Owl Have You Know

Today’s guests bring a unique blend of expertise and personal connection to the show. Lee Ann Butler and Alex Butler are not only esteemed faculty at Rice Business, but also a married couple! 

Lee Ann Butler, a senior lecturer in management, has been teaching business law and related courses since 2001, joining Rice in 2010. She also served as the former academic director for the Online MBA program, MBA@Rice. 

Alex Butler, the Jesse H. Jones Professor of Finance, specializes in empirical corporate finance, financial institutions and markets. His research dives deep into how firms, governments and individuals navigate external financing, with recent work examining racial disparities in the auto loan market. He was instrumental in launching Rice Business's undergraduate business major and previously served as the director of undergraduate programs. 

Together, with host Maya Pomroy ’22, the Butlers share insights from their nearly three-decades-long academic journeys and personal lives. Lee Ann reflects on her passion for business law and the ethical challenges facing today's business leaders, while Alex highlights his findings in consumer finance. They also discuss the undergraduate business major at Rice, offer perspectives on teaching during uncertain times and explore how their partnership shapes their professional lives.

Episode Guide:
00:57 How The Butler’s Met: A Love Story in a Bar

01:38 Lee Ann's Journey from Litigator to Lecturer

04:19 Alex's Path to Finance and Academia

09:13 Launching the Undergraduate Business Program at Rice

12:36 Teaching Experiences and Student Interactions

15:20 Working Together as a Married Couple

18:56 Alex's Research on Racial Disparities in Auto Loans

23:32 Higher Interest Rates for Minorities

26:20 Impact of Anti-Discrimination Policies

28:39 Legal and Ethical Challenges in Business

33:22 Teaching in Uncertain Times

36:19 Future of Rice’s Undergraduate Business Major & Rice Business

42:46 Reflections and Words of Wisdom

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

On the ethical challenges that business leaders face today

30:30: [Maya Pomroy]: What are some of the most critical legal or ethical challenges that business leaders face today? Because that's something that you're preparing this generation of leaders to tackle. 

30:41: [Lee Ann Butler]: Well, I think the ethical challenges come every day, and probably the most difficult bit is when we just don't realize it's an ethical dilemma that's in front of us, right? And we tend to think of ourselves—everyone thinks of themselves as an ethical person: I don't need to worry about this because I'm a good person, and I will do the right thing. But when we take the time to actually systematically go through it in a logical way, I think not only what does my ethical framework tell me is right and wrong in the situation, but how might others view it? 'Cause not everyone—not everyone has the same framework as me or anyone else.

Surprising lessons learned from being educators at Rice

13:38 [Alex Butler] Several years ago, we ran an experimental course where faculty from four different functional areas got together, all of whom were going to teach their discipline, but along the theme of decision-making. And so we had someone from one group who's going to think about decision-making in teams, one-person decision-making, as students as far as how personal-psychological biases affect your decisions. One person doing game theory and I doing decision-making with data, so I learned a few things in that, one of which was. What a great place to work where someone can have this bonkers idea of let's come at decision-making from four different ways, all of us with our own strange perspectives, and deliver that as a course to the students and have the administration be like, yeah, man, let's do that. That sounds awesome.

What makes Rice special from an educator's perspective

08:35: It comes down to A: the students, right? That is my interaction. Most of the time, they are phenomenal. They are here to learn, and they have that kind of hunger that's amazing. I really enjoy teaching in the MBA program because they come with so much work experience, and I learn something every single class that I teach. Hopefully, they learn a lot from me, but I am absolutely learning a lot from them each time, too. But we also have wonderful support and administration here, which is not always the case at every school. But we have the whole package, which is just a joy to work here.

Show Links: 

• Transcript
  
  

Guest Profiles:

• Lee Ann E. Butler | Rice Business 
• Alexander Butler | Rice Business 
• Racial Disparities in the Auto Loan Market | The Review of Financial Studies | Oxford Academic 

In this episode, we welcome Shalini Yadav, a 2024 Executive MBA graduate and visionary leader in the field of synthetic biology. With over 22 years of research experience, including a decade in leadership, Shalini has a deep expertise in synthetic biology, immuno-oncology, and therapeutics. She now serves as the Executive Director of Rice's Synthetic Biology Institute, where she spearheads cutting-edge research, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and drives the institute’s mission to unlock synthetic biology’s transformative potential.

