William Matheson, CFA

Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business

“I’m a seasoned financial leader — but most importantly, I’m the father of three small children!”

Hometown: Harpersville, AL

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I grew up on a farm, and as of the last census, my hometown still has less than 1,500 people in it.

Undergraduate School and Major: Vanderbilt University, Master’s in Finance and B.A. in Economics and History

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: R2Metrics, fintech startup and financial services consulting firm, Executive Vice President

What has been your favorite part of Houston so far? Why? I love the winters here. It’s hard to beat a city where you can exercise outside year-round… if you can tolerate running outside in the summer, that is!

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the one key part of the Rice Jones MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I loved that Rice Business had such a strong focus on consulting and entrepreneurship. It is a great combination for someone interested in entering the Houston business community. I have a lot of pure finance training, so the emphasis on strategy and entrepreneurship in the curriculum will allow me to have a truly unique educational experience.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Rice Jones? I’ve enjoyed being a part of the Jones Christian Fellowship (JCF), as well as participating in the many networking opportunities with local consulting firms. Each one has been a great experience, and I have been extremely impressed by the companies that Rice Business brings in.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of my biggest career accomplishments was spearheading efforts to raise growth equity financing for my previous employer in Nashville, Tennessee. It was such a rewarding experience, and I felt like I was able to give the company a new lease on life. To this day, it’s a huge personal accomplishment.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? So far, I think my biggest accomplishment as an MBA has been staying on top of my courses, networking and recruiting opportunities following the birth of my third child in October 2024. In terms of a more career-focused accomplishment, receiving the opportunity to do research for some of the finance faculty at Rice Business after demonstrating my knowledge in the field has been a particular point of pride.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? I love the faculty at Rice Business, and I have really enjoyed attending some of the research seminars to get a sense of the work being done at the forefront of finance and management. They’re always insightful and they’ve given me the opportunity to apply new skills and knowledge from the classroom to real-world scenarios.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE RICE JONES MBA CLASS OF 2026

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