Best Rice Business Alumni Podcasts (2025)

1
Equipping Teams to Use AI Without Losing Purpose 50:22

Play Pause

23h ago50:22

50:22

Most people don't burn out because they're working too hard—they burn out because they’re performing at a pace they were never built to sustain, chasing goals that don’t align with who they are. Matt Granados joins David Rice to unpack why the language we use around productivity—high performance, hustle, passion—is misleading at best, and actively …

1
Se'Indonesia CEO Rinaldi Utama on cracking the $1 beef rice bowl gap in Indonesia's mass market 18:25

7d ago18:25

18:25

Rinaldi Utama is the CEO and co-founder of Se'Indonesia, launched with a mission to redefine Indonesia’s quick-service restaurant landscape focusing on high-quality smoked beef rice bowls. He was previously CEO and co-founder of Lakuliner, a house of indonesian-fusion culinary brands. Before that he was part of the legal team at Kopi Kenangan. Foll…

1
How AI Is Reshaping Leadership (and Why Agility Matters More Than Ever) 30:58

8d ago30:58

30:58

In a world where AI is eating the routine work and career ladders look more like Escher paintings, what does leadership agility really mean? In this episode, I sit down with David Jones, CEO and Partner at Mercer Assessments, to explore how leaders can ground themselves in productivity, positivity, people, and purpose while rethinking the broken sy…

1
Part 2. How to develop AI talent in Indonesia with Flip Indonesia Head of AI & Engineering 13:10

12d ago13:10

13:10

Watch Part 1 Thothathri Srinivasan (who goes by "Tho") is the Head of AI and Engineering at Flip, one of Indonesia's largest consumer fintech companies. With over a decade of experience in Silicon Valley, Tho has built products and systems at some of the world's most recognizable tech companies including Groupon, Netflix, and Pinterest. Originally …

1
Coaching the Leaders of Tomorrow feat. Sujeev Chittipolu ’21 27:35

14d ago27:35

27:35

After many successful years as a mechanical engineer for Baker Hughes, Sujeev Chittipolu ’21 thought it was time to invest in his leadership potential. That led him to Rice Business. As part of Rice’s Professional MBA program, Sujeev formed invaluable connections through programs like CoachRICE and even joined the board of one of his classmate’s no…

1
Part 1. Flip Indonesia Head of Engineering & AI Thothathri Srinivasan on his journey from Groupon, Netflix, Pinterest to Investing 23:04

14d ago23:04

23:04

Thothathri Srinivasan (who goes by "Tho") is the Head of AI and Engineering at Flip, one of Indonesia's largest consumer fintech companies. With over a decade of experience in Silicon Valley, Tho has built products and systems at some of the world's most recognizable tech companies including Groupon, Netflix, and Pinterest. Originally from Bangalor…

1
Building Hybrid Teams That Work — Lessons Leaders Need Before Adding AI 37:41

15d ago37:41

37:41

We’ve all heard the pitch: “Hybrid work is the future.” But dig beneath the slogans and you’ll find wildly different realities—some thriving, others quietly imploding. In this episode, I sit down with Lynette Caruso, a PhD candidate at Australian National University, to unpack her field research across public and private sectors on what makes hybri…

1
How Nextdoor’s Head of People is Protecting Workplace Mental Health While Adopting AI 24:42

22d ago24:42

24:42

We’ve spent the last few years talking about mental health at work like it’s always a crisis—trauma, burnout, damage done. Bryan Power, Head of People at Nextdoor, thinks that framing actually makes the conversation harder. Instead, what if we positioned mental health as something everyone can access, not just people in distress? In this episode, w…

1
AI Risks in HR: Bias, Leadership Buy-In, and Employee Trust 28:22

27d ago28:22

28:22

What happens when an executive quietly outsources performance reviews to ChatGPT? Or when your C-suite is loudly preaching about AI adoption while refusing to touch the tools themselves? In this episode, I sit down with Talk HR to Me columnist and Head of People at Quantum Metric, Alana Fallis, to tackle real listener questions in a live advice-col…

1
Making Venture Capital More Accessible feat. Emmanuel Yimfor '20 41:28

28d ago41:28

41:28

At a time when startups are primarily funded by private market investors, who you know has become a critical factor in gaining access to that venture capital. But how does the reliance on alumni and professional networks create barriers for startups from historically disadvantaged groups? Emmanuel Yimfor ’20 is a finance professor at Columbia Busin…