Host Maya Pomroy ’22 speaks with Shalini about her inspiring journey from growing up in Allahabad, India, to leading translational cancer research at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Shalini reflects on how her early experiences with infectious diseases and her education, from New Delhi to Stony Brook University, shaped her passion for synthetic biology. She also shares her thoughts on the field’s potential to revolutionize science and the critical role of integrating business strategy into scientific innovation.

Episode Guide:

02:39 Early Life and Education

04:13 Challenges and Adventures in the US

07:08 Groundbreaking Research and Discoveries

10:00 Transition to Translational Research

14:23 Journey to MD Anderson and Houston

17:17 Why Pursue an MBA Now?

27:16 Synthetic Biology: The Next Scientific Revolution

37:48 Future Aspirations and Conclusion

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

How a serendipitous opportunity brought Shalini to Houston

14:09: [Maya Pomroy] So what brought you to Houston? Was it MD Anderson that brought you to Houston?

14:35: [Shalini Yadav] When I got an opportunity, again grateful to the PCF Young Investigator Award that I got, this network of people that I met, and through that, I was able to connect with Dr. Allison, and it, again, serendipitously, happened that he, looking at my expertise and things that I had done, said, “Would you like to do this work, which is a lot of scientific management and administrative?” [15:06] I thought, okay, as long as I found it interesting and exciting, because, again, I was handling multiple stakeholders and trying to work with multiple pharmaceutical companies, different departments, different kinds of experts, working together with all of them to handle a scientific problem, which will actually help to learn something new. So that was very satisfying to do that.

How an MBA gave Shalini a new perspective on impact

32:42: I would like to say that scientists in general are passionate about what they do. It's the leap that you have to take that overcome, and your perspective changes after MBA. I never had this perspective. The way I understand things now are completely different than I would have done two years back. 

33:18: So if community matters to you and if you're bothered by things around you, which you want to change and you think with this you cannot. I think taking that leap where you will learn things, which I think basically as a scientist, our training as graduate students, or even medical studies, we are taught to be very focused. So having to come out of that shell and embrace this bigger picture and having the strength to think about what impact I can have because if you understand both sides of it, what you can think of achieving, you won't get it if you are just on one side of things. 

The effect of bridging the gap between clinical and translational research and basic research

11:35: When you bring diverse expertise together, the solutions that come out have way more value and are more impactful than what you can achieve alone. So bridging this gap was not something that I was looking for, but I serendipitously got into a position where I just did what was needed, which gave me a very different perspective of what scientific research can achieve in terms of, if you understand the problems which people are actually facing, then your solutions can be tailored, or you can design proposals to address those problems.

Show Links: 

• Transcript

Guest Profiles:

• Shalini Yadav | LinkedIn
• Rice Synthetic Biology Institute 
• MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Young Investigator Awards | Prostate Cancer Foundation
• World Health Organization

Why do American voters support divisive misinformation? That’s the question driving our guests' latest research, and the focus of today's episode.

Minjae Kim and Ezra Zuckerman Sivan are experts in sociology, and organizational behavior. In this episode, they dive into their latest collaboration, exploring moral flexibility and why some voters are drawn to divisive misinformation. Their new study, When Truth Trumps Facts: Studies on Partisan Moral Flexibility in American Politics, will be published in the American Journal of Sociology.

Minjae is an Assistant Professor of Management at Rice Business and Ezra is the Alvin J. Siteman Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan. Together, they sit down with host Maya Pomroy ’22 to unpack their findings. Listen as they discuss how personal truths can override objective facts and why misinformation often resonates so strongly with voters.

Episode Guide: 

01:40 Motivation to Pursue this Study on Moral Flexibility

02:30 The Puzzle of Authenticity

05:36 Insights From Their First Study Together

11:43 Current Study Overview

16:06 Truth vs. Fact

34:30 Historical Context and Examples

39:31 Minjae’s Future Research 

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

A hope for more reflective politics

38:42 [Maya]: What are your hopes of what your study... how it will help our society?

