A great idea is just the beginning. How do you turn it into something bigger? Dr. Paul Cherukuri, Rice University's first vice president for innovation and chief innovation officer, works with academics and industry titans to remove roadblocks for budding entrepreneurs and help cement Houston and Rice as top hubs for innovation. Paul joins Owl Have You Know host Maya Pomroy ’22 to chat about how the Office of Innovation is paving the way for cutting-edge, world-changing ideas. They also discuss The Ion, Rice’s Midtown hub for entrepreneurship, why Paul chose to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry at Rice, and his path to leading innovation at the university. Episode Guide: 01:10 Dr. Cherukuri’s Journey to Rice 04:47 The Impact of Rice University 06:03 Building the Office of Innovation 08:33 Challenges and Opportunities in Innovation 12:52 Fostering Entrepreneurship at Rice 16:05 Exciting Student Projects 17:59 Small Business Innovation and Nexus Launch 18:50 The Ion: Houston's Innovation Hub 19:43 Building an Innovation Ecosystem 23:45 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 28:42 The Exciting and Future Prospects on Rice’s Horizon Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: On empowering the entrepreneurial spirit and taking calculated risks 14:20: [Maya Pomroy] You've taken a lot of calculated risks in your life for things that you've done, and to translate that to others, how do you do that? 14:55:[Dr. Paul Cherukuri] There are some people who just naturally resonate with the idea of doing it, right? The entrepreneurial spirit is within them and it's active, right? Then there are some people who are sort of suppressed, repressed, who have always wanted to do it and weren't sure if that was allowed, right? Or if that was fostered for their career. And what we provide is the capability and also the inspiration that this is not only possible, it's welcomed. It's something that we actually want to promote, right? The Ion represents Rice's ability to create a community for innovators 23:11: When you find your tribe, it's very, very different, and I think that The Ion represents that ability for us to concentrate people so they can meet each other. But then also provide resources, both with the corporates and the venture capitalists that are in the building. And then we're bringing in government and others to really kind of subsidize things and help us grow these companies, and then not only the companies, but grow the community. And that's what The Ion represents, right? So it is, I think, a magical place in many ways. If you go in there, there is an energy. There's a buzz that has happened now. How Houston's lack of zoning laws fuels growth and connection 21:41: One of the beautiful things I think about Houston is we get dinged for not having zoning laws, but I actually think it's a great thing. And it has allowed us to economically grow, thrive, and expand the city. The problem with the expansion of the city is people density, right? So how do you get people to be right next to each other? Because that's when things start to magically happen, right? You got to get close to others. Show Links: Transcript Guest Profiles: Paul Cherukuri | Rice Business…

Have you ever wondered why the wait times in emergency rooms are so long? Or what dictates the cost of healthcare and it seems so high? Professor Tolga Tezcan has studied healthcare systems around the globe, collaborating with hospitals and researching questions involving access and business operations. He has continued that work at Rice University and teaches courses on operations management, business analytics, and data mining. Owl Have You Know host Maya Pomroy ’22 sits down with Tolga to chat about his course on operations management, the inefficiencies and bottlenecks healthcare systems face, and his research on innovations in healthcare delivery. Episode Guide: 00:22 Meet Professor Tolga Tezcan 01:36 Understanding Operations Management 05:00 Journey into Healthcare Operations 08:13 Challenges in Healthcare Systems 11:43 Innovative Research and Solutions 21:28 Future of Healthcare and AI 34:24 Teaching and Student Engagement 35:46 Life at Rice University 38:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: How Professor Tolga’s research is using financial incentives to improve healthcare 11:44 [Maya Pomroy]: So tell me about your research. What were the bigger questions? This is exciting because I want to know how it's all going to be fixed and magnificent and, you know, like, this is really—no, I mean, it's because healthcare is just crucial, and it's really integral for all parts of our society—not only the economy but for a healthy society and for everything else. And in order to be the leader of the free world, you need a healthy society. So yes, I'm very excited to hear about your research. 15:46 [Professor Tolga Tezcan]: So, my research in general—what I try to answer is, okay, we have this best system. How do we coordinate it better? How do we make sure they're connected better? And usually, you do that, at least—I mean, from a business point of view, looking at it as a business—it's with financial incentives. So I try to figure out the best incentives to give so that everybody acts like they're doing the best for the patient. What are the biggest opportunities for AI in healthcare innovation? 22:12: When you talk about healthcare, there are many different aspects to discuss. And when I talk about AI, it's not the business side that's going to change first; it's going to change the medical delivery side of it, just like any other business. And for us, for example, it makes a lot of things a lot easier to do: writing an email, sometimes checking or editing a document, and so on and so forth. And just like that, I think the first step would be when you're making medical decisions; it will increase the—I shouldn't say accuracy—but it will increase at least the efficiency of doctors making that decision because now you have a second opinion right there at your fingertips. I think that's what's going to change first. What Professor Tolga Enjoys most about teaching in the Rice community 34:45: I want to believe that my course is an eye-opening experience for everybody, seeing the strategic role operations play. And I love the conversations I have. I mean, multiple times I have conversations with people who come from operations and tell me, "Oh, I've never thought about these issues this way," or people come in with no background and say, "Oh, you know, I've never thought this was something that plays such an important role." It's a challenge because a lot of things in operations change, just like anything else. Show Links: Transcript Guest Profiles: Tolga Tezcan | Rice Business…

