really—we've got a really talented pool of candidates that are recruiting this year.” But you know, I felt like at the end of the day, the Finance Association and Rice, just the classes I took, really prepared me to understand the basics of finance, the basics that are expected of the interview process. And then, going forward, I saw when I started as an intern at the bank, I went to New York for a week…We were training with all these people from all these different schools, going to all these different groups in the bank, and some people didn't even know what a DCF was or didn't know how to do it that well, I should say. We were doing some practice problems, and I was like, “Wow, we're actually far ahead of a lot of these other schools and people.” So that was kind of good to see that Rice really put an effort into training us up. What Chris learned about leadership through three career pivots[30:15] There are certain people who can be leaders and are very good at being leaders. But being a good leader in the military might not translate to being a good leader at banking. And a lot of times you actually see that, or you see military officers leave the military and go into the corporate world and not be as successful. Because I really think you do need to tailor your leadership style to the one the industry you're working in, and two, the people you're working with, you know, different ways of operating motivate people differently. Like in the military, you could yell at somebody and hold them to a higher standard and maybe they'll do it. But if you yelled at somebody like, you know, a marketing job, they probably would shut down and that'd be the end of it. It really doesn't work the same. The leadership style is something that you have to adjust to the area you're working in.On how his military experience strengthened his teamwork skills[04:03] In the military, you are a leader, but you learn how to be a good follower as well. And I think what you do with that is that you are able to have great teamwork. You're able, like in my current job now, I have an analyst underneath me, but I have people like VPs and MDs above me and I can understand what their intent is and what we need to get accomplished in our day-to-day job, but also articulate to the people below me, Hey, this is the intent and this is how we do it. So it's kind of been very helpful in those soft skills.On how Rice gave him the academic foundation he needed[16:49] My reasons for going to Rice were great, but once I got there, I appreciated it a lot more. I really got exposed to, I mean, I was looking for some things like smaller classrooms for example. Like a lot of people we hire from Kearney were from Yale or HBS, and their class size was like a thousand people. And maybe you didn't have a lot of rigor in terms of academics. I think Rice, especially in the first term, really forces you to go to classes to do your homework, to learn the materials. And that was attractive to me as well, because I didn't come from a finance background at all. So I didn't even know what a DCF was before I came to Rice. So I was very grateful at that, you know, getting to Rice and realizing that it was such a good platform to be integrated into.Show Links: TranscriptGuest Profile:Chris Stillwell | LinkedIn

Los Angeles Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann joins Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. They discuss Lehmann's rise through the Dodgers organization, what his job entails and how his time at Rice helped prepare him. Stories are shared about Wayne Graham's impact on his career, and Lehmann talks about possibly managing in the big leagues one day. He also goes in-depth about the spectacle of seeing Shohei Ohtani every day.We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls basketball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mens basketball head coach Rob Lanier leads off the first episode of the new year with Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. They discuss the recent loss against Charlotte and the thrilling win at Wichita State. Coach breaks down Nick Anderson and Cam Carroll's play and keys heading into the off time. Trae Broadnax talks about his improved play lately, his dad's influence on him, and what the Owls have to focus on the rest of the season.Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds talks with Luke Mauro about the Owls offense starting to click heading into the bye week. She talks about why coaching this roster is so enjoyable and the Rice Fight mantra of this team. Victoria Flores opens up about her strong offensive play lately, the confidence she's developed, and the team's strong chemistry. She also expands on what brought her to Rice.We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Did you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls basketball games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Texas State football dominated the Rice Owls in the Armed Forces Bowl for the Bobcats' 3rd consecutive bowl victory after a winning season. Keff Ciardello is here to talk all about the 41-10 win, the historical program records that were broken in 2025, and how the Texas State Bobcats are fairing in the transfer portal window (Jan. 2 - Jan. 15).