38:49 [Ezra Zuckerman Sivan]: I hope it gets at least some self-reflection, that people are realizing that they're using different standards for themselves and for others. And actually, one of the things I hope is, like, this is just the beginning research for us. We hopefully have a lot of people build on our research. I see a lot of areas of application where people are using different standards in different ways. You can see it, I would say, in a lot of the tumult since October 7th on our campuses. People are using very different standards on each side of the divide, again holding the other side to much higher standards than they're holding themselves to in the statements that they're making. And so, my hope is that, somehow, we get to be a little more reflective about these things and apply those lessons and maybe take the temperature down in our politics because of that.

On The Authentic Appeal of the Lying Demagogue

06:37 [Minjae Kim]: I think one of the key things that we really wanted to focus on was that we started with a premise that not only do politicians spread misinformation on all sides of the spectrum, but also, people often, you know, recognize the possibility, very salient possibility, that politicians lie very often.
So, there is literature in the political science talking about how it is actually very hard for politicians to appear authentic. So, one of the key things that we try to get at in that paper with the authentic appeal of the lying demagogue was essentially to identify a specific type of misinformation or specific type of lies that, you know, we label as lying demagoguery that would help that politician appear more authentic versus not under certain kinds of conditions.

Economics is always shared goal

06:37 [Minjae Kim]: Even if there is some kind of separation between the facts and truth that people recognize as, that if they can agree what, kind of, the goal that they should seek out for, then, you know, there might be... this divide might not necessarily be a hurdle. That said, we don't know if it is easier to arrive in the same goal or if it is easier to arrive at the same facts. We don't really know which one is easier. So, the prescription would have to depend a little bit on that. But, you know, the economic goal might be, kind of, one of them, so it could be, but yeah. 

33:16 [Maya]: Economics is always a shared goal, you know. Like, let's bring it back to business. And that's true. It's the quality of life. It's the quality of life that you have.

Despite divisions, American economy shows potential for growth

30:15 [Ezra Zuckerman Sivan]: The American economy, is a place where Americans of all types meet each other, and do business with each other, do all kinds of creative, exciting things together. And it is quite robust. Now, it has challenges. But if you look at the state of the American economy, especially compared to, to the rest of the world, American economy is doing fantastically well. Now, that doesn't mean it doesn't have troubles. And now, I'm going to get into trouble a little bit because, [30:44] I think both on right and left, people are complaining about the economy. You ask most economists, you ask most business school professors, people seem to be complaining about the economy more than they should. So, we're back to a little bit of the, you know, gap between some kind of sense of truth and facts. And also, there are people who are really clearly suffering in this economy. But the American economy, and there was a great jobs report that came out just now, like, shows you that Americans, even despite our divide and our different narratives, at least about politics, can do great things together. And so, maybe that's a source of hope.

Show Links: 

• When Truth Trumps Facts: Studies on Partisan Moral Flexibility in American Politics | American Journal of Sociology
• Flexible morals: A key reason American voters support divisive misinformation
• The Authentic Appeal of the Lying Demagogue: Proclaiming the Deeper Truth about Political Illegitimacy - Oliver Hahl, Minjae Kim, Ezra W. Zuckerman Sivan, 2018
• Oliver Hahl 
• Roberto Fernandez | MIT Sloan
• Harry Frankfurt - Wikipedia
• On Bullshit by Harry Frankfurt
• The Years of Lyndon Johnson Series by Robert Caro
• Strengthening Democracy Challenge
• Transcript
  
  

Guest Profiles:

• Ezra W. Zuckerman Sivan | MIT Sloan
• Sociological Imaginaries - Ezra’s Substack
• Ezra Zuckerman Sivan | Twitter / x
• Minjae Kim | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University
• Minjae Kim
• Minjae Kim (@minjaekim22) / X

From Dubai to Houston, Pooja Talreja’s journey is one of resilience, growth, and discovery. Her story is about more than just crossing continents—it's about breaking through personal and professional barriers to find her true passion.