Tanu Grewal ’05 knows that you can learn a lot about a person’s buying habits based on what brands are in their cabinets at home. Tanu is a global marketing leader. In her roles at Coca-Cola, Whirlpool, and Kohler, she helped revolutionize iconic products used by millions of consumers in their homes everyday. She has continued this work as the Vice President of Marketing at AlEn, a Proctor & Gamble-like company with products in 95% of households in Mexico. In his debut episode as the new co-host of Owl Have You Know, Brian Jackson ’21 sits down with Tanu to chat about her early marketing days at Coca-Cola in India, the strategies she gained from Whirlpool for understanding consumer behavior, and how she’s innovating at AlEn for different markets in the U.S. and Mexico. Episode Guide: 01:02 Early Career and First Internship at Coca-Cola 02:23 Cultural Insights and Marketing Challenges in India 05:00 Navigating Global Markets: Europe, Middle East, and Africa 07:14 Understanding the American Consumer 09:36 Revitalizing Iconic Brands: Whirlpool and Maytag 13:14 Innovative Strategies in a Crowded Market 16:26 Adapting Products for the U.S. Market 18:58 Agile Innovation at AlEn USA 20:46 The Journey of ‘Art of Green' 23:21 Navigating COVID Challenges 26:03 The Rice MBA Experience 29:30 Commitment to Community and Diversity 37:40 Future Aspirations at AlEn Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: How lived experiences shape true diversity 32:18: I think true diversity is from your lived experiences. You can be, you know, whatever demographic, but even within that, your lived experiences can really make you a very diverse person because you have a certain way of looking at the world that your neighbor doesn't, right? And so, that to me is diversity, because you can then look at the same problem and think about solving it very differently. And I have seen it in action, Brian, in every continent. And it always, always amazes me how five people looking at the same slide can interpret it so differently because how they've grown up, what they've, you know, what experiences have shaped their lives. Tanu’s approach to navigating multi-cultural markets 06:30: Back in India, my dad was in the army. We moved around a lot, so I had the opportunity to really immerse myself in different cultures and have the ability to talk to different people, so I think that's what it is. And even when I went for my expat assignment, I was managing 33 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. And the first thing I said was, I need to understand people. So we went out and did focus groups in different cities to really understand what the brand means to someone in France, or somebody in Germany, or in Israel. And really, you know, I would recommend every marketer to really study. And once you get an understanding, don't just stop there. Keep doing this, right? Because people change, people evolve, and things around the people evolve. And I think the pace of change, if anything, has just kind of 10xed, right? So, that's kind of my secret sauce. On gratitude, growth and giving back 35:27: I really do think I've been extremely fortunate in a lot of things. You know, I grew up in India as a girl. My dad was like a feminist, way ahead of his time. I mean, just a man... I mean, we lost him a couple of years ago, but I mean, I always think about, am I going to be able to do that for my child, right? Be that progressive and all of that. And then, you know, getting the opportunity to come here, go to Rice, work in all the fabulous companies I have, lived in all these different countries. Sometimes, when I sit and think about it, I'm like, man, yeah. I have got to be thankful for all this, and then I have to give back, right? I have to help other people because that's just what you do. And I derive a lot of joy from giving back and from helping other people. Show Links: Transcript Guest Profiles: Tanu Grewal | Rice Business…

In this episode, we pay tribute to our dear friend, colleague and co-host of the Owl Have You Know podcast, Scott Gale '19. Join us as we revisit some of Scott’s favorite episodes and hear from the Rice community about Scott’s lasting impact. Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Show Links: Transcript Episodes mentioned in the show: Corporate Innovation feat. Scott Gale '19 Generations of Rice Grads feat. Chuck Yates '94 A Commitment to Community Brought Our Provost to Rice feat. Amy Dittmar The Misconception of Constructive Conflict feat. Professor Daan van Knippenberg The Tools For Strong Leadership Are Right In Front of You. feat. Ruth Oh Reitmeier and Brent Smith Guest Profiles: Scott Gale | Rice University Scott Gale | Obituary…

Andrea Edmundson Bryan wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to do with her liberal arts undergrad degree. But one thing she did know? She had a strong curiosity to learn more about the business world. To Andrea's surprise, this curiosity led her to a career in oil and gas and an MBA at Rice University. Andrea is now the Chief Administrative Officer at Race Rock, a Houston-based manufacturer of critical infrastructure products for the energy sector with a mission to provide safe passage for people and power. Andrea joins host Maya Pomroy ’22 to chat about Race Rock's diverse work that’s shaping the future of energy infrastructure, her journey from a liberal arts degree from TCU to an MBA at Rice, her family’s deep Texas roots, and the lasting impact her MBA has had on her career and life. Episode Guide: 00:43 Career Journey: From Oil and Gas to Infrastructure 02:07 Houston Roots and Educational Background 05:06 The Bryan Museum and Texas History 06:46 Teaching English in Malaysia 12:23 Starting Race Rock and Business Insights 15:57 The Exponential Growth of Racerock 17:22 Navigating the Pandemic and Wedding Plans 18:28 The Rice MBA Experience 21:06 Board Fellows Program and Nonprofit Involvement 24:01 Innovations in Highway Infrastructure 27:11 Advice for Aspiring MBA Students and Final Thoughts Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: Andrea's vision for safe passage in highway infrastructure 24:06 [Maya Pomroy]: There's definitely big shifts in energy and technology right now. And you're, sort of, at the forefront of that with Race Rock. So, tell me about the kind of work that you're doing now, and what you're the most looking forward to, and how your company is going to continue to grow. 24:25 [Andrea Edmundson Bryan]: I mean, there's so many, you know, big and exciting things going on. I think in, you know, in the highway infrastructure space and the arena that we play in, you know, steel manufacturing and galvanizing, there's just, there's always room for improvement, right? Everyone drives down the street, everyone drives on highways, and you see the structures that hold the signs on freeways, and they're just there until—and they're there until you need them, right? And the guardrails along the highway that protect you if you get into an accident. We really pride ourselves on, you know, providing safe passage for people in power. That's our, kind of, motto and what we hold on to. Why Andrea sees an MBA as a lifelong tool for growth 27:51: People ask me, why go get an MBA? There's a lot of argument of, like, is that necessary? And to me, I think it's multifaceted, but going through something hard and challenging like that, it's always a good thing to learn something new, challenge yourself, do something difficult, and come out at the other end of that. I think that's important on a human level, on giving yourself purpose, challenging yourself, and constantly learning. I fully believe in doing that and cultivating yourself as an individual