Meet The Rice Jones MBA Class Of 2019

Vishruti Jakhar 

Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Ultra-deep water Drilling Expert, Mountaineer, Photographer, Off-beat Traveler, Avid Reader, Passionate, Self-Driven, Decisive, Curious, Believer

Hometown:  Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Fun Fact About Yourself:  On my first hike, I was called ‘the mountain goat’ by my fellow trekkers, and I knew I had a calling. However, the journey to climbing 20,000+ feet peaks has been anything but smooth sailing. From burnt shoes to hypothermia, climbing for 15 hours straight to covering over 26 horizontal miles and 7,000 vertical feet distance in a single day, my mountaineering learning experience has increased exponentially.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India – Applied Petroleum Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

Transocean: Accelerated Rig Trainee (Drilling), Assistant Driller (Operations)

Pacific Drilling: Assistant Driller (Drillship Construction), Assistant Driller (Projects)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Putting aside the successful execution of multi-million dollar projects, my biggest accomplishment has been creating a long-term impact on the environment at my work place – the oilrig. Being a pioneer female in the drilling department of many drill ships, I revolutionized the otherwise ‘harsh’ and ‘abusive’ atmosphere to a friendlier one by winning respect of my team members and subordinates and working towards a gradual change in the male-dominated culture through soft skills of active listening and proactive training.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? An MBA is a life changing experience but little do people realize that the application process itself is a remarkable journey and hence one must give due time for this process. While writing essays, take time for introspection. Speak to your friends and family and ask them about their views on your strengths and weaknesses, your accomplishments, and failures. It’s a beautiful process. Read thought provoking books and don’t shy away from an inward journey to discover what’s actually important to you and why.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The opportunities that Rice Business can possibly offer me was the key factor that led me to choose Rice. Nestled in the center of Houston, the oil and gas capital of the world and also the fourth largest city of the US, Rice University has easy access to prospective employers and has abundant lucrative opportunities. With both my previous employers’ CEOs being Rice alumni, Rice Business seemed the obvious choice.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  Deep friendships, significant community contributions and a healthy academic record.