After a pivot from accounting to HR, Pooja is now the senior vice president of people at Ironclad Environmental Solutions, with 15 years of experience leading global teams in the oil and gas industry.

In this episode, Pooja joins host Maya Pomroy ’22 to share her experiences, from growing up in Dubai to navigating life in the U.S. and making bold career moves. She offers invaluable insights on the importance of lifelong learning and how to lead through corporate transformation.

Episode Guide:

00:39 Growing Up in Dubai

01:40 Moving to the United States for College

03:25 College Life and Career Beginnings

05:30 Discovering a Passion for HR

08:28 MBA Journey at Rice University

17:56 Current Role and Leadership Insights

27:51 Advice and Reflections

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

How did Pooja landed in HR

12:58 [Maya Pomroy]: So, was it while you were at Rice that HR spoke to you? Or people, the idea of inspiring and leading people?

13:08  [Pooja Talreja]: 100%. It was one of the early classes, Organizational Behavior with Professor Brent Smith. I went to him and I said, "How do I do this? I need to do these things we're learning in these case studies with Southwest and everything that you talk about—motivating people, leading people—but impacting the business through that." And it was very simple what he said: "Have you considered HR?" And I said, "No, I always thought my next move would be adjacent to accounting, right, finance, or maybe something in operations. HR was not even on my radar." And that's why Brent and Rice overall was such a big part of where I landed with my career because it taught me that you can be good at something and still find your calling.

Balancing compassion and compliance in HR

21:29 [Maya Pomroy]: Maya: Do you feel that, that learning and growing is one of the most important things in terms of being a strong leader?

21:35 [Pooja Talreja]: One off. Yes, absolutely. But I'll, I'll give you my favorites. For me, it's compassion. The way that I define HR is not your textbook HR. Really, I think of it as a Venn diagram. You've got your policies and compliance and legal things, but then you've got the other side, which is doing what's right for the people.And when you can find what can work for both, that's where HR comes in. That's where the magic happens. That's how you build the right level of engagement and loyalty and motivate people, is when you find doing what's right for the people, but doing it in a way that's still ethical within your policy, within the laws and regulations. So that's what I love about my job, is figuring out that sweet spot.

The value of cohort experiences in the classroom

17:05: I think that's why cohorts tend to become so close, right? The professor is teaching you so many different things, but to your point, there's an equal amount of learning from the people that are sitting in that class and their experiences and failures and all of that. It's just an overall fantastic experience. And I miss it. I love being in a classroom.

Show Links: 

• Brent Smith | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University
• Transcript
  
  

Guest Profiles:

• Pooja Talreja | LinkedIn 
• Who We Are - Ironclad Environmental Solutions 

When it comes to alumni engagement, few Owls are as deeply connected as Tim Okabayashi. A proud Rice Business alum, Tim not only earned his MBA here but also served as president of the Rice Business Student Association, volunteered with the admissions office, and played a key role in the consulting club. In October 2020, Tim and fellow alum Karen Crofton ’10 launched the Owl Have You Know podcast, bringing the vibrant stories of Rice alumni to life.

Today, Tim is a consulting manager for SLB’s end-to-end emissions solutions. His career has taken him from Kuala Lumpur, where he supported operations across Asia, to his current home in London, where he lives with his wife Casey and their two children.

In this episode, host Maya Pomroy ’22 — who shares not just a Rice connection but also a high school alma mater with Tim — catches up with him on his dynamic career, the power of the Rice alumni network, and his ongoing dedication to the school that shaped his journey. Tune in to hear about Tim's international experiences, his insights on the evolving energy sector, and how embracing failure is key to driving innovation.

Episode Guide:

00:55 High School Reunion and Rice Connection

02:07 Choosing Rice for his MBA

04:31 Engagement with the extensive Rice Alumni Network

09:53 Launching this Podcast!

16:27 Tim’s Career Journey Post-Graduation

18:32 International Assignments and Family Support

20:26 The Future of Energy and SLB

31:11 Personal Reflections and Advice

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

On the future of energy

21:36: [Maya] What do you see for the future? You know, because we have energy transition, we've got so many exciting things on the horizon, also with AI and drilling technology, and clean energy. What are you the most excited about, of what's coming up in the next, I mean, five to seven years? 

