Meet The Rice Jones MBA Class Of 2025

Finance. Marketing. Management. Operations.

You’ll study each of them in any MBA program’s core curriculum. In some cases, you’ll see how they intersect through a case, project, or competition. If you really want to experience how a financial tradeoff or logistical bottleneck reverberates across an enterprise, there’s no better way than starting a company.

Few schools help students do that better than Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business. Last fall, The Princeton Review, in partnership with Entrepreneur magazine, ranked Jones as the trop graduate Entrepreneurship program in the world. It was the 5th year in a row that Jones had claimed the honor. At the same time, the school finished 3rd in Poets&Quants’ ranking of MBA Entrepreneurship programs.

A DEEP COMMITMENT REINFORCED BY INVESTMENT

Clearly, Rice is doing something special. For one, the concept of entrepreneurial thinking is embedded across the curriculum: creativity, problem-solving, flexibility, proactiveness – and particularly the ability to identify and size up issues (and the possibilities inherent to them).  And there is a sizable commitment made by the Jones Graduate School to entrepreneurship too. A 2023 survey conducted by P&Q showed that 29% of all Jones electives are geared around entrepreneurship – and 73% of MBA students completed coursework in this area in 2022-2023. Another 72% of students were involved in startup work, with students receiving, on average 23 entrepreneurship-focused mentorship hours during that period. From 2018-2022, 5.6% of Jones MBA graduates launched a startup – and another 9% joined one. The students weren’t the only ones with a passion for ventures. 100% of Jones faculty are directly involved with entrepreneurship.

Rice grads aren’t just committed to new ventures. They are successful in growing them too. According to The Princeton Review, Rice business grads raised $657 million dollars for the startups from 2018-2023. One reason, according to P&Q research: Jones budgets more startup funding – $9,217 per student – than any other graduate business program.

This track record – coupled with Rice University’s startup resources – appealed to alumni like Karen Verboski, a venture capital fellow and ’24 grad who ultimately pursued a finance career at Pfizer.

“I chose Rice Business primarily for its emphasis on entrepreneurship, a decision that proved right and shaped most of the defining moments of my MBA. For example, I partnered up with an amazing Ph.D. student and pitched an endometriosis cell therapy solution for a Rice competition named the Napier Challenge; became a “New Enterprises” (one of our classes) Teaching Assistant; competed in the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC); and collaborated with a diverse team of students on a food SaaS startup project. It ultimately changed my perspective and made me realize the importance of customer research and a strong network of mentors and believers provided by Lilie (The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship). It was hands-on experience that reinforced my excitement for the school’s commitment to fostering innovation and practical skill development.”

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Among Rice Jones’ marquee attractions, you’ll find the Liu Idea Lab, a campus hub for startup activity that has launched nearly 300 ventures over the past nine years. It offers 36 courses related to entrepreneurship and innovation, not to mention hosting workshops, summits, competitions, and speakers. Along with sponsoring seven entrepreneurial-themed clubs, it also provides a launchpad to grow ventures, including offering grants and fellowships and housing experts-in-residence. For Ahmad Tipu, a 2024 Best & Brightest MBA who ultimately joined Deloitte, the Liu Idea Lab provided a space to experience the lifecycle of a venture from concept to scaling.

“In my prior work experience, I had the opportunity to work in an early series A startup, an IPO stage firm, and a private legacy fashion company – but never a venture at the very beginning of its journey,” Tipu explains. “The risk-free environment of Rice Business’s nationally-ranked entrepreneurship program, the plethora of top tier professors and practitioners, and the rich ecosystem of PhDs at Rice provided the perfect space.”

Beyond Jones, Rice University offers the OwlSpark Accelerator from the Rice Alliance. For over two decades, Rice University scientists, engineers, and researchers have partnered with the larger university to turn their breakthroughs into actual ventures. The Rice Alliance also sponsors the Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC), the largest event of its kind. Each year, 42 student startups compete for over $1.5 million dollars in funding. This past year, Michigan State’s Protein Pints collected a $150,000 grand prize, while another four ventures came away with six-figure investments – joining over 700 startups that have ultimately fetched $6.1 billion dollars since the competition began in 2021. In addition, Rice University has partnered with the City of Houston to open the Ion District, a 12-block technology park that includes labs, studios, and an accelerator to foster collaboration among creative talent and technical experts for ventures.

Along then you have Houston itself. Archana Thapa, a first-year MBA who has summited Mount Kilimanjaro, is drawn to the healthcare and life science entrepreneurship space. She loves how the Texas Medical Center – the largest in the world – is a 10-minute drive from the Jones campus. As a student, Karen Verboski was equally smitten with Houston’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“The town provides a supportive environment for startups to thrive with a number of local startup incubators and accelerators and innovation hubs like Greentown Labs, The Cannon and TXRX Labs. I go to “The Ion” every first Friday of the month with fellow Entrepreneurship Association members to connect with founders, investors and mentors while joining a free weekly networking event called “Cup of Joey.” You can strike a conversation with people from all walks of life there. Truly. From Israeli business owners to Danish investors and NASA scientists, I’ve had a colorful assortment of fruitful discussions in that place. Houston always provides great ways to meet new people and plug into the local innovation community.”