As a first-generation American from Saudi Arabia, Rzan Yunus '17 learned from an early age what ambition and perseverance can lead to. She credits her immigrant father's determination to build a successful career and life for his family in the U.S. as inspiration for her own strong work ethic and drive. It was that drive that led her first to a career in insurance at American International Group (AIG), and eventually all the way to Rice Business. Since pivoting from insurance into consulting, Rzan has put her Rice MBA to use as a senior director at Alvarez & Marsal, where she's helping companies solve tough problems. Rzan chats with co-host Brian Jackson '21 about how her father's pursuit of the American dream inspired her, the critical skills she picked up at AIG, why she was drawn to the Professional MBA program and how her experience at Rice has left a mark on her forever. Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction to Rzan Yunus01:00 Early Life and Family Influence05:39 Career Beginnings at AIG09:40 Pursuing an MBA at Rice18:28 Transition to Consulting23:07 Current Role and Consulting Insights35:40 Balancing Career and Personal Life39:46 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:Finding community, support, and belonging at Rice[12:32] When you learn entrepreneurship, you learn to hustle. You learn to think like an owner, or take  accountability to be resourceful, to drive results. I really appreciated Rice's pathways with other organizations and other companies, particularly consulting. I knew I wanted to explore that eventually and knew that they recruit based on certain programs. And then my favorite thing about Rice, and when I went and visited, is the team and peer atmosphere. You know, you spend so much time at work, but you also spend so much time in this program. And the people that I met and the camaraderie and the collaboration and the fact that you rarely ever achieve anything alone in life. I really wanted to be surrounded with people that were smart and hardworking and capable and collaborative and supportive. Very similar to the support system that I think everybody needs in life to be successful.Why the MBA program was an important investment in Rzan's future.[16:17] My two years in the program, and I think I said this earlier, it really changed my life. I am becoming and am the person now that I never thought I could have been 10 years ago, 15 years ago. I mean, the program is hard. It's a top MBA program for a reason. Balancing school and your personal life is difficult. Working full-time while earning an MBA is not a casual commitment, but it's the most important step that you can take to invest in yourself. Surround yourself with people that reflect the ambition and the dedication that is contagious. Why she chose to pivot to consulting[19:11] I chose consulting because I loved the variety of work that they got to do, you know, in every year, and this was something that really attracted me to it when I was meeting with people from Alvarez & Marsal. You know, you work in different industries and different projects. One year you might be doing a transformation for a media company. The next, working on a financial services operational improvement. The following year on a manufacturing cost reduction. And I think that continuous learning really appealed to me.Show Links: TranscriptGuest Profile:Rzan Yunus | LinkedInRzan Yunus | Rice Business

Sponsored by thegalindocollective.com, BHIhats.com, Austin.Patchmaster.com  - Texas State head coach GJ Kinne joins Keff Ciardello to talk about the Bobcats' 3rd consecutive bowl game, defensive changes, and the transfer portal ahead of Texas State's matchup against the Rice Owls in the Armed Forces Bowl this Friday at noon.HAPPY NEW YEAR, SICKOS

With the 2025 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl this week, four key members of the 2012 Armed Forces Bowl Champion Rice Owls reminisce about the 33-14 win over Air Force. QB Driphus Jackson (264 yards passing), WR Jordan Taylor (154 yards receiving, 3 TDs), RB/TE Jeremy Eddington (KO return that clinched bowl berth) and DT Christian Covington (8 years NFL) share stories from that magical run to become bowl eligible, talk about the game itself, and remember how head coach David Bailiff impacted them as players and men.3:00 Eddington and the guys remember his historic kickoff return for a touchdown at UTEP that helped clinch a bowl berth.7:30 They remember Cody Bauer saying after the Bayou Bucket that despite the tough start this was a bowl team.11:45 Stories and laughs are shared from the trip and game.22:50 Eddington talks about the offensive line that set the tone for the team that season.28:15 Covington goes into detail on the talent-rich roster of the 2012 team.32:30 The impact coach Bailiff had on the team that season38:00 Updates on what they are doing and where they are nowRice YouTube recap of 2012 Armed Forces Bowl----Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderings.We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.ComDid you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls football games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shelly Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds joins Owls announcer Luke Mauro to talk about the good start to the season, the challenges of the schedule, and the strong defensive identity the team is forming. Coach Edmonds also talks about the overlap of the winter and spring part of the schedule. They conclude the interview talking about Dominique Ennis' recent milestone.Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderings.We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.ComDid you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls football games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Liam Morris '23 manages one of the most complex corners of United Airlines — airport operations quality control across more than 80 stations spanning Latin America, Central America and the Southwest U.S. In this conversation, he shares how early travel experiences opened the door to a career in aviation, the path that led him from loading bags in El Paso to overseeing global safety audits, and what it takes to lead with precision, clarity and calm under pressure.Liam also reflects on United's customer-centric transformation, the moments that shaped his commitment to the industry, and how the Rice Online MBA gave him the flexibility and confidence to grow as a leader while navigating an ever-moving, always-on operational world.Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction to Aviation and Role at United Airlines00:29 Ensuring Safety and Compliance in Airport Operations02:56 Passion for Aviation and Early Influences06:08 Managing Multiple Stations and Time Zones08:00 Why United Airlines Stands Out12:16 Best Flight Experience and Customer Insights13:54 Decision to Pursue an MBA at Rice19:58 Mutual Learning and Decision Making22:27 Leadership Growth and Student Association26:47 Career Journey and Future Goals30:02 Travel Tips and Flying Etiquette37:19 Conclusion and FarewellThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode QuotesFrom cleaning planes to leading global operations25:34: I never, ever envisioned that I would be where I'm at now, and I can honestly say from when I was a business partner with United — cleaning aircraft and loading bags for another company, right — but working the United product, I never had a plan to get to where I was. My internship with United came up out of nowhere, and I moved to Jersey. Then, midsummer, I got a full-time offer to stay, and I transferred schools. You know, at the very last minute, I went up to Rutgers from UT El Paso. And then, you know, an opportunity came to transfer to Dallas, and there I ended up. You know, our CEO lives there. Ended up meeting him and a lot of executives all the time, and my name got out there really great. And then I came down to Houston to go to Rice as an assistant manager here in the airport. Then I finished my B.A. and went into the current role that I'm at, which is safety and regulatory. I can honestly say I never really had a plan to get where I was, but I'm thankful that I was always willing to walk through the door, because every single opportunity that I've had — both promotion and a lateral — was a great move, and it was such an instrumental, pivotal move.On being part of something bigger than yourself04:06: I wanted the ability to be in an industry where I am a part of something bigger, right? And being a part of an airline is really cool because even though, you know, my work now may not directly affect a flight leaving on time out of here, it does affect the customer experience some way. So I just wanted to be a part of a really, really big machine that gets people where they need to go.Show Links: TranscriptGuest Profile:Liam Morris | LinkedIn

