Michael Sides

Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business

“Houston-grown engineer, consultant and die-hard Aggie/Astros fan dedicated to shaping energy strategy.”

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am an avid homebrewer and amateur chef in my free time. I like to picture the kitchen (and fermentation vessels) as my engineering lab.

Undergraduate School and Major: Texas A&M University, Mechanical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deloitte, Consultant

What has been your favorite part of Houston so far? Why? My favorite part of being in Houston has been rediscovering my hometown. Moving back close to family has been incredible, but exploring all of the new restaurants that have popped up over the last decade has been a surprising bonus. I love introducing classmates to my old favorites and letting them guide me to the new spots they’ve discovered. It truly is the best food scene in the country!

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 was specifically drawn to the program’s specialized strength at the intersection of energy finance and strategy. Growing up in Houston, I experienced firsthand the importance of the energy industry to the local and global economy. I chose Rice Business to leverage its renowned faculty and deep industry ties to transition into a commercial leadership role in the energy sector. My goal is to play a major role in driving strategic growth while balancing energy security and sustainability for Texas and beyond.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Rice Jones? My favorite activities have been our weekly Thursday “Partios” (Party on the patio). I haven’t missed one since we started in August! Thursdays are our reliable time to decompress and build genuine relationships with classmates, faculty, and their families outside of the classroom. Every week has great local catering and a unique theme. My favorite has been the Mi Familia Partio, where we enjoyed amazing Mexican street tacos and live music from our university’s Mariachi band — Mariachi Luna Llena.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One project I’m particularly proud of involved leading a denials management initiative for a large health system. It was a significant responsibility where I managed the full project lifecycle, but the real challenge was digging into the data and speaking with stakeholders to understand why systemic issues were happening. By identifying those root causes, I helped design a roadmap of improvements that projected $9.6 million in accelerated cash flow and a $3 million reduction in annual denials. While the numbers were great, the most rewarding part was seeing how fixing those underlying process gaps provided genuine, long-term relief for the client.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? I had the opportunity to support the Rice Energy Finance Summit as a first-year representative, helping to lead day-of operations. It was an incredible way to integrate with the second-year class and flex leadership muscles early in my MBA experience. The conference hit record attendance and featured many amazing speakers and discussions on market dynamics — from electrification to valuation and natural resource pricing — where I had a front-row seat to the strategic challenges and opportunities currently facing the industry.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? My best memories as an MBA so far have been the small moments between the big milestones: debating cases in the hallways, grabbing lunch between classes, and the camaraderie built during late-night study sessions. Everyone in this program is incredibly driven and passionate. Being surrounded by people who challenge and support you has been the most rewarding part of the journey.

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