1
From Layoffs to Loyalty: Building Alumni Networks That Work 22:08

1M ago22:08

22:08

Layoffs are often treated like a dirty secret—a rushed, impersonal process designed to move people out the door with as little friction as possible. But the way you offboard employees says just as much about your company culture as the way you welcome them in. In this episode, I sit down with Jena Dunay, founder of Recruit the Employer and host of …

1
The Money for Compliance AI is in Cross-Border Adaptability | On Call with Gani.ai founders Bintang Hidayanto and Timur Nugroho 43:17

1M ago43:17

43:17

The money for compliance AI is in cross-border adaptability. That's our main takeaway from this call with Gani.ai founders Bintang Hidayanto and Timur Nugroho, who themselves went on a call back in December 2023 to first talk about working on an idea Bintang has had over the last decade as a lawyer and founding partner of one of Indonesia's leading…

1
Bringing Clarity to Women’s Healthcare feat. Monique Pourkarimi ’25 31:04

1M ago31:04

31:04

After navigating a challenging endometriosis diagnosis, multiple surgeries, and a complex healthcare system, Andria “Monique” Pourkarimi ’25 decided to tackle a gap she experienced firsthand. While pursuing an online MBA at Rice, an idea born in the classroom grew into Dr. Clara, LLC — a women’s health startup focused on closing the communication g…

1
Beyond Corporate Astrology: The Science and Strategy of Personality Assessments in Hiring 26:31

1M ago26:31

26:31

If you’ve ever sat through a personality test during hiring and thought, “This feels a bit like corporate astrology”—you’re not wrong. In this episode, I talk with Jason Hreha, Founder & CEO of Persona, about why so many workplace assessments are built on outdated theories and questionable science, and how to separate the gimmicks from the tools th…

1
Redefining Engagement in a Post-Trust Era 32:19

2M ago32:19

32:19

The word “engagement” gets thrown around a lot—but what does it really mean in today’s workplace? In this candid, first-half conversation with Kamaria Scott, industrial-organizational psychologist and founder of Enetic, we take a hard look at how the definition of engagement has drifted, how the psychological contract between employees and employer…

1
Connecting Investors and Veteran Entrepreneurs feat. Mike Tatz ’14 and Corban Bates ’15 38:29

2M ago38:29

38:29

During their time at Rice Business, Mike Tatz ’14 and Corban Bates ’15 saw an opportunity to connect veterans with capital and the network needed to start a business. As veterans themselves, they understood how important it is to have the right connections and platform to pitch an idea. With that, the Veterans Business Battle was born. But Mike and…

1
No Secrets, No Surprises: Inside a Firm with 15 Years of Open Books 20:48

2M ago20:48

20:48

Most leaders assume that transparency around pay and finances will sow discord or fuel envy. Mel Price is living proof that the opposite is possible. As co-founder and CEO of Work Program Architects, she’s spent the last 15 years running a firm with full salary and financial transparency—by design, not by accident. The result? A company where peopl…

1
Join us on call with Tianwei Liu and Hendra Kwik of StraitsX, a CNBC World's Top Fintech Company 24:52

2M ago24:52

24:52

Last year we covered the journeys of Tianwei and Hendra as they built fintechs in Singapore and Indonesia over the last decade and joined forces amidst the pandemic to bring together StraitsX's compliant stablecoin technology with Payfazz's deep financial services network in Indonesia. Coming to a year later, StraitsX has refreshed its brand as it …

1
How AI Can Help HR Speak CFO: Turning Data into Strategy 31:43

2M ago31:43

31:43

HR leaders say they want a seat at the table—but too often, they show up without speaking the language. In this episode, David talks with Julie Mahfouz Rezvani, Managing Director of The Orion Group, about the critical gap between HR's people expertise and the commercial acumen needed to drive real business impact. Julie brings clarity to the misund…

1
Lab-Grown Organs and a $900k Win feat. Charlie Childs and Madeline Eiken 29:29

2M ago29:29

29:29

Like the discovery of penicillin, it started with an unexpected moment in the lab. Charlie Childs and Madeline Eiken didn’t set out to revolutionize drug testing — but a surprise breakthrough led them to create the world’s first lab-grown human intestine and win the 2025 Rice Business Plan Competition's grand prize. Their startup, Intero Biosystems…