21:55: [Tim Okabayashi] I'm most excited about the continuation of that, of just the advancement of technology throughout the oil field and new energy, and alternative energy, and transition energy. Like at the heart of it, the research and development; technology development is really the key enabler. And it takes time to develop this technology, commercialize it, and then have adoption, right? And this process requires people. And yes, big data and AI can certainly assist, but at the heart of it, there's still this need for people and researchers and ideas and science.

On the growing impact of Owl Have You Know podcast

15:21: The opportunities to expand your reach virtually are pretty phenomenal these days. And, I think the Owl Have You Know platform is a great one that continues to grow and expand with the different programs and subject themes, and the interviews with the staff and academics and highlighting the research, I think it's incredible. I think there's a lot of room for how I'll have, you know, to become a really central part of Rice business as well as the business community.

Tim’s global perspectives in oil and gas

19:59: [Maya] You've worked a lot in Asia and in the Asian market. What were some of the surprises and some of those aha moments while you were in Asia?

20:07: [Tim Okabayashi] One of my biggest learnings was actually passed to me from a colleague. And at the time, I kind of brushed it off, but he said, like, "You know, Tim, the world is such a small term for such a large place." And I think often in times in oil and gas, we think of the natural resources, you know, crude or natural gas, as really being just commodities, and it's the same anywhere. But that's really not true. I mean, to a certain degree, it is by the chemistry, but then again, the methods and the people and the culture around the activities in different parts of the world can be uniquely different. And that is something that I had grown to have a great appreciation of when I moved abroad.

Show Links: 

• MBA Student Clubs - Rice Business
• Consulting Club – Career Development Office | Rice Business
• Rice Alliance
• Karen Crofton | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University
• Transcript
  
  

Guest Profiles:

• Tim Okabayashi | LinkedIn 
• SLB
• Mic Check | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University 

Interested in learning the key to a peaceful transition from military to civilian life? For many veterans, it's found in an unexpected place: beekeeping.

Meet Steve Jimenez '22, a veteran and Rice Business alum, who discovered an unexpected passion when a friend introduced him to beekeeping. In 2018, this passion became a mission when he founded Hives for Heroes, a nonprofit that empowers veterans, active-duty military members, and first responders, by teaching them the art of beekeeping. This skill not only helps them adjust to civilian life but also provides a powerful way to manage post-traumatic stress.

Today, Hives for Heroes has grown beyond Steve's wildest dreams, spanning all 50 states, with over 31,000 hives under their care. The best part? They're just getting started, with exciting plans for a new headquarters in Houston on the horizon.

Join us as we dive into Steve's remarkable journey, and the rapid rise of Hives for Heroes.

Episode Guide:

01:17 Steve's Educational Background and Joining the Marine Corps

03:16 Marine Corps Training and Deployment Experiences

05:54 Transitioning to Civilian Life and Career Challenges

09:40 Discovering Beekeeping and Founding Hives for Heroes

15:08 Impact and Growth of Hives for Heroes

20:57 The Hive Mentality

21:10 A Life-Saving Connection: Derek's Story

22:17 Joining Hives for Heroes: The Process

22:42 Mentorship and Community Building

25:13 Awards and Recognition: A Humble Perspective

27:47 Scaling Up: The Need for Support

32:14 Heroes Honey: The Sweet Taste of Freedom

34:46 Future Vision: Connecting People, Nature, and Technology

38:46 A Call for Support

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

On redefining his identity

23:50: I used to call myself Steve the Marine. Now I'm Steve. That was in the Marines. There's a very different shift there that I love, like, I am now more so a father than a Marine. That's who I am, right? I care about my kids more than the Marine Corps at this point in my life. Doesn't mean I don't honor that service. It just means that I've moved forward. And that's a lot of growth for me personally. And I know we tend to put our identities into things. You get to choose that, so I choose to put that into my fatherhood or being a public servant that we're able to serve the general public in really amazing ways, leading what I consider one of the best organizations on the planet. Those are the types of things that when you take your identity and allow yourself to create your identity, your path, and your journey. It's a super-powerful experience.

