Zach Creamer

Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business

“Proud Houstonian passionate about making a difference in the energy industry.”

Hometown: Houston, TX

Fun Fact About Yourself: In high school, I tried out for and made my school’s breakdancing team!

Undergraduate School and Major: Texas A&M, Supply Chain Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting

What has been your favorite part of Houston so far? Why? I’m a little biased because I grew up here, but I think Houston is one of the most underrated cities in the country! I love how you can get a totally different environment in each neighborhood you visit. I absolutely love the food scene here. I love the proximity to the coast. And perhaps most importantly, I love my Astros. If I had to summarize, I would say my favorite thing about Houston is the diversity of experiences you can find in such a small area.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of the Rice Business MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? For me, one of the most important differentiators in the Rice curriculum is their extensive energy industry programming. The energy concentration, which prepares students for careers in oil and gas and energy transition, is something I certainly plan on taking advantage of.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Rice Business? So far, I have really enjoyed my core finance course. With my undergraduate degree in business, finance isn’t new to me, but the way the professor explains the concepts behind the financial formulas really clicks. Overall, I’ve been impressed with how the curriculum connects to the real world, and I feel like I could easily apply what I’ve learned in a business setting.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At Deloitte, I had the opportunity to lead in-country training for the rollout of my client’s new enterprise software system. In that role, I traveled with two client counterparts to nine countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, and presented to hundreds of business leaders across the organization. Though the pace of travel and the frequency of presentations was intense, I felt confident by the end of the project that we had successfully prepared my client’s organization to adopt the new technology platform. My biggest takeaway from the global travel was the very real need to tailor your message depending on your audience’s business communication style. Different regions have very different business customs, and the opportunity to learn about them firsthand was something I’ll never forget.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? While much of my MBA experience has been professional and academic, I view my biggest accomplishment as the tight-knit network I’ve had the opportunity to build with my classmates. Regardless of our intended career outcomes, this group of students at Rice Business is special, and I intend on keeping these connections far past my MBA program.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? Rice organized a “Week on Wall Street” trek to visit several banks in New York. It was a fantastic opportunity to explore the New York financial scene and strengthen my relationship with my classmates. One of my favorite parts of the trip was the alumni happy hour at a rooftop bar in Manhattan. It was impressive to see how big of a network Rice has outside of Houston.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Rice Business MBA program? The admissions team at Rice Business is a fantastic group who does a great job at reviewing candidates holistically. We have a class with very diverse backgrounds, so my advice would be to recognize the value in your experience and apply with confidence if this is where you want to be. Talk to as many current students as you can as this will help inform your decision and will give you something to reference during your interview and in your essays.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE RICE JONES MBA CLASS OF 2024