1
Is Your Mission Real or Just Branding? How to Tell (and What to Do About It) 13:30

2M ago13:30

13:30

What happens when your mission statement no longer fits the company you're building? For Chase Warrington, Head of Operations at Doist, that question wasn’t rhetorical—it was a radical prompt that reshaped their culture. In this candid, live conversation recorded from the lawn of a remote work conference in Austin, Chase and David Rice unpack how p…

1
Why Connection in Remote Teams Must Be Designed, Not Accidental (And How to Do It) 23:17

3M ago23:17

23:17

We’ve heard all the usual suspects when it comes to remote engagement—Slack check-ins, virtual happy hours, maybe an annual engagement survey if we’re lucky. But what if the problem isn’t the tools, but the assumptions? In this episode, David Rice sits down with Dr. Adora Ikwuemesi, whose recent qualitative study of remote workers in Nigeria reveal…

1
How a Disney Skater Became a Startup Founder feat. Becky Jackson ’25 32:02

3M ago32:02

32:02

As the first figure skater to play Elsa in Disney On Ice’s Frozen and now a pioneer in the private security industry, Becky Jackson knows a thing or two about creating something from scratch. Before earning an MBA at Rice and becoming an entrepreneur, Becky had an illustrious figure skating career with Team USA and Disney. Now, she’s revolutionizin…

1
From Values to Behaviors: How to Build a Culture of Candor 21:04

3M ago21:04

21:04

Candor is easy to value and hard to operationalize. It takes more than writing "feedback" on a poster and hoping people magically feel safe being honest. In this episode, I talk to Valentina Gissin, Chief People Officer at Garner Health, about how her team institutionalizes candor and turns culture into lived behavior—not empty slogans. We dig into…

1
The New Manager Playbook: How to Lead with Clarity and Confidence 37:02

3M ago37:02

37:02

Most new managers aren't failing because they're bad at the job. They're failing because no one ever told them what the job actually is. In this episode, David talks with Lia Garvin, author of The New Manager Playbook, about the real barriers keeping new managers from delivering results. It's not a lack of ambition or intelligence. It's a complete …

1
Shaping The Future of Retail feat. Ramon Marquez ’25 and Taylin Luzcando 36:37

3M ago36:37

36:37

Retail executive Ramon Marquez can point to virtually every store in a shopping mall and explain how he helped that brand grow. With a passion for retail dating back to his childhood, he’s built a career as a leader in merchandising, product management and retail operations for major retailers like JCPenney, Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, and is no…

1
From Government to Growth: Lessons in HR Leadership Across Sectors 20:29

3M ago20:29

20:29

Transitioning from the public sector to private HR isn't just a career move—it's a full-on culture shock. In this episode, Kimberly Williams, VP of People, Culture & Compliance at Walker Advertising, joins David to unpack her journey from federal HR to private enterprise, sharing hard-won lessons, surprising similarities, and the real stakes of nav…

1
FinTech Without Borders | GFTN's Pat Patel on the Global Corridors Shaping AI & Digital Finance 38:17

4M ago38:17

38:17

In this episode of On Call with Insignia, we go on a world tour of fintech innovation with Pat Patel, Co-CEO of GFTN Forums & CEO of USA, LATAM, MEA at the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN), the non-profit behind the Singapore FinTech Festival. Over the past decade, Pat has been at the intersection of tech, finance, and policy—shaping ec…

1
The Tech Talent Shift: Navigating AI, DEI, and Next-Gen Workforce Demands 28:58

4M ago28:58

28:58

What do tech hiring, Olympic figure skating, and the shifting tides of global work culture have in common? According to Ann Kuss, CEO of Outstaff Your Team, more than you'd think. In this episode, Ann joins David Rice to dissect the rapidly evolving landscape of tech talent: who's winning, who's losing, and why so many companies are still playing y…

1
Transforming AI Literacy in the Classroom feat. Corey Layne Crouch ’13 38:39

4M ago38:39

38:39

Despite entering college as a pre-med major, Corey Layne Crouch ’13 found her calling in the classroom after working as a teacher’s aide for a kindergarten class. Switching majors, she set out on a path to transform the education system from within. Corey’s entrepreneurial mindset in her work as a high school English teacher and school principal le…

