Mitra Mehta Murthy, Rice Business MBA Class of 2024
Age: 31
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Undergraduate Institution and Major: The George Washington University, Art History BA
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 7 years, Art Business
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I had spent the entirety of my career in an extremely niche industry, art business, specifically art auction houses. I was working at one of the large ones in New York City and absolutely loving it. However, life brought me back to Houston, and I found that what I had been doing was essentially nonexistent where I was. I tried my hand at entrepreneurship and found some success in starting my own art advisory firm. This brought to light my lack of basic business acumen and was the catalyst for pursuing my MBA.
Why did you choose Rice Business? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I was initially drawn to Rice Business because of the location and school reputation. I ultimately chose it because of the people (professors, classmates, faculty) and its small but mighty network. The first on-campus event I attended was before I had officially applied. I will never forget how surprised and welcome I felt when the recruiting officer I had been emailing immediately greeted me by name upon my walking in the door. Rice Business felt like home in a way a larger school could not.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
I think my most valuable contribution to the Class of 2024 is the art business/art historical vantage point I bring to conversations. We are just at the beginning of our first semester classes, but it is already so interesting to see the similarities the art world shares with more traditional asset classes such as real estate and traditional equity investments.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
The pandemic honed my baking skills and I have since fashioned myself as an amateur baker extraordinaire! My time in the kitchen has become severely restricted since the start of business school, but I am looking forward to soon using my classmates as guinea pigs for new recipes!
Post-MBA career interests:
I am embracing the fact that an MBA is a great time to learn about different industries. Coming from such a non-traditional background, I will have undergone quite the industry pivot wherever I land and am using this first semester to explore different industries that pique my interest. Thus far the areas that I am most focused on are renewables, private banking and real estate finance.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
As soon as I decided I was going to apply for my MBA I began a rigid study schedule for the standardized test portion of the application. I was aiming to apply first round so created an aggressive timeline with minimal rest days. I was lucky in that I was working for myself so could essentially devote as much time as I needed to study.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I initially started studying for the GMAT and did not initially know that the GRE was also an option. The GMAT is heavily suited for a certain type of thinker, and I do not fit into that category. I wish I had known that the GRE was an option from the start so that I could have devoted my time to that from the get-go.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I honestly cannot think of one extraneous part of the application process. The most difficult for me was the standardized test portion. Although the pandemic waiver option was available when I was applying, I understood the importance a good score on the quantitative section would bring to my candidacy since I was coming from a liberal arts background.
What is your initial impression of the Rice Business students/culture/community?
I am constantly in awe of my classmates – both in terms of their accomplishments and the humble attitude they have regarding those accomplishments. It is a small class which manifests into a very tight and respectful community. Everyone genuinely wants each other to do well – this is evident in the collaborative nature that is seen both inside and outside the classroom.
What is one thing you have learned about Rice Business that has surprised you?
Partio is a class social that takes place every Thursday. I had heard a lot about partios during the application process but attending my first one, I was surprised to see how seriously everyone takes it (serious along the lines of work hard, play hard!). It’s such fun to unwind alongside peers, professors, pets, and even some classmates’ babies!
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I am most anxious about the rigors of core finance and core accounting.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
At risk of sounding cliché, and in response to my answer for what I am most anxious about first year, I am most excited about what I will learn in my core classes first semester. I come from such an unconventional background and am keen to learn the foundational business skill-set which was lacking from my education thus far. One of the reasons I chose Rice was because of the rigorous academic program they have compared to some other schools.
