John Dukes, Rice Business MBA Class of 2024
Age: 28
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Middlebury College, Economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): ~5, Consulting
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I decided to attend business school because I wanted to stretch myself professionally. I spent my pre-MBA years at a small consulting firm doing market research and due diligence for private equity clients. This was a wonderful experience and gave me an invaluable toolkit for thinking about how to quantify market size and how companies can strategically address market opportunity. What I want to learn now is how executives lead their organizations to capitalize on that opportunity. From an internal operations perspective, what is that nexus point where marketing, finance, accounting and organizational structure come together to achieve a successful strategy?
This is undoubtedly the right time for me to pursue my MBA. I have a few years of work experience under my belt, but I am not so far down any one path that pivoting will be difficult.
Why did you choose Rice Business? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
While there are many excellent MBA programs, Rice was the clear choice for me for a few reasons. First and foremost, the strength and variety of the curriculum was key in my decision. The faculty is top notch and there is a wide degree of flexibility to build your two years in a way that suits your professional goals. That being said, the strength of the entrepreneurship program and the energy program were of particular interest for me. Seriously, if your post-MBA goals involve either of those two focuses, then look no further than Rice.
Second, the number of experiential learning opportunities available to students is staggering. No matter what your interest is, there is more than likely a number of ways in which you can get hands-on experience. For example, are you interested in developing a startup or getting exposure to venture capital? There’s the Liu Idea Lab. Working with non-profits? There’s the Board Fellows program. Managing an investment portfolio? Check out the Wright Fund. Just becoming a better all-around leader? The Doerr Institute is there for you. I could go on. I knew that I would be doing a fair amount of career exploration once I started the program, so having this range of opportunities available was a huge factor.
Finally, I gravitated to the social environment that Rice Business has intentionally cultivated. The class is relatively small compared to most MBA programs, so there’s an opportunity to build close relationships with your peers and develop a cohort identity. Rice supports this through Partios (parties on the patio) every Thursday evening, which has been a great way to get to know people outside of just my section.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
That’s a tough one. I’ve been very impressed with my classmates so far and the scope of their experiences.
If I had to pick something though, I would say that having been in a generalist consulting role and working with PE clients prior to business school has been enormously helpful. I was able to do a number of industry deep dives (80+ research projects) while also getting exposure to the world of M&A. This has given me a wide base of knowledge and perspective coming into the program and has been useful in both the classroom and connecting with my peers.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I was in show choir for all four years of high school. It was an incredibly fun, formative time in my life, and just so happened to coincide with the TV show “Glee” coming on the air.
Post-MBA career interests:
I’m still at a stage where I am interested in exploring what is out there, but a few career paths come to mind. Corporate leadership / rotational programs, operations consulting, startups and venture capital / private equity would all be of interest.
Ultimately, I’m hoping to be in a role where I can wear many hats and continue to develop as a leader.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Before diving into any essays, take the time to really reflect not only on all that you’ve accomplished, but also on what is most meaningful to you and what you hope your life will look like holistically after graduation. This will help you to start connecting the dots between experiences that may seem disparate at first but might have an underlying thread. This exercise will help you craft an authentic, cohesive narrative for your applications and demonstrate that there is a good mutual fit between you and the schools that you’ve selected. 
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have put a greater emphasis on connecting with current students and alumni. Ultimately, they are in the best position to give you honest feedback about a program’s strengths and weaknesses. They can help paint a more complete picture of what life is like for students and what opportunities may be in store after graduation.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Absolutely the GMAT. Aiming for a top score while balancing a demanding job is a challenge that most MBA applicants face. Having a strong support network of friends and family to keep you accountable to a study program or routine makes it possible (at least for me that was the case).
What is your initial impression of the Rice Business students/culture/community?
This is an incredibly welcoming and collaborative community. I’ve been struck by how outgoing my classmates are. Everyone I’ve met so far (including those in the professional MBA program) has been quick to share advice and / or resources for navigating academics, extracurriculars and recruiting. This is truly a place where your peers want to see you succeed.
What is one thing you have learned about Rice Business that has surprised you?
I didn’t truly appreciate the depth of Rice’s relationship with the Houston community and how that enhances the MBA experience. Given that Houston is a major international city, there are a ton of great people to connect with and opportunities to plug into, both on and off campus.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Finding balance is crucial. Most people pursuing their MBA are go-getters by nature, so I imagine it will be difficult to take a step back and remember to smell the roses along the way. While I’m excited to dive into all that the next two years has to offer, I want to also prioritize the friends and family that helped me get here in the first place.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Learning is a contact sport. This is a sentiment that I heard during my first week at Rice Business and it resonated. I’m excited to get involved with the clubs and organizations on campus and apply what we are learning in the classroom to the real world.
