Leading Owls Podcast

What does it take to build traditions from the ground up?

In this episode of Leading Owls, host Lana sits down with Prasanna, a Rice University biosciences student and inaugural O-Week Coordinator for Chao College, to explore the challenges and opportunities of creating a new college experience.

From selecting O-Week advisors to shaping traditions that will last for years to come, Prasanna shares how listening to feedback, embracing flexibility, and putting students first have shaped his approach to leadership.

He also reflects on balancing multiple leadership roles, learning when to ask for help, and the importance of pursuing opportunities because they bring you joy—not just because they look good on a résumé.

Tune in for a conversation about building community, leading with intention, and discovering the kind of leader you want to become.

Leading Owls is the student leadership podcast from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, featuring conversations with student leaders about the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shape their leadership journey. 

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens on Dec. 3rd at http://riceleader.org/
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey. 

What does it take to grow from a first-year student looking for community into a leader shaping the Rice experience for others?

In this episode of The Leading Owls Podcast, host sits down with Collin, a psychology student in Rice University's Class of 2028 and a student leader at McMurtry College.

From joining the committee for McMurtry's largest annual event, Y2K, to serving on the college's Executive Council, becoming Prime Minister, and taking on the role of O-Week Coordinator, Collin shares how getting involved helped him discover his leadership potential.

Together, Lana and Collin explore the importance of learning through experience, recognizing the unique strengths of others, making thoughtful decisions that impact incoming students, and knowing when to delegate. Collin also opens up about the challenges of balancing academics, research, and campus leadership—and what he's learned about protecting his well-being along the way.

Whether you're just beginning your leadership journey or juggling multiple responsibilities, this conversation offers valuable insights into growing as a leader while staying connected to what matters most.

Leading Owls is the student leadership podcast from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, featuring conversations with student leaders about the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shape their leadership journey. 

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens on Dec. 3rd at http://riceleader.org/
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey. 

What does it mean to be a leader who puts people first?

In this episode of The Leading Owls Podcast, host Lana sits down with Rice University student leader Aliq to explore his journey from transfer student to an active leader in the Rice community.

From serving as a Baker College O-Week Coordinator to taking on leadership roles across campus, Aliq shares how stepping outside his comfort zone helped him discover his leadership style. He discusses the importance of building trust, creating a sense of belonging, and being a leader who listens and looks out for others.

Plus, Aliq shares the story of running a marathon without training, why some of his best decisions have been spontaneous, and his advice for students who are hesitant to get involved.

Tune in for a conversation about embracing opportunities, leading with empathy, and making the most of your time at Rice University.

Leading Owls is the student leadership podcast from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, featuring conversations with student leaders about the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shape their leadership journey. 

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens on Dec. 3rd at http://riceleader.org/
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey. 

What does it mean to lead your peers, preserve a strong community, and still make space for change?

In this episode of Leading Owls, host Lana sits down with Rice senior Alena, a Wiess College O-Week Coordinator and student leader whose experiences span campus traditions, venture capital, consulting, and mentorship.

Alena shares how her own unconventional path to Rice shaped the empathy she brings to leadership and her commitment to making sure others feel seen, understood, and included. She also reflects on what she has learned from managing teams of her peers—including the importance of earning trust, setting boundaries, delegating responsibility, and knowing when to lead with confidence and when to lean on others.

From building community during O-Week to creating opportunities for women interested in venture capital, Alena offers a thoughtful look at leadership grounded in relationships, humility, and a genuine desire to understand the people around you.

Leading Owls is the student leadership podcast from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, featuring conversations with student leaders about the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shape their leadership journey. 

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens on Dec. 3rd at http://riceleader.org/
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey. 

What happens when you decide to step outside your comfort zone—even when you’re not completely confident you’re ready?

In this episode of Leading Owls, host Lana sits down with Samantha, a civil engineering student in Rice University’s Class of 2028 and one of the inaugural O-Week Coordinators for Chao College.

Sammy reflects on a challenging transition to Rice, the experiences that helped her begin seeing herself as a leader, and what ultimately gave her the confidence to put herself forward for an O-Week leadership role. She also shares what it’s like to help build a new college community from the ground up—from creating traditions and inclusive experiences to selecting advisors who will make incoming students feel genuinely supported.

Along the way, she explores one of her biggest leadership lessons: there is no single way to be a leader. From engineering and problem-solving to music and creativity, she shares how her different interests and experiences are shaping both the leader she is becoming and the community she hopes to create.

Leading Owls is the student leadership podcast from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, featuring conversations with student leaders about the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shape their leadership journey. 

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens on Dec. 3rd at http://riceleader.org/
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey. 

What does it take to create a community that has never existed before?

In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we sit down with Abbie, one of the inaugural Chao College O-Week Coordinators at Rice University. Abbie shares what it's like to help build traditions from the ground up, prepare one of the biggest transitions in a student's college journey, and lead without a blueprint.