On Hives for Heroes’ impact 

We never thought that the organization would have the reach and impact that it does today. I think our most important number has always been one. One meaning to serve one person in a capacity that changes their life. And we can do that whether that's a beekeeping experience or even a conversation. When you are around people that genuinely care about you and your successes but want nothing from you, it's a pretty powerful position to be in, especially when you feel alone. So, what our organization has been able to do is connect individuals to individuals in their local areas. So, we call it hyperlocal global impact because that's what we do.

From chaos to calmness

13:31: ​​When I started focusing into the beehive, this experience caused me to really remove every external thing that I was thinking about, anything that was going on at the house, anything with my kids, anything that was going on externally was gone. [13:58] You have this, what we now call chaos to calmness. So, this was the first time in almost 10 years that I actually felt peace. I felt calm in my spirit, in my soul, in my brain, however you want to describe it.

Show Links: 

• United States Marines 
• Ark Hive Apiary
• Texas Business Hall of Fame
• Heroes Honey
• Texas For Heroes
• Lilie Lab | Rice University
• Kyle Judah | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University
• Napier Rice Launch Challenge - Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Al Danto | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University
• Rice Alumni
• Houston Customer Innovation Center | HPE
• Transcript
  
  

Guest Profiles:

• Hives For Heroes 
• Hives for Heroes® (@hivesforheroes) • Instagram 
• Hives for Heroes - YouTube
• Steve Jimenez | LinkedIn 
• 40 Under 40 honoree: Meet Steve Jimenez of Hives for Heroes - Houston Business Journal

Krissy White '23 caught the hospitality bug after graduating from Northeastern University in 2006. She put her undergraduate degree in public & organizational communications to work immediately by joining the front office team of the St. Regis Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Krissy spent the next eight years living and breathing the luxury hospitality life, working at Forbes 5 Star and AAA 5 Diamond distinguished properties. Later, she was promoted to progressively more challenging front-office leadership roles in Charlotte, NC, and Half Moon Bay, CA and Dubai.

Since returning to Houston in 2014, Krissy has worked in operational and human resources at LegalEASE, where she has advanced to executive vice president of operations. In 2019, after realizing the market was missing a true French bakery, she and her husband, pastry chef Otto Sanchez, opened Magnol French Baking in Spring Branch, Houston. 

Krissy joins host Maya Pomroy ’22 to talk about her singular career journey, from cutting her teeth in Dubai's hospitality industry to returning to Houston and pursuing her passion for pastries with her husband.

Episode Guide: 

00:39 Life After the Executive MBA

02:06 Early Career in Hospitality

04:10 Rising Through the Ranks

08:54 A New Adventure in California

11:15 International Experience in Dubai

14:48 Returning Home and New Beginnings

17:43 Starting Magnol French Baking

27:10 Pursuing an MBA at Rice University

33:16 Reflections and Advice for Future Rice students

41:27 Future Plans

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

On making the world a better place on a daily basis through Krissy’s work

16:51: I really wanted to like the common thread with the hospitality and Magnol, and all of the insurance company I've been working for since then. And to this day, I'm still working for now has been, I just, in my own way, want to help make the world a better place. And I would love to be able to feel like I'm doing that on a daily basis. Now, I'm in senior leadership, and so there's a little bit less connection with the actual member that we're helping, but it's still there. I'm able to make bigger differences on a larger scale and work with a pretty large team here—about a little over 100 team members. And then, of course, when I'm over at Magnol, being able to speak with the guests is, I mean, the best part.

Krissy reflects on the most fulfilling part of the Rice Program

[34:53]: Maya: In terms of the Rice program, what have been the most fulfilling parts of it for you? 

[35:01] Krissy: I mean, definitely the friendships that were formed with those that you really pour into and that others are willing and ready to pour into as well, from areas of the world that I never would have met otherwise. But also for me, the end of the program international trip, our class went to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. That was a profound experience for me. 