at all times. And then also, for me, the big factor is, I always wanted that tool in my toolkit. So, I can't tell you what's going to happen tomorrow. I can't tell you what's going to happen next year, what my life's going to look like, what pivots or tracks will happen, but I will always have this in my toolkit. An MBA from Rice will always be mine. On why Andrea always recommends the Rice MBA 19:43: Just like my TCU experience, I wish that on everyone else—that when they think about doing an MBA program, they have the experience I had at Rice, which was phenomenal. It was great. Everything about it—professors, faculty, atmosphere, culture, social—everything about it was awesome. And I continue to show that to people in my kind of involvement with Rice since graduation that I feel really passionate and strongly about, and giving back. I'm always the first person if someone reaches out and says, "Hey, I have somebody that's thinking about an MBA." I'm like, "Let me talk to him. I'll talk to him. Let me talk to him." Show Links: Transcript Guest Profiles: Andrea Edmundson Bryan | Rice Business Race Rock Group The Bryan Museum…

How is AI enhancing our creativity and problem solving and how does that compare to other digital tools we use everyday, like search engines? Through controlled lab experiments and field studies, William S. Mackey Jr. Distinguished Assistant Professor Jaeyeon (Jae) Chung spends her time at Rice Business researching questions just like that. Her recent work focuses on the groundbreaking innovations and psychological implications of AI’s growing role in our lives. Jae joins host Maya Pomroy ’22 to chat about her journey from psychology to AI, her recent study on generative AI’s effectiveness in assisting human creativity, and her research that delves into how misinformation is spread through platforms like YouTube. Episode Guide: 01:35 Journey from Psychology to AI 04:20 Academic and Professional Achievements 06:44 Why Rice University? 08:40 Teaching and Research at Rice 12:47 Exploring ChatGPT's Creativity 17:43 AI's Role in Empathy and Innovation 21:42 Concerns and Regulations Around AI 27:50 YouTube and Misinformation 34:05 Future Research and Projects Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: Exploring Jaeyeon's recent study on AI and creativity 13:21: [Maya] You did a recent study about ChatGPT as a powerful tool for enhancing everyday creativity and problem-solving. So can you walk me through that experiment that you ran and through your study and your findings on that? 13:59: [Jaeyeon Chung] So, my curiosity stemmed from the fact that GPT may perform better than Google or human in subjective tasks. It seemed quite obvious that it does a great role, a great, great job in solving math problems or writing code, but would it be superior when it does a very subjective test, which is perceived as completely human? And that was the creativity test that a lot of people have been saying is a unique territory of humans that no machines can replace. 14:17: [Maya] With empathy. Empathy was one of the emotions that you studied, yes? 14:21: [Jaeyeon Chung] Right, right. And I was trying to challenge that assumption, and that's how I started to run a different set of experiments. How Rice supports junior faculty with research funding 07:06: Rice has a great opportunity that the school is providing to junior faculty members for sure. I mean, as a person who has always been looking for, like, the best, Rice offers one of the best packages that all the scholars prefer to get in terms of the research funding. It's the research budget that they're really fully supportive of. So, for me, I'm running a lot of experiments; let's say that I pay $2 for a 10-minute survey. It's a very small amount of money, but if you are getting 2,000 participants to write a paper, that becomes a whole lot of money that I can't just like get from my own pocket. And the school needs to support that, but a lot of other schools required for a high-standard research without providing the adequate support, and Rice is the school that really provides all these detailed steps, and they really protect the junior faculty members to focus on what they're interested in. Why mastering AI tools matters more than fearing replacement 27:06: I think understanding a broader aspect of how the industry works is critical for humans to fully have control over GPT and to use it as a tool to develop their careers further rather than replacing it here or there. So you shouldn't be worried about yourself being replaced by AI, but you should be worried about losing a job because of a person who better uses AI. Show Links: Transcript Guest Profiles: Jaeyeon Chung | Rice Business…

It takes grit for a history major to walk into a job fair for business students and convince the rep from Kraft Foods that she’s the right person for the position. But that’s exactly what our guest, Mindy Smith '13 did. Landing that job with Kraft spring-boarded Mindy into a marketing and sales career where she held positions with companies like Coke and now Shell. Currently, Mindy is a global strategy leader for Shell’s Mobility business, and is responsible for brand standards at more than 47,000 retail sites worldwide. Mindy joins host Maya Pomroy ’22 to chat about her career-defining pivots, the importance of being bold, critical insights she’s learned at Shell and why she decided to get her MBA after an already successful career journey. Episode Guide: 02:00 Career Beginnings and Early Jobs 03:22 Landing a Job at Kraft Foods 06:19 Insights from Working at Kraft 15:11 Transition to Coke 19:33 Joining Shell and Pursuing an MBA 23:57 The Steamroller Persona 24:54 Navigating Organizational Changes 27:58 New Role at Shell 29:00 Managing Global Insights 31:09 Customer Experience and Competition 35:45 Rice University’s Lasting Impact 41:58 Final Thoughts and Lessons Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: Networking is about learning, not just opportunities 35:31: Rice was such an important part of my life. And as I mentioned earlier, I still take a lot of the learnings and use them daily in my work. And one of the things that I really appreciated about Rice was going back to network, going back to hearing others’ perspectives and how they handle things. And when I was there, I loved hearing from people who had already graduated…[38:07] One of the things I did throughout was connect with alumni whenever I had the opportunity at different events. And even now, I love to hear people's stories, and I like to hear what people do, and I like to hear, you know, quite honestly, they’ll ask me questions sometimes that then get me thinking about things. And it's great to have that interaction. And, you know, people talk about network all the time in the sense of using your network if you're looking for a job or things like that. For me, it's really—it's the learning. Life isn’t a straight line—embrace the curveballs 41:44: Whether it’s your life or your career, it’s not a straight line, and you can’t plan it out. I was just saying this to my sister-in-law: You can be the best planner. You can have every little detail planned out. Life is always going to throw you curveballs, and how you react to