We also discuss:

•  What happens behind the scenes to make O-Week possible 
•  The challenges of launching a brand-new residential college 
•  How leadership is about adapting your style to the people you serve 
•  Navigating conflict, building trust, and finding balance as a leader 
•  Lessons learned through coaching, teamwork, research, and student leadership 

Whether you're preparing for O-Week, stepping into a new leadership role, or simply interested in how strong communities are built, this conversation offers practical insights and inspiration.

Leading Owls is the student leadership podcast from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, featuring conversations with student leaders about the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shape their leadership journey. 

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens on Dec. 3rd at http://riceleader.org/
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey. 

Leader development is everywhere—but how do you know it's actually working?

In this episode of Leading Owls, we sit down with Dr. Aaron Pomerantz, Assistant Director of Research and Evaluation at the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, to explore why measurement is one of the most overlooked—and most important—parts of leader development.

Aaron explains why effective measurement isn't something you add at the end of a program, but something that should be intentionally built into every leadership initiative from the very beginning. He shares common mistakes organizations make, why data is essential for demonstrating impact and ROI, and how evidence-based practices can strengthen leadership programs in higher education, nonprofits, and organizations of every kind.

Whether you are a leadership educator, coach, HR professional, student affairs leader, or simply interested in developing better leaders, this conversation offers practical insights into measuring what matters.

In this episode you'll learn:

•  Why leadership measurement is more than surveys and metrics 
•  The biggest misconceptions about evaluating leadership programs 
•  How organizations can demonstrate meaningful ROI 
•  What makes a strong impact assessment plan 
•  Why evidence-based leader development leads to better decisions 
•  How the Doerr Institute uses data to continuously improve its programs 
•  What participants gain from the Demystifying Measurement in Leader Development course 

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share so you never miss future conversations with leadership experts.

Leading Owls is the student leadership podcast from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, featuring conversations with student leaders about the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shape their leadership journey. 

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens on Dec. 3rd at http://riceleader.org/
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey. 

What does it take to coordinate one of Rice University's most iconic student traditions?

In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we sit down with Heather Bennett Mallory, who manages the Rice Program Council and oversees the planning and execution of Beer Bike, one of Rice's most beloved and complex campus events. Heather shares what happens behind the scenes, the leadership lessons that come from coordinating large-scale student experiences, and how collaboration, problem-solving, and community-building play a critical role in creating traditions that bring Owls together.

Whether you're a current student, an aspiring campus leader, or simply curious about how major university events come to life, this conversation offers an inside look at leadership in action at Rice University.

Leading Owls is the student leadership podcast from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, featuring conversations with student leaders about the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shape their leadership journey. 

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens on Dec. 3rd at http://riceleader.org/
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey. 

When Kenzie first arrived at Rice, she wasn’t sure where she fit in. Like many students, she held back—unsure if she belonged or how to get involved. But through building relationships, taking small risks, and leaning into what felt meaningful, she grew into a campus leader shaping one of Rice’s biggest traditions: Beer Bike.

In this episode, Kenzie shares how her leadership evolved from doing everything herself to learning how to trust and empower others. She takes us behind the scenes of planning large-scale events, talks about the importance of delegation and structure, and offers honest advice for students who are still figuring out their place. If you’ve ever felt unsure about getting involved—or like leadership isn’t for you—this episode will change how you think about it.

Leading Owls is the student leadership podcast from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, featuring conversations with student leaders about the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shape their leadership journey. 

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens on Dec. 3rd at http://riceleader.org/
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey. 

What does it take to lead when there’s no playbook?

In this episode of Leading Owls, we sit down with Elijah White, the first-ever President of Chao College at Rice University. From helping sort mail as a first-year student to leading an entire residential college from the ground up, Elijah’s leadership journey is a masterclass in jumping in, figuring it out, and growing along the way.

Elijah shares what it actually feels like to build a college from scratch—where traditions don’t exist yet, culture is still forming, and every decision helps shape something that will last for generations. He opens up about leading through uncertainty, learning to trust others (and himself), and why leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being willing to step up anyway.

We also dive into how his experience working at Chick-fil-A—where he became a supervisor at just 17—prepared him to lead under pressure, manage teams, and develop the confidence to take on big responsibility early.

One of the most compelling ideas from this episode? Elijah’s concept of “increasing your luck surface area”—and how saying yes to opportunities (even when you’re unsure) can open doors you never expected.

Whether you’re a current student leader, stepping into a new role this fall, or just trying to figure out your next move, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, uncertainty, and growth.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

•  What it’s like to be the first to lead something entirely new 
•  How to build culture when nothing exists yet 
•  Why leadership starts long before you have a title 
•  Lessons from leading teams in high-pressure environments 
•  How embracing uncertainty can actually give you an edge 

Plus: rapid-fire Rice favorites, leadership advice for first-years, and Elijah’s vision for what Chao College will become decades from now.

Listen on your favorite platform:
Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Music

Leading Owls is the student leadership podcast from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, featuring conversations with student leaders about the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shape their leadership journey. 

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens on Dec. 3rd at http://riceleader.org/
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.