At Rice Business, career development is a community endeavor.
While students arrive with ambitious goals, some of the most meaningful career insights come from people who’ve already walked similar paths. That’s the idea behind the Alumni in Residence program, a growing initiative that connects current students with alumni for candid, one-on-one conversations about careers, industries, leadership, and life after business school.
Since launching in early 2024, the program has become a valued part of the Rice Business experience, creating space for students to gain the kind of honest, experience-backed guidance that no job posting can offer and giving alumni a meaningful way to stay connected to the community that helped shape them.
What is the Alumni in Residence Program?
The Alumni in Residence program connects students directly with Rice Business alumni for candid, one-on-one conversations about careers, industries, and life after business school.
Throughout the year, participating alumni volunteer their time to meet with students in scheduled one-on-one sessions. Conversations are intentionally flexible and can cover topics such as:
- What a typical day looks like in a particular role or industry
- Preparing for internships or full-time positions
- Recruiting strategies and industry-specific advice
- Long-term career planning and professional growth
- Making the most of the MBA experience
- Navigating career transitions and unexpected opportunities
Alumni participants represent some of the world’s most recognized organizations, including ExxonMobil, Amazon, Google, Deloitte, and Accenture, and volunteer their time because they believe in paying it forward
The Value of Mentorship
The most useful career advice is rarely found in a job description.
Students often spend significant time researching industries, preparing applications, and evaluating opportunities. Yet sometimes the most valuable insight comes not from a job posting or recruiting event, but from an honest conversation with someone who has experienced the challenges firsthand. The Alumni in Residence program creates space for those conversations.
Regardless of where a student is in their journey, alumni bring something that can’t be found in a recruiting event: experience paired with a genuine desire to help. As alumnus Daniel Gutierrez ‘14 explains:
“If you’re open to real self-reflection, the Alumni in Residence program offers an incredible opportunity to gain clarity and direction. After all, the best careers aren’t just built on skills but on purpose.”
Those moments of reflection can help students uncover new possibilities, challenge assumptions, and gain confidence in their next steps. For many participants, the impact extends beyond a single conversation. Full-time MBA student Dyan Utami ‘27 recalls her experience meeting with an alumna through the program:
“Meeting the alumni in person for a one-on-one session was an amazing experience for me. She was very thoughtful and honest, and she gave me constructive advice. We’re now connected on LinkedIn, and she continues to be very helpful.”
Learning Flows Both Ways
The Alumni in Residence program was designed with students in mind. What surprised many participants, on both sides, is how much alumni get out of it too.
Students gain practical guidance, industry insights, and new perspectives. Alumni reconnect with Rice Business, reflect on their own professional journeys, and engage with talented future leaders who bring fresh ideas and perspectives to every conversation.
Kim Denney ‘01, one of the program’s participating alumni, describes the experience this way:
“What a unique opportunity for both the students and alumni to share their perspectives with each other! A little advice and counsel can make a huge difference for a student, and it’s the perfect way for alumni to use their experiences and wisdom to lift up tomorrow’s leaders.”
Jen Sun ‘17 shares a similar perspective:
“Speaking with current students is always a rewarding experience. It’s gratifying to share lessons from my own journey that might help guide them as they grow or transition in their careers. At the same time, I always walk away having learned something new through their fresh perspectives.”
That reciprocity isn’t accidental. The Alumni in Residence program was built on the belief that the Rice Business community doesn’t stop at graduation and that the relationships formed here carry a responsibility to lift others as you climb, and an opportunity to keep growing long after you’ve left campus.
Putting Yourself in the Room
Career development requires more than preparation. It requires participation.
Many of the students who have benefited most from the Alumni in Residence program entered their sessions with curiosity rather than certainty. They didn’t necessarily know what opportunities might emerge or what insights they would gain. They simply showed up ready to ask questions, listen, and learn.
MBA student Ayman Abdellatef ‘25 described his experience as both informative and inspiring:
“The chance to engage in meaningful conversations, gain first-hand industry perspectives, and build relationships with accomplished professionals is invaluable.”
Another participant, Evan Anto-Darkwah ‘26, reflected on the power of perspective:
“In a split second, such experienced alumni are able to point you in a direction that you have probably missed as a result of too many voices in your head.”
The lesson is simple: meaningful opportunities often begin with a single conversation. The Alumni in Residence program makes it easy to have one.
Looking Ahead
Rice Business remains committed to the ongoing development of the Alumni in Residence program. By expanding the range of industries and backgrounds represented, we aim to ensure every student can find an alumnus whose path resonates with their own.
The program represents more than a networking opportunity. It reflects the collaborative spirit that defines Rice Business and the belief that successful career outcomes are built through a combination of individual effort and community support.
Every conversation has the potential to offer a new perspective, spark an unexpected idea, or strengthen a meaningful connection.
For students, it may be the conversation that clarifies a career path. For alumni, it may be an opportunity to help shape the next generation of leaders. For the Rice Business community, it is another example of what becomes possible when we invest in one another’s success.
Ready to be part of it?
Students, keep an eye on 12twenty for upcoming 2026–27 session dates.
Alumni, if you’re interested in joining the program and investing in the next generation of Rice Business leaders, reach out to Paul Foley to learn more.