those curveballs—have the courage and overcome the fear—because some of those curveballs end up being amazing opportunities. Even though they might not have been in your original plans, that’s definitely one. Number two would be to always be curious. One of the things that I think I have benefited from is that I’m not afraid to ask a lot of questions. Sometimes that can annoy people, or sometimes I do worry that if—especially if it’s someone senior—they might see it as, you know, just, “Why is she asking so many questions?” But you know what? That’s how you learn. Be curious, though, and learn new things. On the formula of success in a big company 26:29: I've always had a formula. Even 20 years ago, when I had an actual office, I had on my board the formula for success in a big company: 60 percent your network, 20 percent actual work, and 20 percent perception. And I’ll tell you, one of the things with what’s been going on lately, I've been telling people I might change my formula to 50 percent network and 50 percent perception because, absolutely, in a time like this—where people who might not know you are making decisions about your future with the company—not only the network, but the perception, is big. So, more important than ever in times like this, it pays off. Show Links: Transcript Guest Profiles: Mindy Smith | Rice Business…

Owl Have You Know is pleased to welcome Twice-Rice grad Will Eldridge – a consultant at Bain & Company and the president-elect of the Rice Business Alumni Association Board. Will earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering at Rice in 2017. But after an unforgettable experience in MAcc program director Ben Lansford’s class, he decided to pivot to accounting. Will went on to work at Deloitte as a senior auditor for oil and gas clients, before deciding to go back to school again for his MBA at Chicago Booth. Will chats with Owl Have You Know guest host Brian Jackson '21 about his path from accounting to strategy consulting, the importance of mentorship, and why board service has given him a way to give back to his community in fulfilling ways. Episode Guide: 00:53 Will's Favorite Career Pivot 02:00 Impact of Ben Lansford 03:22 Choosing Rice and Career Path 05:05 Experience at Deloitte 08:11 Transition to Consulting 09:46 Volunteering and Alumni Networks 15:30 Consulting Challenges and Skills 18:10 Personal Background and French Heritage 20:39 Commitment to Rice Business 23:33 Advice for Future Business Students 25:01 Classic Cocktails and Conclusion Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: Ben Lansford and MAcc program’s impact in Will’s journey from engineering to accounting 01:48: [Brian Jackson]: Tell me about Ben Lansford. What type of impact did he have on you? Are there any memories from your time in the program that really stick out? 01:56: [Will Eldridge] : Yeah, of course. Ben is this amazing dad figure for a lot of us who found our way to the MAcc. I say that because he has these great dad jokes, but he also helps a lot of people find their way and is someone who has made accounting, which gets a bad rap in a lot of circles, you know, the favorite class that some people take. [02:26] And, you know, when they announced bringing this program back to Rice, there were no current or former students to speak to, but Ben Lansford had been hired. And I got coffee with him, I remember, and started talking about the program, the opportunities. And it was just a great connection that I know he's made with a lot of the students going through the program, and he really helped me understand how I could marry my current background with a master's degree in accounting and make that transition despite having not lot of accounting experience yet and gave me that confidence to make the transition. After realizing that accounting wasn't his long-term goal, Will pivoted to strategy consulting. I figured that I loved the client service aspect of the job I was in. I, at some point, figured out the accounting and financial reporting path wasn't what I wanted to do long term, but I wanted to stay in client service. Did some exploring, I actually circled back to the Center for Career Development at Rice, reaching out to them to talk about different paths to explore and spoke to some other alums. Figured out I wanted to go into strategy consulting, so, a bit more of results-oriented work in some ways but keeping that analysis piece that I had learned as an auditor when we're looking at trends. And with that, I figured out the best way to do that would be to go to business school to set myself up for that recruiting process and eventuality. The power of empathy in consulting 19:10: [Brian Jackson]: What skills do you really draw upon to buy that credibility with your clients? 19:16: [Will Eldridge] : For one, approaching whatever you're presenting to them with a mindset of context reset, you're deep in the details, and it's hard to sometimes pull up and look at the work that you're presenting and remember the limited context that your client might have and how much else they have going on. So, there's definitely a level of empathizing that is really critical. And so, to put yourself in their shoes and think, you know, what are they coming at this from? What do they care about? What do they need to get out of this? And what is the one or two things they should take away from this conversation is a good frame of mind to take. Show Links: Transcript Guest Profiles: Will Eldridge | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University Brian Jackson | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University…

How do you take a business from bankruptcy to an $18 billion acquisition? Today’s guest is Dan Tinker, CEO and President of SRS Distribution and Rice Business alum. When Dan took over SRS, the company was bankrupt. But under his steadfast and visionary leadership, SRS profits grew rapidly over 16 years, culminating in an acquisition deal with Home Depot for $18.25 billion – the largest acquisition in Home Depot’s history. Dan joins host Maya Pomroy ’22 to chat about the major deal and how it’s turned many of his frontline employees into millionaires. The pair also discuss Dan’s decision to pursue a Rice MBA at 26, his philosophy around leadership, and his passion for philanthropy and supporting veterans. Episode Guide: 01:24 Journey to SRS Distribution 04:02 Early Career Challenges and Successes 07:04 Leadership Philosophy and Team Building 10:14 Pursuing an MBA at Rice 13:37 Building SRS and Private Equity Insights 16:08 Acquisition by Home Depot 19:52 Navigating Culture Integration 23:23 Crucial Leadership Skills 30:09 Philanthropy and Giving Back 34:52 Future Plans and Aspirations Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: How redefining risk helped Dan make better business decisions 28:21: I had a great professor at Rice tell me the definition of profit is the reward a company deserves for taking risks. That’s the best definition of profit I’ve ever heard, and that stuck with me. And so, risk doesn’t mean risk in the sense of, like, I’m doing something risky. It just means doing new things, trying different things to find different ways to accelerate the growth of the company. But