Owls GM Steven Jackson gives a recap of the Owls 2026 Signing Day Class. He also goes in-depth about his staff, what goes into being a GM, and how he juggles the NIL/portal era of college athletics.We want you at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.Com!Listen to J.P. & Nate on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sponsored by thegalindocollective.com, BHIhats.com, Austin.Patchmaster.com  - The Texas State Bobcats are heading back to DFW for the postseason to take on the Rice Owls in the Armed Forces Bowl on Jan. 2. Plus, quarterback Brad Jackson announced on Friday night that he would return for the Bobcats debut season in the Pac-12 in 2026, along with his two favorite targets, Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn Jr. Keff Ciardello is here to wrap up the wild news week for Texas State football. Check out the WNOGB YouTube Channel!

Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Scott Abell looks back on the 2025 season with Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. Coach Abell says he learned a lot in his first season. He talks in general about the incoming recruiting class in addition to a preview of the conference title game. He also gives his thoughts about changes he would make to the college football calendar.*Apologies for the echo issues. Thank you to the Learfield team correcting them*Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderings.We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.ComDid you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to archived Owls football games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the youngest founder in her Rice MBA cohort, Allison Knight '10 knows a thing or two about blazing a trail. At just 24 years old, she co-founded Rebellion Photonics, which used cutting-edge technology to identify and quantify gas leaks on oil rigs, preventing catastrophic explosions. Knight went on to sell Rebellion Photonics to Honeywell in 2019, and is now codifying blue collar genius through Alaris AI. In this episode, Knight joins host Brian Jackson '21 to discuss how Rebellion Photonics used early AI technology to improve hyperspectral imaging and revolutionize gas leak detection. She also opens up about her experience as a young woman founder in a predominantly male industry, her role as an adjunct professor at Rice Business and why she believes blue collar work is the next frontier for AI exploration. Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction to Allison Knight01:09 Founding Rebellion Photonics02:25 Challenges and Innovations in Gas Leak Detection03:48 The Role of AI in Rebellion Photonics04:26 Reflections on Being a Young Founder12:44 Lessons From Startup Life16:25 Introducing Alaris AI: AI for Blue Collar Workers23:35 Teaching AI at Rice Business27:52 The Future of AI in the Workforce32:44 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:On being a young entrepreneur12:17: I was 24. I was the youngest student in the Rice MBA program, and I had gotten a prestigious, semi-prestigious investment banking job that I had accepted. And then I did the thing you're not supposed to do under any circumstances, which is renege on a job. They do not like that. But I am a physicist more than I am an MBA. Science and tech still make me the happiest. So, I ended up, even at Rice, just hanging out with Rice techies, like other applied physicists. Yeah. And it was just too tempting. I knew I should do the investment banking job, but I just could not do it. I had to go for this crazy methane emissions monitoring company. And I loved it.Allison's first AI moment08:31: I think everyone will experience this, and I just happen to experience this 15, 16 years ago. It is your, like, AI moment—that first time where you run some code with AI. We had been trying to do real-time video detecting and imaging gas leaks in real time and kind of making do with it, and they were ugly. But then we brought in AI and started doing very, very, very, very basic machine learning, and it was just like magic, Brian. It was magic.On AI's next frontier17:20: Pretty much across the board, AI really sucks for blue-collar work. With white-collar work, we can just boop, boop, boop—take the generic ChatGPT, and it works beautifully. And that's because we, white-collar workers, have been typing for a long time. We've got all their documents in different folders, new ones, and so it's all been trained on that for the most part. So it's really trained on white-collar documentation and meant for it. Blue-collar documentation—basically, manuals and SOPs—has inherently always been stinky. But more importantly, none of the documentation has been done on what's in their head, what's in the foreman's head, the supervisor's head, or the individual's head. And so, when you don't have that data documented, structured, codified, the AI will be useless.Show Links: Alaris AITranscriptGuest Profile:Allison Knight | Rice BusinessLinkedIn Profile

Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Scott Abell breaks down the turning points in the loss to #22 North Texas and the positives he saw. He comments on the performances of Aaron Turner and D'Andre Hardeman before previewing the USF Bulls and their up-tempo attack. Coach ends discussing his family's Thanksgiving traditions.Interested in learning more about the Gateway Project? Click here for an overview and here for renderings.We want you out at a Rice Owls game! Call 713-348-OWLS or go to RiceOwls.ComDid you know you can watch Rice Unfiltered on the Owls Youtube channel?Listen to Owls football games on The Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App, or RiceOwls.Com!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

No recaps on Friday shows, but put on some clothes on & go see the Rice Owls.

Tennessee won its matchup over former Rick Barnes protégé Rob Lanier's Rice Owls. Jon & Cody dissect it. ---------- TalkSports is LIVE Weekdays from 8-11 a.m. on Fox Sports Knoxville/ Fanrun Radio. Check Out our Socials: "@FOXSportsKnox" on Twitter/X, "FanrunSports" on Instagram and Youtube Jon- @Jon__Reed on "X" Cody- @Cody__McClure on "X"

Stephen Gillaspie goes LIVE to discuss the game between Tennessee and Rice, with an emphasis on Nate Ament! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephen Gillaspie goes LIVE to discuss the game between Tennessee and Rice, with an emphasis on Nate Ament! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How does something as simple as a five-star rating system reveal subtle biases?When she's not teaching MBA and undergraduate students at Rice Business, Professor Sora Jun studies the hidden forces that shape how we see and treat one another. Her work explores how our minds process inequality and how even small design choices, like switching from stars to thumbs-up icons, can make systems fairer. Host Brian Jackson '21 sits down with Sora to discuss her research on the hidden bias of gig worker ratings, what she loves most about teaching at Rice, the findings of her latest paper and how her background has shaped her work. Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction to Sora Jun, Ph.D.00:58 Journey From Finance To Organizational Behavior02:20 Impact of Diverse Upbringing on Research05:05 Teaching Experience and Philosophy08:52 Research on Bias and Inequality17:50 Framing Inequality: Advantage vs. Disadvantage24:34 Exploring Anti-Asian Discrimination29:17 Future Research Directions30:56 Teaching Across Different Programs32:20 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:How embracing insecurity helped Dr. Sora on her research23:32: It actually took me a while to really feel like I had enough legitimacy in standing and studying this in some ways, because I felt like I did not really have the real, like, Asian American experience, given that I have been in so many different circles and I'm hearing so many different stories about what it means to be Asian for different people. But I think really embracing that insecurity almost was useful because I think it just made me dig in deeper and realize that might be part of that Asian experience—feeling like there are so many different kinds of Asian experiences. I'm sure this is similar for other groups as well, but I think I've just become more appreciative of just asking people, like, what's this been like for you? I started to do more qualitative-oriented work because of this, and I think that is helping me sort of reaffirm my own, I guess, standing and studying this topic.Why the way we talk about inequality matters14:52 [Brian Jackson]: Why does framing matter so much when talking about pay gaps or wealth disparities?16:08 [Sora Jun]: So, framing of inequality matters because even though what is being talked about is logically equivalent for an advantage or disadvantage frame, people understand it to be very different. And then they focus on different, I guess, objects.On balancing the fairness of the gains of a binary system with the loss of nuance13:36 [Sora Jun]: I think that's a really tricky part. I do think it is a challenge if we were to imagine changing all these numerical rating scales to dichotomy scales. We would lose a lot of the fine-grained information. So it probably depends a lot on the context. I think from our study, what we were finding was that the ratings using a five-point scale were already quite inflated, so there was not actually a ton of fine-grained information to be had from even the five-point scale information.Show Links: TranscriptGuest Profile:Sora Jun | Rice Business

