Irene Kwihangana

Texas Christian University Neeley School of Business

“A results-driven, observant and reliable team player with a curious personality.”

Hometown: Kigali, Rwanda

Fun Fact About Yourself: First-born and first-generation college student. I love music, science-fiction movies, travelling and tennis.

Undergraduate School and Major: TCU, Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: CIMERWA Plc (The largest and the only integrated cement producer in Rwanda), Reliability Engineer

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of TCU Neeley’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? TCU for me was not just a school: it has become a family. I wanted a small MBA program where I have access to the best faculty and know that I have a support system that wants me to succeed and maximize my potential as a global leader. And I get that at TCU Neeley. As an international student whose English is a third language, I have an opportunity to interact with professors one-on-one to help with deeper understanding of the material, and I have been invited by multiple faculty and staff to share a meal with them such as Thanksgiving. They truly care and give me a sense of belonging. I know this will translate to future opportunities to enhance my career and land a job post-graduation.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at TCU Neeley? Coming into the TCU Neeley MBA program, I knew I wanted to pivot into the consulting industry. The learning curve in consulting never ends and I am naturally a curious person who is eager to learn. One of my models is “you don’t have to know it all, you can learn it all.” I joined the Consulting Club to gain exposure to the industry and to make connections to help me land a job with a top consulting firm upon graduation. TCU Neeley hosts bootcamps tailored to students’ career interests and invite executives from consulting companies to talk about their career journey and how they apply the MBA in the work environment. Additionally, TCU Neeley pairs students with alumni as mentors to help navigate the MBA program and expose them to the life of a consultant, which is extremely valuable preparation for the interview process.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It is hard to pick just one. In my time as a reliability engineer in collaboration with the team, we used data driven strategies and root cause analysis to reduce maintenance costs from $9.00/ton to $7.8/ton which help the company save above $500,000 in a year.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why?

Reading:

• “Lying” by Sam Harris; the book speaks about how honesty is the best policy and how every lie conditions people to normalize deception.
• “Atomic Habits” by James Clear: the book speaks about how habits are formed and the importance of minor changes; “Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results”
• Currently reading, “The Coaching Habit” Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay

Best advice: “Life is not a sprint; it is a marathon” — we need be always reminded that we don’t need to cut down a tree in one swing. Most of things in life take time and we need to learn to be patient.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into TCU Neeley’s MBA program? Do not hesitate to ask for help. TCU Neeley faculty and staff want to see you succeed in the application process. Current MBA students are working as Admissions Ambassadors to help you get to know the culture and expectations of the TCU MBA. If you can, visit campus. The Dallas-Fort Worth area is a terrific destination. It is ranked among the top growing cities in the U.S., which presents a wealth of opportunities for TCU MBA graduates.

DON’T MISS MEET THE TCU NEELEY MBA CLASS OF 2024