it’s a bias to action is what, really, it means. Let’s move forward, and let’s not get stuck in Groundhog Day and monotonous work. [28:59]: Let’s try to push and expand in different ways all the time. Growth fuels promotions and internal growth, and it has a way of building on itself and building snowballing momentum that people just get caught up with the energy, and it’s contagious, which is super powerful. On having the ability to ignore things that don’t move the needle 24:07: The skill that I wouldn't have guessed coming out of business school, that I think I've gotten honed in, and it served me very, very well, is I think I have a really good ability to ignore the things that don't move the needle. I mean, being a CEO and being in charge of everything, the whole enterprise, you have to know what's your highest and best use of your time. And I've always been able to really stick to the strong points, that I had a good understanding of what's going to drive shareholder value creation, what's going to drive customer wins, what's going to drive supplier partnerships, what's going to drive growth. How private equity fueled SRS's remarkable growth 12:49: Private equity gets a bad rap in a lot of worlds, and it's so unwarranted, in my opinion. Where else in the world can you just dream up an idea, build a team, go to a private equity partner if you don't have capital or come from a rich family, and go borrow the money or have them infuse your capital in your business to sell part of the company, and then they provide you enough capital to get as big as you could possibly be successfully? And we've done that. We started SRS with only 12 million dollars and bought the company SRS out of bankruptcy for 12 million dollars. The company we just sold to for $ 18.25 billion, we paid only 12 million dollars for just 16 years ago. And then made that much wealth creation because we had different great private equity sponsors for about five-year runs in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd phases. So, I'm a big proponent of private equity. Show Links: Transcript Guest Profiles: Dan Tinker | SRS Distribution…

Today’s guests bring a unique blend of expertise and personal connection to the show. Lee Ann Butler and Alex Butler are not only esteemed faculty at Rice Business, but also a married couple! Lee Ann Butler, a senior lecturer in management, has been teaching business law and related courses since 2001, joining Rice in 2010. She also served as the former academic director for the Online MBA program, MBA@Rice. Alex Butler, the Jesse H. Jones Professor of Finance, specializes in empirical corporate finance, financial institutions and markets. His research dives deep into how firms, governments and individuals navigate external financing, with recent work examining racial disparities in the auto loan market. He was instrumental in launching Rice Business's undergraduate business major and previously served as the director of undergraduate programs. Together, with host Maya Pomroy ’22, the Butlers share insights from their nearly three-decades-long academic journeys and personal lives. Lee Ann reflects on her passion for business law and the ethical challenges facing today's business leaders, while Alex highlights his findings in consumer finance. They also discuss the undergraduate business major at Rice, offer perspectives on teaching during uncertain times and explore how their partnership shapes their professional lives. Episode Guide: 00:57 How The Butler’s Met: A Love Story in a Bar 01:38 Lee Ann's Journey from Litigator to Lecturer 04:19 Alex's Path to Finance and Academia 09:13 Launching the Undergraduate Business Program at Rice 12:36 Teaching Experiences and Student Interactions 15:20 Working Together as a Married Couple 18:56 Alex's Research on Racial Disparities in Auto Loans 23:32 Higher Interest Rates for Minorities 26:20 Impact of Anti-Discrimination Policies 28:39 Legal and Ethical Challenges in Business 33:22 Teaching in Uncertain Times 36:19 Future of Rice’s Undergraduate Business Major & Rice Business 42:46 Reflections and Words of Wisdom Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: On the ethical challenges that business leaders face today 30:30: [Maya Pomroy]: What are some of the most critical legal or ethical challenges that business leaders face today? Because that's something that you're preparing this generation of leaders to tackle. 30:41: [Lee Ann Butler]: Well, I think the ethical challenges come every day, and probably the most difficult bit is when we just don't realize it's an ethical dilemma that's in front of us, right? And we tend to think of ourselves—everyone thinks of themselves as an ethical person: I don't need to worry about this because I'm a good person, and I will do the right thing. But when we take the time to actually systematically go through it in a logical way, I think not only what does my ethical framework tell me is right and wrong in the situation, but how might others view it? 'Cause not everyone—not everyone has the same framework as me or anyone else. Surprising lessons learned from being educators at Rice 13:38 [Alex Butler] Several years ago, we ran an experimental course where faculty from four different functional areas got together, all of whom were going to teach their discipline, but along the theme of decision-making. And so we had someone from one group who's going to think about decision-making in teams, one-person decision-making, as students as far as how personal-psychological biases affect your decisions. One person doing game theory and I doing decision-making with data, so I learned a few things in that, one of which was. What a great place to work where someone can have this bonkers idea of let's come at decision-making from four different ways, all of us with our own strange perspectives, and deliver that as a course to the students and have the administration be like, yeah, man, let's do that. That sounds awesome. What makes Rice special from an educator's perspective 08:35: It comes down to A: the students, right? That is my interaction. Most of the time, they are phenomenal. They are here to learn, and they have that kind of hunger that's amazing. I really enjoy teaching in the MBA program because they come with so much work experience, and I learn something every single class that I teach. Hopefully, they learn a lot from me, but I am absolutely learning a lot from them each time, too. But we also have wonderful support and administration here, which is not always the case at every school. But we have the whole package, which is just a joy to work here. Show Links: Transcript Guest Profiles: Lee Ann E. Butler | Rice Business Alexander Butler | Rice Business Racial Disparities in the Auto Loan Market | The Review of Financial Studies | Oxford Academic…