TAKING THE LEAD

In the Class of 2025, you’ll find many Rice MBAs who possess both an entrepreneurial spirit – and even a startup background. Take Chakib Khechai, who came to Jones after working as a brand manager at Unilever. He has already spent time in the Lillie Lab, which was familiar territory for him.

“I launched two startups, one that manufactures Robot Arms for industrial applications and another that uses Artificial Intelligence to improve the learning experience of young children.”

Many times, entrepreneurs must step out of their comfort zones and tackle jobs that don’t always go as planned. That was the case with Botagoz Kumasheva. She had to relocate from Kazakhstan to Los Angeles to work on a Chevron Refinery – an assignment she took right before COVID-19 broke loose. Over 2.5 years, the assignment reinforced her “adaptability and resilience”.

“During my time at Chevron’s U.S. Refinery, I contributed to key projects, collaborated with a diverse team, and navigated complex business scenarios. This accomplishment not only highlighted my capability to perform consistently at a high level, but also demonstrated my capacity to thrive in an international setting.”

COVID-19 also impacted career trajectory of Stephanie Sulapas, most recently a district leader at CVS Health. In Central Texas, she spearheaded an immunization program that impacted millions of lives. Anthony Hall and Kyle Zarosky are also accustomed to protecting lives. Hall served in the U.S. Navy, where he mentored over 100 sailors as a career counselor before becoming an international tax consultant with Deloitte. At the same time, Zarosky was elevated to being an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, which required him to pass a daunting course.

“With a challenging 40% attrition rate, the course demanded effective decision making, communication, and drive for action in highly stressful situations. This goal was further intensified as I navigated the challenges of attending the birth of my first child during the looming pandemic in March of 2020.”

“DOING THE SMALL THINGS IN A GREAT WAY”

Darien Hinson has also pursued a career predicated on saving lives. An MBA-MD, the future dermatologist completed his fourth year as a medical student at the Baylor College of Medicine, while also working as a research assistant in vaccine development with the Texas Children’s Hospital. His biggest achievement, he says, was being inducted into the AOA Chapter at the Baylor College.

“This honor, from the oldest medical honor society, acknowledged not just my academic performance in the top 20% but also my profound dedication to medical excellence.”

A former professional volleyball player, Diana Katherine Carrillo Romero oversaw advanced analytics projects for her company. Growing up, Kiran Putti was educated by the Order of the Discalced Carmelites Mission. After completing his undergraduate degree, he returned to the Order to support underprivileged children following in his footsteps. At 19, Supriya Yasam earned an internship with an Egyptian startup through AIESEC, a global non-profit grounded in social impact. While the experience deepened her “cultural wisdom” and leadership skills, it also tapped into her adventurous side.

“I snorkeled in the world’s most dangerous diving site in red sea, camped under millions of stars in the Sahara, cruised the Nile, climbed the Crystal Mountain, sand boarded in the desert, explored the pyramids, witnessed royal mummies, trekked hills, and swam in the Mediterranean Sea at night. These experiences not only taught me to face my fears but also underscored the significance of doing small things in a great way.”

FINDING PURPOSE AS A BOARD FELLOW

That pursuit of the great led Yasam to become a CDO Ambassador at Jones – or what she calls the “first face of the school” who goes the “extra mile” as a host for students and employers at campus events.

“As a CDO Ambassador, I’ve had the opportunity to directly connect with recruiters, expanding my professional network and contributing to the growth of valuable relationships between the school and industry stakeholders,” she writes. “This experience has been a profound learning journey, emphasizing the importance of cultivating and nurturing professional relationships for both personal and collective success.”

Before starting business school last fall, Simon Cormack earned a spot in Bain & Company’s BASE Scholar program. Not only did he get to spend a week at Bain, but he earned a summer internship in Bain’s Houston office in the process. Cormack, along with classmate Anthony Hall, was also selected to be Board Fellow at Rice Business. Here, Hall sat on the board of the Urban Enrichment Institute, a non-profit that supports at-risk males. Lasting a year, the Board Fellows feature a non-voting role – but one that provides an opportunity for students to gain leadership experience and build their network. In Cormack’s case, he joined the board of Advocates for Immigrant Survivors, which provides legal counsel and social work to survivors of sexual and domestic abuse

“I highly recommend anyone interested to look into AIS and consider donating,” Cormack adds. “It is a great organization I would never have connected with if it weren’t for Board Fellows.”

Next Page: Interview with Rice MBA Leaders.

Page 3: Profiles of 12 Members of the Class of 2025