One year ago, the Virani family made a historic gift to Rice Business, establishing the Virani Undergraduate School of Business. To mark the occasion, Owl Have You Know welcomes Farid Virani — entrepreneur, philanthropist and proud Rice University parent.In 1999, Farid founded Prime Communications with a single storefront in Houston's Baybrook Mall. Today, Prime Communications is the largest AT&T authorized retailer in North America, with more than 2,500 locations across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Along the way, Farid has relied on three guiding principles — "stay humble, hungry and scrappy" — which continue to shape his approach to business and life.He joins host Maya Pomroy '22 to share his entrepreneurial journey, the Virani family's commitment to education and community, and the vision behind the Virani Undergraduate School of Business — a school designed to empower the next generation of ethical, curious, and compassionate business leaders.Episode Guide:00:15 Meet Farid Virani: Entrepreneur and Philanthropist04:26 Building a Business Empire05:58 Philanthropy and Community Investment07:39 The Virani Undergraduate School of Business11:24 Leadership and Business Education17:32 The Faris Foundation: A Legacy of Giving20:25 Advice for Aspiring EntrepreneursThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:How being agile can separate you from other business leaders14:13: So, everything is moving very fast. For the next generation of entrepreneurs, the business leaders not only have to build businesses and solve problems in society, but they have to be agile. They have to be fast. They have to embrace technology. That's a lot of stuff that is coming their way. They have to find their own North Star as to what they're going to do, and how you do it, I think, will depend on individuals—on their passion, on what they find exciting, what excites them. But more than that, to me, it will require a mixture of basic business fundamentals—doing the right things, building things, having great teams around—but embracing technology, not running away from it. Embracing change, not running away from it. I think that will separate successful entrepreneurs and businesses.What Farid hopes for the Virani School15:48: So, my hope is that the Virani School at Rice becomes a top 10 school in the country. Top 5. You said it. That is what we strive—I think Peter and the leadership will strive to do that. But more than that, for me, is that it becomes an institution—the Virani School—that develops the future leaders for the country. Now, whether they are in business, in entrepreneurship, whether it is in the political arena, or whether it is in any industry, so long as it develops leaders that give back to the community and give back to society, and give back to the country, then we will all benefit.Stay humble, hungry and scrappy21:02: Be curious, because you just do not know what life has in store for you. I mean, I think for me, being curious and asking questions about things has served me well, and obviously, be grateful that you are part of an amazing institution like Rice—even more special, the Virani School. But then, you know, stay humble, stay scrappy, and stay hungry, and that pretty much has served me well. And it is simple, you can remember it, and it is nothing fancy.Show Links: TranscriptThe Virani Undergraduate School of Business announcementGuest Profile:Farid Virani | Rice Business

The Roadrunners let some steam loose on the Rice Owls with a record-setting performance that saw UTSA knock three different Rice quarterbacks out of the game. UTSA's offense found a new level of explosiveness thanks to some home run plays through both the ground and the air. Meanwhile, UTSA's defense wouldn't be left out of the scoring party as they pitched in 16 points of their own. We recap this impressive blowout while looking ahead to a huge game against a 5-1 North Texas rival. 00:30 UTSA's Dominant Victory over Rice 10:58 Analyzing the Impact of the Win 31:21 Rivalry Overview: UTSA vs UNT 36:22 Analyzing UNT's 2025 Season 39:42 Key Players on the UNT Roster 52:19 Score Predictions Video: https://youtu.be/V5iW4uJADtg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Roadrunners let some steam loose on the Rice Owls with a record-setting performance that saw UTSA knock three different Rice quarterbacks out of the game. UTSA's offense found a new level of explosiveness thanks to some home run plays through both the ground and the air. Meanwhile, UTSA's defense wouldn't be left out of the scoring party as they pitched in 16 points of their own. We recap this impressive blowout while looking ahead to a huge game against a 5-1 North Texas rival. 00:30 UTSA's Dominant Victory over Rice 10:58 Analyzing the Impact of the Win 31:21 Rivalry Overview: UTSA vs UNT 36:22 Analyzing UNT's 2025 Season 39:42 Key Players on the UNT Roster 52:19 Score Predictions Video: https://youtu.be/V5iW4uJADtg