In this episode, we welcome Shalini Yadav, a 2024 Executive MBA graduate and visionary leader in the field of synthetic biology. With over 22 years of research experience, including a decade in leadership, Shalini has a deep expertise in synthetic biology, immuno-oncology, and therapeutics. She now serves as the Executive Director of Rice's Synthetic Biology Institute, where she spearheads cutting-edge research, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and drives the institute’s mission to unlock synthetic biology’s transformative potential. Host Maya Pomroy ’22 speaks with Shalini about her inspiring journey from growing up in Allahabad, India, to leading translational cancer research at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Shalini reflects on how her early experiences with infectious diseases and her education, from New Delhi to Stony Brook University, shaped her passion for synthetic biology. She also shares her thoughts on the field’s potential to revolutionize science and the critical role of integrating business strategy into scientific innovation. Episode Guide: 02:39 Early Life and Education 04:13 Challenges and Adventures in the US 07:08 Groundbreaking Research and Discoveries 10:00 Transition to Translational Research 14:23 Journey to MD Anderson and Houston 17:17 Why Pursue an MBA Now? 27:16 Synthetic Biology: The Next Scientific Revolution 37:48 Future Aspirations and Conclusion Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: How a serendipitous opportunity brought Shalini to Houston 14:09: [Maya Pomroy] So what brought you to Houston? Was it MD Anderson that brought you to Houston? 14:35: [Shalini Yadav] When I got an opportunity, again grateful to the PCF Young Investigator Award that I got, this network of people that I met, and through that, I was able to connect with Dr. Allison, and it, again, serendipitously, happened that he, looking at my expertise and things that I had done, said, “Would you like to do this work, which is a lot of scientific management and administrative?” [15:06] I thought, okay, as long as I found it interesting and exciting, because, again, I was handling multiple stakeholders and trying to work with multiple pharmaceutical companies, different departments, different kinds of experts, working together with all of them to handle a scientific problem, which will actually help to learn something new. So that was very satisfying to do that. How an MBA gave Shalini a new perspective on impact 32:42: I would like to say that scientists in general are passionate about what they do. It's the leap that you have to take that overcome, and your perspective changes after MBA. I never had this perspective. The way I understand things now are completely different than I would have done two years back. 33:18: So if community matters to you and if you're bothered by things around you, which you want to change and you think with this you cannot. I think taking that leap where you will learn things, which I think basically as a scientist, our training as graduate students, or even medical studies, we are taught to be very focused. So having to come out of that shell and embrace this bigger picture and having the strength to think about what impact I can have because if you understand both sides of it, what you can think of achieving, you won't get it if you are just on one side of things. The effect of bridging the gap between clinical and translational research and basic research 11:35: When you bring diverse expertise together, the solutions that come out have way more value and are more impactful than what you can achieve alone. So bridging this gap was not something that I was looking for, but I serendipitously got into a position where I just did what was needed, which gave me a very different perspective of what scientific research can achieve in terms of, if you understand the problems which people are actually facing, then your solutions can be tailored, or you can design proposals to address those problems. Show Links: Transcript Guest Profiles: Shalini Yadav | LinkedIn Rice Synthetic Biology Institute MD Anderson Cancer Center Young Investigator Awards | Prostate Cancer Foundation World Health Organization…

Why do American voters support divisive misinformation? That’s the question driving our guests' latest research, and the focus of today's episode. Minjae Kim and Ezra Zuckerman Sivan are experts in sociology, and organizational behavior. In this episode, they dive into their latest collaboration, exploring moral flexibility and why some voters are drawn to divisive misinformation. Their new study, When Truth Trumps Facts: Studies on Partisan Moral Flexibility in American Politics , will be published in the American Journal of Sociology . Minjae is an Assistant Professor of Management at Rice Business and Ezra is the Alvin J. Siteman Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan. Together, they sit down with host Maya Pomroy ’22 to unpack their findings. Listen as they discuss how personal truths can override objective facts and why misinformation often resonates so strongly with voters. Episode Guide: 01:40 Motivation to Pursue this Study on Moral Flexibility 02:30 The Puzzle of Authenticity 05:36 Insights From Their First Study Together 11:43 Current Study Overview 16:06 Truth vs. Fact 34:30 Historical Context and Examples 39:31 Minjae’s Future Research Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: A hope for more reflective politics 38:42 [Maya]: What are your hopes of what your study... how it will help our society? 38:49 [Ezra Zuckerman Sivan]: I hope it gets at least some self-reflection, that people are realizing that they're using different standards for themselves and for others. And actually, one of the things I hope is, like, this is just the beginning research for us. We hopefully have a lot of people build on our research. I see a lot of areas of application where people are using different standards in different ways. You can see it, I would say, in a lot of the tumult since October 7th on our campuses. People are using very different standards on each side of the divide, again holding the other side to much higher standards than they're holding themselves to in the statements that they're making. And so, my hope is that, somehow, we get to be a little more reflective about these things and apply those lessons and maybe take the temperature down in our politics because of that. On The Authentic Appeal of the Lying Demagogue 06:37 [Minjae Kim]: I think one of the key things that we really wanted to focus on was that we started with a premise that not only do politicians spread misinformation on all sides of the spectrum, but also, people often, you know, recognize the possibility, very salient possibility, that politicians lie very often. So, there is literature in the political science talking about how it is actually very hard for politicians to appear authentic. So, one of the key things that we try to get at in that paper with the authentic appeal of the lying demagogue was essentially to identify a specific type of misinformation or specific type of lies that, you know, we label as lying demagoguery that would help that politician appear more authentic versus not under certain kinds of conditions. Economics is always shared goal 06:37 [Minjae Kim]: Even if there is some kind of separation between the facts and truth that people recognize as, that if they can agree what, kind of, the goal that they should seek out for, then, you know, there might be... this divide might not necessarily be a hurdle. That said, we don't know if it is easier to arrive