1
Offsites Are the New Office: How to Drive Connection and Alignment in a Distributed World 24:26

4M ago24:26

24:26

Jared Kleinert, founder and CEO of Offsite, shares insights on the growing importance of team retreats in today’s distributed work environment. As remote and hybrid models become the norm, retreats have evolved from perks to essential strategies for keeping teams connected, aligned, and engaged. Jared emphasizes that planning intentional offsites i…

1
Why Your Startup Shouldn't Treat Comms as an Afterthought and Do This Instead for Marketing 1:00:59

4M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Session recorded from the "PR & Comms for Global Growth" as part of the Insignia Ventures Academy StartCXO ProgramOur StartCXO program beginning in September is now OPEN for applications:Gain the skills to transition seamlessly into a start up leadership roleLearn from industry professionals, well versed in the start-up scene.Join our network consi…

1
Authenticity or Bust: Why Performative Values Don't Work Anymore 23:42

4M ago23:42

23:42

Kelly Meerbott, CEO of YOU: Loud and Clear, dives into the growing disconnect between the C-suite and everyday employees, exposing how middle managers become "human shock absorbers" caught between corporate pressures and workforce realities. She calls out performative leadership and urges executives to prioritize coherence over charisma, advocating…

1
Investing in Ideas You Believe in feat. Ben Mayberry ’76 32:40

4M ago32:40

32:40

As a seasoned entrepreneur, investor and mentor, Ben Mayberry ’76 has seen a lot of change in the Houston business sector over the last 50 years. Beginning his career in the technology sector, Ben went on to co-found companies like BSG and Winston Sage, and has been deeply involved in the Rice Business community through mentorship and recruiting. B…

1
How Tone-Deaf Leadership Is Undermining Hybrid Work (And What to Do About It) 27:41

4M ago27:41

27:41

Many leaders still cling to outdated management styles focused on visible productivity rather than actual outcomes, despite a dramatic shift toward distributed teams. Brian Elliott, CEO of Work Forward, explains how the rise of hybrid work and AI tools highlights the need for outcomes-based management, rather than "productivity theater." Brian also…

1
AI at Work: Why Businesses Need a New Playbook 28:21

4M ago28:21

28:21

Steve Cadigan, a talent advisor and former CHRO of LinkedIn, joins us to discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into today’s workplace. We explore how the AI revolution stands apart from past technological shifts due to its unpredictability and ongoing development, leaving even its creators both excited and uncertain about its f…

1
Work Smarter With AI feat. Summer Husband ’02 26:46

5M ago26:46

26:46

With a Ph.D. in computational and applied mathematics from Rice, Summer Husband ’02 has been at the forefront of AI and data innovation for years. From transforming how the U.S. Navy uses machine learning to now leading data products and applied intelligence at Worley, her career bridges complex tech and real-world impact. Following her workshop, U…

1
Why Middle Managers Struggle—And How to Set Them Up for Success 34:29

5M ago34:29

34:29

The shift from managing individual contributors to overseeing other managers is one of the toughest transitions in leadership. Chris Williams, former Microsoft HR VP, explores why this change is so challenging and how organizations can better support these key leaders. Chris dives into the unique struggles faced by second-level managers, including …

1
Building a Service Business with Scent Detection Canines 20:36

5M ago20:36

20:36

For service-based business owners looking for inspiration and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen! Join our host as she sits down with Joanne Scioli, founder of JBS Inspection Services, who built a thriving specialized business using scent detection canines to uncover bed bug infestations. Joanne shares how she turned an unexpected layo…

1
Is HR a Job in Politics? 44:30

5M ago44:30

44:30

Workplaces have become battlegrounds for political ideologies, with DEI initiatives at the center of controversy. In this episode, host David Rice speaks with Enrique Rubio, founder of Hacking HR, about the dangers of political polarization in organizations and why leaders must take a stand. Enrique challenges listeners to move beyond acronyms and …

