On The Rice Track: How I Overcame Imposter Syndrome

Portrait sad woman taking off clown mask expressing happiness isolated on gray wall background

I was fresh out of university when I was named managing director of a brick-and-mortar retail business in Guadalajara, my hometown. The business had five successful stores and provided employment for more than 20 people. I led strategies to double sales and increase profitability, trained the team, and modified long-standing cultural pitfalls. Another side of me became a SCUBA diver during the weekends, opening a window to understanding more about Reefs and coral bleaching.

After five years of being that dedicated managing director, I decided it was time to embark on new opportunities, knowing that pursuing an MBA was the next right step. So I started browsing options and preparing for my admission process.

Rice MBA Students

“THE BRIGHTEST STUDENTS IN THE COUNTRY”

Houston was a city dear to my heart, and Rice was the school I had long-ago promised my mom I would attend when I grew up. The first time my family and I visited Houston, my parents took us to Rice and they explained that the brightest students in the country came to Rice. If you have ever been on the Rice Campus, you would want to be one of those bright students and walk beneath the magnificent oaks that surround the university.

Eventually, after months of preparation and effort, I got admitted to Rice Business. I jumped on the plane with all my business-professional clothes and SCUBA diving gear, arriving just in time for Launch. It was hard for me to believe I was attending one of the best business schools in the country. I remember being in class, looking at my classmates, and thinking, “I am so lucky to be sitting next to all these bright people.” As with every fresh start, it was energizing—a firehose splashing with information, names to memorize, and my time-management skills improving by the day.

No later than midterms, though, the juggler I was becoming began to lose sight of the ultimate goal. Imposter Syndrome had set in and I wondered if I really belonged. Handling exams, being present in class, and attending conferences were manageable, but then came recruiting. Pivoting my career into an eco-friendlier profession—motivated by my experiences as a specialty SCUBA diver and wanting to be part of the energy transition to save the reefs—was not coming along as smoothly as I had expected. I began to feel like my dream was too crazy and the problem too big. I thought I had an ace up my sleeve when, in my introductory pitch, I said, “I want to pivot into clean energy because I want to save the reefs from coral bleaching.” Maybe I was naïve, but that’s who I really was.

OVERCOMING THE SHADOW

Mercedes Moncada-García

Months went by, and the syndrome started casting a shadow – not just on my recruiting process but also on my confidence. I was losing the traction I had for getting a summer internship. It was hard to identify at first, but there were clues along the way that helped me realize I was losing my clear sense of purpose. It’s difficult to admit, but it took great discipline to sweep away the imposter fog, redraw my strategy, and build a resilience that couldn’t be defeated easily.

The well-being resources and my MBA support network (aka friends) were key for this diver-turned-MBA student to regain confidence. My belief in myself – all that I had accomplished in my previous work experience and what I was determined to achieve – came back. I continued to believe in my story and shared it with everyone I spoke with, seeking feedback and potential connections to land a summer internship. Through consistency in my approach, I met someone who knew someone. That person introduced me to the late Scott Gale, the champion of the energy transition ecosystem in Texas. Scott listened to me, guided me, and made me part of his team. My efforts produced great results—I interned at the inaugural Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week (HECS), and I had a summer beyond anything I could have imagined. HECS was a platform for me to network with c-suite level partners and understand more about the role of marketing in the Energy Transition ecosystem in Texas.

The internship helped me remember that my previous experience was valuable and that I was an asset to any team.  Even so, I still embrace vulnerability and openness about the turbulent times I went through because, let’s face it, becoming an MBA student is not easy. However, having the right resources and leveraging the skills developed through the MBA program are essential to navigating and succeeding in the business transformation process.

Taking a deep breath, I can now say I am surfing through my second year, using that firehose of information as a platform to boost my career toward my dream. I wouldn’t change a thing about the journey I’ve traveled. Now, I am definitely enjoying the time to connect with those who have become lifelong friends, and embracing the last months of walking beneath the magnificent oaks at Rice University.

Mercedes is an international full-time MBA student at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business with a passion for marketing, and entrepreneurship. Raised in an entrepreneurial family, she gained early insights into the world of business, negotiation, and problem-solving, leading her early in her career to take the role as Managing Director at Shoe Mix Shoestores, in Guadalajara, Mexico.

She expanded her professional experience with an internship at the Houston Energy + Climate Startup Week 2024, diving into hands-on projects that furthered her expertise in transformative marketing strategies. Additionally, her volunteer work at a young age, as a teacher in Nicaragua, allowed her to connect with underserved communities, building empathy and resilience that influence her approach to both life and business.

Known for her kind heart, she connects easily with teams, helping them work together efficiently. When she is not immersed in her work, she is often near the ocean—SCUBA diving, hula-dancing, or enjoying the beach, where the wonders of the underwater world inspire her adventurous spirit.