Meet the Rice Jones MBA Class of 2018

 Wes Weigle

 Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Visionary Leader. Uncompromising Loyalty. Adaptable Propensity. Seasoned but not salty. Breakfast for dinner. Maverick.

Hometown: Aiken, South Carolina

Fun Fact About Yourself: Avid water sports enthusiast and offshore angler. I caught my first fish at the age of three. At the time, the fish and I were comparable in height – needless to say, I have been hooked ever since.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Military Academy at West Point; Bachelor of Science, Double Major in Economics and Management

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: United States Army Aviation Officer and AH-64D Apache Pilot, 2007-2016

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Passion has been my underlying catalyst throughout my military career; building teams, endeavoring to accomplish demanding missions in austere environments, adapting to extremes in adversity, all define who I was and who I have become over the last nine years. It has been an honor to serve, to learn, and to lead. I will always keep close at heart the sacrifices made by my brothers and sisters in arms. When asked what I am most proud of, I think back through my days as an aspiring leader and the bonds formed during those trials and tribulations. It was about the team, the bond, the legacy and camaraderie. It was about creating and being a part of something larger than oneself, united with common goals and core values. I am proud to have stood beside fellow patriots, willing to lay down their life for each other and for their country.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Make a plan, set the timeline now, and then meet your self-prescribed deadlines. You can never start too early preparing for the daunting tasks that come with the right to have a shot at business school. Your plan should outline your study and preparation plan as well as anticipated dates for taking the GMAT or GRE. Most top-ranked business schools take both test scores. Choose the right one for you and stick with that one! Flip-flopping between the two will only cause you to lose precious time. Take a practice test to determine which test most closely relates to your strengths and offers the greatest value for your time and effort.

Talk to your anticipated recommenders as soon as you begin thinking about applying to business school. It is extremely important to give those esteemed individuals more than the necessary amount of time to write quality recommendations on your behalf. Besides, it is the respectful thing to do and it just makes sense! Do not put your recommenders in a spot where they have to scramble on your behalf because you failed to plan properly.

Prep for interview sessions. Utilize the numerous B-School interview prep resources that are available. You may not know all of the questions that will be asked, but your preparation for baseline, common questions will naturally reflect in your responses and boost your confidence. Be yourself, smile, and be excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? During the application process, I applied to a number of top-ranked business school programs around the country. Rice Business was unlike any other school. I was amazed at not only the reception that I received during my visit as a candidate, but more importantly, the acclaim that the students, alumni and faculty had for their school and the opportunities that the program and the Houston area provided. The classroom size was a fraction of all the other top-ranked schools in the country, and I immediately felt the tight connection among students. Everyone knew their classmates by name and the alumni were actively involved in the hiring process post-MBA. Following my visit, all other schools fell to the bottom of my list; Rice was the family that I knew I had to be a part of.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life?  Although I am inspired by influential companies, founders, and leaders around the globe, my ultimate level of satisfaction will come from working for myself. I am an entrepreneur at heart, yet I recognize the importance of working for and learning from other diverse organizations.

My family played a huge part in my decision to transition out of the Army. Five moves in eight years is exceptionally tough on any family, and unfortunately my wife’s professional goals as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine suffered as a result. Despite our volatility, we gained different perspectives that helped narrow down objectives going into the future. Our career passions and dreams are interconnected. She is passionate about providing the highest quality of surgical and medical veterinary care to her clients, and I am passionate about building a modern, all-encompassing veterinary business around her. My passion for creating and building, coupled with my wife’s passion for animals is the perfect recipe to make dreams happen.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? Business school provides the perfect setting to develop lasting relationships and friendships with a truly extraordinary group of individuals with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Following completion of the MBA program, I hope that my classmates will associate my name with someone they can trust, someone whom they would follow, and someone who they can call their friend.

DON’T MISS: THE ENTIRE MEET THE CLASS OF 2018 SERIES