Baldwin Luu

Rice University – Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business

“Native Houstonian. Vibrant extrovert. Passionate about food, dogs, and coffee.”

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Fun Fact About Yourself: In my spare time, I like to shoot film photography on 35mm film, most of which are of my dog, Rocket. Shameless Instagram plug: @rocketthesheepadoodle.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Houston, Management Information Systems (MIS)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deloitte Advisory, Cyber Risk Senior Consultant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I’m proud of many of my achievements working with some amazing technology clients in the Bay Area, but I consider my biggest accomplishment to be the time I was invited to speak on a panel to over 300 interns at the Deloitte Advisory Intern Conference in Dallas, Texas about my career development. As the only senior consultant invited across the nation to participate on the panel, it was an honor to sit in front of hundreds of people, explaining how I got to where I was and providing the sound advice I received throughout my time at Deloitte.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My favorite qualities about my Rice Business classmates would be the grit and drive everyone has. They’re all humble, hard-working, and eager to get out into the world to make a difference. It’s also worth mentioning that they’re all very encouraging while constantly pushing each other to succeed and everyone is willing to help wherever it’s needed.

What makes Houston a great place to live and earn your MBA? Not only is it the 4th largest city in America, but it’s also the most diverse! As a result, the food scene is incredible and very much underrated. Coming from the Bay Area, the cost of living in Houston is much more ideal as well. It also goes without saying that it is the “Energy Capital of the World” and home to the largest medical center in the world! The opportunities for growth and success are limitless.

Aside from your classmates and location, 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? I had the opportunity to attend a weekend event at Rice called Diversity@Rice, and I was immediately impressed by the collaborative and friendly students. Having worked in a team-based role, I experienced the impact of a collective environment first-hand, and I knew I wanted to be a part of Rice’s tight-knit community. I wanted to meet people who aren’t around for only two years during the program but are friends and colleagues for life. This is instantly apparent when you visit the campus and meet the students here. The genuine connection everyone shares are such an exciting experience, and I’m very grateful to be a part of it all.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m most looking forward to the Action Learning Project (ALP) Rice has. It’s an opportunity for all the MBA students to consult on a local project and provide hands-on experience, learning how to evaluate a client’s challenges and provide actionable recommendations. I am also excited to leverage my experience leading my collegiate professional business fraternity by being a part of the Jones Student Association, particularly because of the interaction among students, alumni, and staff.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? Looking back, I don’t think I received any challenging questions throughout the admissions process. Every time I met with people from Rice throughout the admissions process, it was always a genuine conversation that covered various topics.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After being in a Big 4 company in the Bay Area, cyber risk wasn’t something I wanted to continue long-term. Though the teams I’ve worked with were amazing and the network I’ve gained is immeasurable, I wanted to go beyond advising businesses and to actually be a part of understanding and making a direct impact to a business. I was looking for a transformational experience to pivot my career into something else, and the MBA program at Rice is just that.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? UC Berkeley and UT Austin

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I mainly focused on visiting the schools and meeting as many current students as possible. By doing so, I was able to get a real glimpse into each program and see whether I could imagine myself in their shoes. I wanted to find something where I would be able to positively make a difference, not only in my own life but also potentially others. After meeting the AdCom, alumni, current students, and even Dean Rodriguez himself, I knew Rice Business would be the right school for me.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? As a very risk-averse person, I decided to make the leap and move from my hometown of Houston to San Francisco to support my then-fiancée (now wife) with her decision to start her career at Stanford Children’s Hospital. It ended up being one of the best decisions we’ve made. I was able to transfer to the technology industry and work alongside the most brilliant people. Moving to a completely new city has taught me to face challenging and unfamiliar situations with the right attitude. I’ve learned that whether you are in a team working on a tough project or living as a couple in a brand new city, as long as you have great company, you’ll have a good time.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Ten years is quite the stretch! Whether it be at a bank or a startup or even my own business, I imagine that I’ll be utilizing the core skills and network I’ve obtained from Rice Business to guide me through my future endeavors. Furthermore, I’ll continue being a part of the Rice alumni network and hope to mentor and guide future students in the same seat I’m in today.