in the same goal or if it is easier to arrive at the same facts. We don't really know which one is easier. So, the prescription would have to depend a little bit on that. But, you know, the economic goal might be, kind of, one of them, so it could be, but yeah. 33:16 [Maya]: Economics is always a shared goal, you know. Like, let's bring it back to business. And that's true. It's the quality of life. It's the quality of life that you have. Despite divisions, American economy shows potential for growth 30:15 [Ezra Zuckerman Sivan]: The American economy, is a place where Americans of all types meet each other, and do business with each other, do all kinds of creative, exciting things together. And it is quite robust. Now, it has challenges. But if you look at the state of the American economy, especially compared to, to the rest of the world, American economy is doing fantastically well. Now, that doesn't mean it doesn't have troubles. And now, I'm going to get into trouble a little bit because, [30:44] I think both on right and left, people are complaining about the economy. You ask most economists, you ask most business school professors, people seem to be complaining about the economy more than they should. So, we're back to a little bit of the, you know, gap between some kind of sense of truth and facts. And also, there are people who are really clearly suffering in this economy. But the American economy, and there was a great jobs report that came out just now, like, shows you that Americans, even despite our divide and our different narratives, at least about politics, can do great things together. And so, maybe that's a source of hope. Show Links: When Truth Trumps Facts: Studies on Partisan Moral Flexibility in American Politics | American Journal of Sociology Flexible morals: A key reason American voters support divisive misinformation The Authentic Appeal of the Lying Demagogue: Proclaiming the Deeper Truth about Political Illegitimacy - Oliver Hahl, Minjae Kim, Ezra W. Zuckerman Sivan, 2018 Oliver Hahl Roberto Fernandez | MIT Sloan Harry Frankfurt - Wikipedia On Bullshit by Harry Frankfurt The Years of Lyndon Johnson Series by Robert Caro Strengthening Democracy Challenge Transcript Guest Profiles: Ezra W. Zuckerman Sivan | MIT Sloan Sociological Imaginaries - Ezra’s Substack Ezra Zuckerman Sivan | Twitter / x Minjae Kim | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University Minjae Kim Minjae Kim (@minjaekim22) / X…

From Dubai to Houston, Pooja Talreja’s journey is one of resilience, growth, and discovery. Her story is about more than just crossing continents—it's about breaking through personal and professional barriers to find her true passion. After a pivot from accounting to HR, Pooja is now the senior vice president of people at Ironclad Environmental Solutions, with 15 years of experience leading global teams in the oil and gas industry. In this episode, Pooja joins host Maya Pomroy ’22 to share her experiences, from growing up in Dubai to navigating life in the U.S. and making bold career moves. She offers invaluable insights on the importance of lifelong learning and how to lead through corporate transformation. Episode Guide: 00:39 Growing Up in Dubai 01:40 Moving to the United States for College 03:25 College Life and Career Beginnings 05:30 Discovering a Passion for HR 08:28 MBA Journey at Rice University 17:56 Current Role and Leadership Insights 27:51 Advice and Reflections Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: How did Pooja landed in HR 12:58 [Maya Pomroy]: So, was it while you were at Rice that HR spoke to you? Or people, the idea of inspiring and leading people? 13:08 [Pooja Talreja]: 100%. It was one of the early classes, Organizational Behavior with Professor Brent Smith. I went to him and I said, "How do I do this? I need to do these things we're learning in these case studies with Southwest and everything that you talk about—motivating people, leading people—but impacting the business through that." And it was very simple what he said: "Have you considered HR?" And I said, "No, I always thought my next move would be adjacent to accounting, right, finance, or maybe something in operations. HR was not even on my radar." And that's why Brent and Rice overall was such a big part of where I landed with my career because it taught me that you can be good at something and still find your calling. Balancing compassion and compliance in HR 21:29 [Maya Pomroy]: Maya: Do you feel that, that learning and growing is one of the most important things in terms of being a strong leader? 21:35 [Pooja Talreja]: One off. Yes, absolutely. But I'll, I'll give you my favorites. For me, it's compassion. The way that I define HR is not your textbook HR. Really, I think of it as a Venn diagram. You've got your policies and compliance and legal things, but then you've got the other side, which is doing what's right for the people.And when you can find what can work for both, that's where HR comes in. That's where the magic happens. That's how you build the right level of engagement and loyalty and motivate people, is when you find doing what's right for the people, but doing it in a way that's still ethical within your policy, within the laws and regulations. So that's what I love about my job, is figuring out that sweet spot. The value of cohort experiences in the classroom 17:05: I think that's why cohorts tend to become so close, right? The professor is teaching you so many different things, but to your point, there's an equal amount of learning from the people that are sitting in that class and their experiences and failures and all of that. It's just an overall fantastic experience. And I miss it. I love being in a classroom. Show Links: Brent Smith | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University Transcript Guest Profiles: Pooja Talreja | LinkedIn Who We Are - Ironclad Environmental Solutions…

When it comes to alumni engagement, few Owls are as deeply connected as Tim Okabayashi. A proud Rice Business alum, Tim not only earned his MBA here but also served as president of the Rice Business Student Association, volunteered with the admissions office, and played a key role in the consulting club. In October 2020, Tim and fellow alum Karen Crofton ’10 launched the Owl Have You Know podcast, bringing the vibrant stories of Rice alumni to life. Today, Tim is a consulting manager for SLB’s end-to-end emissions solutions. His career has taken him from Kuala Lumpur, where he supported operations across Asia, to his current home in London, where he lives with his wife Casey and their two children. In this episode, host Maya Pomroy ’22 — who shares not just a Rice connection but also a high school alma mater with Tim — catches up with him on his dynamic career, the power of the Rice alumni network, and his ongoing dedication to the school that shaped his journey. Tune in to hear about Tim's international experiences, his insights on the evolving energy sector, and how embracing failure is key to driving innovation. Episode Guide: 00:55 High School Reunion and Rice Connection 02:07 Choosing Rice for his MBA 04:31 Engagement with the extensive Rice Alumni Network 09:53 Launching this Podcast! 