1
What Car Dealers Don’t Want You to Know - Inside Tips from John Rice 58:08

5M ago58:08

58:08

Are you in the market to buy a car for your business? In this episode of Scale Up Your Business, we sit down with John Rice—otherwise known as the "Inside Man" of the car industry. With over a decade of experience working every angle of the car business, John spills the secrets dealers DON'T want you to know. From hidden dealer incentives to mind-b…

1
Why Smart Failure Wins feat. Michelle Lewis '05 29:48

5M ago29:48

29:48

What’s worse than failing in your career? For Michelle Lewis ’05, it’s not trying at all. That fearless mindset propelled her from a fine arts degree to a global career as a C-suite leader, board director, and private equity principal. Over the years, Michelle has helped drive $10 billion in acquisitions across 30 countries and guided companies thr…

1
The DEI Reset: What’s Changing and Why It Matters 35:12

5M ago35:12

35:12

DEI has become a polarizing topic, making it harder to have meaningful conversations about building truly inclusive workplaces. In this episode, host David Rice speaks with Amri B. Johnson, founder of Inclusion Wins, about shifting the focus from divisive debates to practical systems that create lasting change. Amri challenges traditional DEI appro…

1
Building Epoch Making Companies from India to Indonesia | On Call with Flip CEO Pratyush Prasanna | Call 182 29:21

5M ago29:21

29:21

You are going on call with Pratyush Prasanna, Group CEO of @FlipID , one of Indonesia's largest consumer fintech platforms serving more than 13 million users primarily for their money movement needs, among other financial services. With 20+ years of executive and leadership experience in consumer and fintech companies including Paytm, Poynt, and Go…

1
Philadelphia Catalyst Grant: Fueling Innovation and Opportunity for Local Entrepreneurs 21:58

5M ago21:58

21:58

Are you a small business owner in Philadelphia ready to take your business to the next level? In this episode, host Zakia Ringgold sits down with Leslie Acosta, a seasoned educator, and the Outreach & Engagement Manager for the Philadelphia Department of Commerce. Leslie unveils all the details on the city’s brand new Catalyst Fund—a $5 million gra…

1
The Hiring Delusion: Why Companies Can’t Find the Perfect Candidate 32:35

5M ago32:35

32:35

The hiring process is broken, and both employers and job seekers are feeling the frustration. In this episode, host David Rice talks with Jessica Smith, founder and CEO of Savant Recruitment, about the unrealistic expectations plaguing talent acquisition today. From the "Goldilocks syndrome" of rejecting great candidates to drawn-out hiring process…

1
Building a truly global financial inclusion with AI | Surfin AI Fintech Forum Exclusive Roundtable | Call 181 26:37

6M ago26:37

26:37

In a world where nearly 1.4 billion adults still lack access to basic financial services, the promise of technology to bridge this gap has never been more critical. Our exclusive roundtable from the Surfin AI Fintech Forum 2025 in Manila brings together three visionary leaders -- a venture capitalist, a nuclear physicist turned fintech CEO, and Nob…

1
Professor, Ex-Bar Owner and Snoop Dogg’s Business Partner feat. Senior Associate Dean James Weston 37:10

6M ago37:10

37:10

In this special live episode of Owl Have You Know, James Weston, the senior associate dean for degree programs and Harmon Whittington Professor of Finance, reflects on his 25 years at Rice Business. Join James and host Maya Pomroy ’22 as they explore his journey from the Federal Reserve to Rice Business, the evolution of the school over the past tw…

1
How Leaders Can Foster Trust in the Face of Uncertainty 34:59

6M ago34:59

34:59

Trust is the foundation of a thriving workplace, but how do you build and sustain it in uncertain times? In this episode, host David Rice sits down with Greg Hawks, leadership trainer and creator of the Ownership Mindset, to explore practical strategies for fostering trust and accountability at work. Greg shares his "Maybe Mindset" framework for na…

1
Behind Vietnam's first fintech acquisition of a securities brokerage | Against All Odds with Finhay CEO and Founder Huy Nghiem (Part 3 of 3) 6:29

6M ago6:29

6:29

After building brand recognition and educating the market on digital investments in the years leading up to their 2020 inflection point, Finhay set its sights on a bigger goal: becoming Vietnam's first fintech to secure a stock brokerage license. In this final episode of our three-part series with VNSC by Finhay CEO and founder Huy Nghiem, we explo…