For Rice Business MBA students exploring what comes next, sometimes the best way to understand a career path is to step directly into the world where it happens.
That was the idea behind the two-day Austin Trek, which brought a group of Rice Business MBAs to Austin over fall break for an immersive look at the city’s diverse business and technology ecosystem. Across eight company and alumni engagements, students met with leaders and Rice alumni, toured workplaces, asked questions, and explored career possibilities across technology, entertainment, real estate, professional sports, and more.
The trek began at the Austin Film Festival, where students heard from Javier Simons ‘25 and participated in a fireside chat with Barbara Morgan, founder and executive director of the festival. The conversation offered a look at the intersection of creativity, leadership, and entrepreneurship while giving students a chance to learn from leaders who have built careers in a highly dynamic industry.
From there, the group visited AMD for a conversation with Jonathan Ha ‘99, senior director of business development, and a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s technology and innovation environment.
At The Town Lake Company, students enjoyed a lunch-and-learn with Blake Bunger ‘23 and CEO and founder Rob Gandy. Their conversation gave students an opportunity to hear firsthand about entrepreneurship, business strategy, and the realities of building and leading a company.
The day continued at Adobe, where Xavier Elizondo ‘24 and the Adobe team shared insights into the company, its culture, and the evolving technology landscape. A Q&A gave students the opportunity to dig deeper into career paths and opportunities within the industry.
That evening, students gathered with Rice alumni working at companies including Meta, Dell Technologies, PayPal, and Lumen Air, as well as members of Austin’s entrepreneurial community, for alumni roundtables and a networking happy hour. These informal conversations gave students the chance to ask candid questions, hear different career stories, and build relationships with alumni who understand the experience of navigating a career after Rice Business.
As Frank Franklin ’28 reflected, “The Austin Tech Trek was an amazing experience. It taught me new things about the industry, but it also showed me how involved Rice Alumni are after graduation. I am very happy that I went.”
The second day continued with a visit to Austin FC, where students heard from senior leaders across finance, human resources, club strategy and intelligence, and stadium operations. The breadth of the conversation demonstrated just how many different business functions come together to operate a professional sports organization.
The trek concluded at Google, where students connected with Rice and Rice Business alumni and members of the Google team to discuss career journeys, opportunities, and navigating the technology industry.
For students interested in breaking into tech, the opportunity to hear directly from professionals proved especially valuable.
“The Austin trek was a great experience! It was a valuable opportunity to connect with industry professionals in tech, learn how to break into these roles, and interact with senior leadership,” one student shared. “Grateful to the alumni and recruiters who took the time to share their insights and guidance!”
For others, the trek was an opportunity to broaden their perspective beyond a single industry or career path.
“The trek was very enriching,” said Bela Tang ’28. “I was able to learn about a diverse range of industries and network with people I normally would not be able to within my own network. I would recommend anyone who’s exploring different career paths to participate in a trek.”
That spirit of exploration was central to the experience. The goal was not simply to introduce students to companies, but to give them a more complete picture of the people, cultures, industries, and career paths that might be available to them.
For me, that is what makes employer engagement so meaningful. A company visit can introduce a student to an organization, but a thoughtful conversation can change how they see an industry, a role, or even their own career possibilities. The Austin Trek created space for those conversations to happen, while also strengthening the connections between Rice Business students and the alumni who continue to invest their time, experience, and perspective in the community.
As one student put it, “The Austin Trek was a great experience and a valuable opportunity to connect with employers, students, and alumni while learning more about different companies and career paths.”
That impact was made possible by the many people who opened their doors, shared their stories, and made time for our students. A special thank you to our hosts and alumni, whose generosity made the experience possible, and to the Rice Business students who brought curiosity, enthusiasm, and thoughtful questions to every stop.
Two days in Austin offered a lot to take away: new industry knowledge, new perspectives, new relationships, and, for many students, a clearer sense of where their MBA could take them next.
If you’re interested in recruiting top MBA talent for your organization, hosting a trek, or otherwise engaging with the Career Development Office, please contact Tyler L. Hough, Director of Employer Engagement.