16:27 Tim’s Career Journey Post-Graduation 18:32 International Assignments and Family Support 20:26 The Future of Energy and SLB 31:11 Personal Reflections and Advice Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: On the future of energy 21:36: [Maya] What do you see for the future? You know, because we have energy transition, we've got so many exciting things on the horizon, also with AI and drilling technology, and clean energy. What are you the most excited about, of what's coming up in the next, I mean, five to seven years? 21:55: [Tim Okabayashi] I'm most excited about the continuation of that, of just the advancement of technology throughout the oil field and new energy, and alternative energy, and transition energy. Like at the heart of it, the research and development; technology development is really the key enabler. And it takes time to develop this technology, commercialize it, and then have adoption, right? And this process requires people. And yes, big data and AI can certainly assist, but at the heart of it, there's still this need for people and researchers and ideas and science. On the growing impact of Owl Have You Know podcast 15:21: The opportunities to expand your reach virtually are pretty phenomenal these days. And, I think the Owl Have You Know platform is a great one that continues to grow and expand with the different programs and subject themes, and the interviews with the staff and academics and highlighting the research, I think it's incredible. I think there's a lot of room for how I'll have, you know, to become a really central part of Rice business as well as the business community. Tim’s global perspectives in oil and gas 19:59: [Maya] You've worked a lot in Asia and in the Asian market. What were some of the surprises and some of those aha moments while you were in Asia? 20:07: [Tim Okabayashi] One of my biggest learnings was actually passed to me from a colleague. And at the time, I kind of brushed it off, but he said, like, "You know, Tim, the world is such a small term for such a large place." And I think often in times in oil and gas, we think of the natural resources, you know, crude or natural gas, as really being just commodities, and it's the same anywhere. But that's really not true. I mean, to a certain degree, it is by the chemistry, but then again, the methods and the people and the culture around the activities in different parts of the world can be uniquely different. And that is something that I had grown to have a great appreciation of when I moved abroad. Show Links: MBA Student Clubs - Rice Business Consulting Club – Career Development Office | Rice Business Rice Alliance Karen Crofton | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University Transcript Guest Profiles: Tim Okabayashi | LinkedIn SLB Mic Check | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University…

Interested in learning the key to a peaceful transition from military to civilian life? For many veterans, it's found in an unexpected place: beekeeping. Meet Steve Jimenez '22, a veteran and Rice Business alum, who discovered an unexpected passion when a friend introduced him to beekeeping. In 2018, this passion became a mission when he founded Hives for Heroes, a nonprofit that empowers veterans, active-duty military members, and first responders, by teaching them the art of beekeeping. This skill not only helps them adjust to civilian life but also provides a powerful way to manage post-traumatic stress. Today, Hives for Heroes has grown beyond Steve's wildest dreams, spanning all 50 states, with over 31,000 hives under their care. The best part? They're just getting started, with exciting plans for a new headquarters in Houston on the horizon. Join us as we dive into Steve's remarkable journey, and the rapid rise of Hives for Heroes. Episode Guide: 01:17 Steve's Educational Background and Joining the Marine Corps 03:16 Marine Corps Training and Deployment Experiences 05:54 Transitioning to Civilian Life and Career Challenges 09:40 Discovering Beekeeping and Founding Hives for Heroes 15:08 Impact and Growth of Hives for Heroes 20:57 The Hive Mentality 21:10 A Life-Saving Connection: Derek's Story 22:17 Joining Hives for Heroes: The Process 22:42 Mentorship and Community Building 25:13 Awards and Recognition: A Humble Perspective 27:47 Scaling Up: The Need for Support 32:14 Heroes Honey: The Sweet Taste of Freedom 34:46 Future Vision: Connecting People, Nature, and Technology 38:46 A Call for Support Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Episode Quotes: On redefining his identity 23:50: I used to call myself Steve the Marine. Now I'm Steve. That was in the Marines. There's a very different shift there that I love, like, I am now more so a father than a Marine. That's who I am, right? I care about my kids more than the Marine Corps at this point in my life. Doesn't mean I don't honor that service. It just means that I've moved forward. And that's a lot of growth for me personally. And I know we tend to put our identities into things. You get to choose that, so I choose to put that into my fatherhood or being a public servant that we're able to serve the general public in really amazing ways, leading what I consider one of the best organizations on the planet. Those are the types of things that when you take your identity and allow yourself to create your identity, your path, and your journey. It's a super-powerful experience. On Hives for Heroes’ impact We never thought that the organization would have the reach and impact that it does today. I think our most important number has always been one. One meaning to serve one person in a capacity that changes their life. And we can do that whether that's a beekeeping experience or even a conversation. When you are around people that genuinely care about you and your successes but want nothing from you, it's a pretty powerful position to be in, especially when you feel alone. So, what our organization has been able to do is connect individuals to individuals in their local areas. So, we call it hyperlocal global impact because that's what we do. From chaos to calmness 13:31: ​​When I started focusing into the beehive, this experience caused me to really remove every external thing that I was thinking about, anything that was going on at the house, anything with my kids, anything that was going on externally was gone. [13:58] You have this, what we now call chaos to calmness. So, this was the first time in almost 10 years that I actually felt peace. I felt calm in my spirit, in my soul, in my brain, however you want to describe it. Show Links: United States Marines Ark Hive Apiary Texas Business Hall of Fame Heroes Honey Texas For Heroes Lilie Lab | Rice University Kyle Judah | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University Napier Rice Launch Challenge - Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Al Danto | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University Rice Alumni Houston Customer Innovation Center | HPE Transcript Guest Profiles: Hives For Heroes Hives for Heroes® (@hivesforheroes) • Instagram Hives for Heroes - YouTube Steve Jimenez | LinkedIn 40 Under 40 honoree: Meet Steve Jimenez of Hives for Heroes - Houston Business Journal…