On the pitfalls of perfectionism and taking risks

[32:19] Krissy: I think for those who have a high performing or high potential or whatever term you want to use for people that like to try hard and accomplish things.

[32:28]: Maya: Perfectionist?

[32:31]: Krissy: Yeah. That there's this kind of—it's not a dark side, but it's not the most maybe healthier, positive thing that you start to think, well, maybe I just won't start something that I'm not totally guaranteed will be successful to the level of success that I hold dear. And so I just won't even start because I don't want to take that chance. And that's not the life worth living.

Show Links: 

• Transcript

Guest Profile:

• Krissy White | LinkedIn 
• Magnol French Baking
• LegalEASE

Our guest is an Army veteran, a world-class boxer, a father, a strategic credit advisor at BP, and on top of all that, a Rice Business alum.

DeRae Crane '22 was raised in Davenport, Iowa by a single father, and began boxing at the age of 9. He was awarded the Bart Stupak Scholarship to attend Northern Michigan University (NMU) for boxing, which is also home to the United States Olympic Education Center.

DeRae and host Maya Pomroy ’22 discuss DeRae’s life story, including competing as an elite boxer for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, serving in the Army, winning numerous national boxing titles, and coming out of retirement from boxing for another Olympic run.

Episode Guide:

01:55 Growing Up in Davenport, Iowa: A Boxer's Journey Begins

04:49 The Science of Boxing: More Than Just a Sport

08:05 College Years: From Walk-On to Team Captain

17:11 The Olympic Dream: Trials and Triumphs

22:09 Joining the Military: A New Chapter

28:04 Reflecting on Mentorship and Lessons Learned

28:29 Military Service and Boxing Ambitions

29:52 Returning Home and Reconnecting with Family

31:39 Adjusting to Civilian Life

35:12 Pursuing an MBA and New Adventures

37:43 Moving to Houston and Career Shifts

39:25 Balancing Work, School, and Boxing

45:16 Training for the 2024 Olympic Trials

49:56 Words of Wisdom and Future Aspirations

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

On DeRae's transition back from service 

31:41: [Maya]: How was it adjusting back to civilian life? Was there, you know, sort of this process, or were you like, you know what, I'm back, I'm not going to think about it like the way that you've been, you know, up until this point of like, leaving that there, and I'm moving on over here, and this is now my focus. Or was there a time of transition for you? 

32:03: [DeRae Crane]: I was aware. I became more aware that I am different now. There is no way to go downrange and come back the same. So I was aware of it, and I would catch myself getting upset about certain things that are, that's bothering someone else. But it wouldn't bother me because the way I see the world and how broad my purview is now. So yeah, that was. That's a journey, and I'm still on that journey today. You know, as I try to give people grace,  so yeah, I mean, you know, you just become more aware.

Why DeRae held on to boxing

Why I was so ambitious is just because I grew up so poor. I don't want to be poor anymore. And boxing was my way out. It exposed me to different things in the world. So, for the first year, we travel around Iowa and then you start getting better, you're qualifying for regionals and you're moving on to nationals. I won my first national title at 11 years old and I was hooked. Mike Tyson says success begets success. Absolutely. Because once you experience that, you're, like, okay, I want to do this again.
 
[07:19] Maya: Yeah, it's a fire. It's a fire that lights you up, right?
 
Fire was lit. I held on to boxing and I did not let go, held onto it tight - tighter than a lot of my relationships, my friendships, as it was the thing that was the most rewarding, the most fulfilling. I could go put the work in and, you know, get the results back, get the benefits back. And it kept me out of trouble. So, that's always good. Kept me focused and disciplined.

The importance of investing in a good business school

52:37: I think folks, if they do, have the opportunity to go to business school. You know, go to the best business school that you can go to—the one where you feel like you'll grow there. Now, those are the ones where you're a little, you know, a little nervous, a little anxious being around those folks because you're on the other side, just like the depression in 2008, like on the other side. You're gonna be so much better. You have to stretch.

What’s next for DeRae?

50:37: I do have other interests, and if you look at my resume for the last 15 years, like every two to three years, I'm in a different role. I'm doing something. So even in the military, like every two or three years, you're doing something different, something new. And that's continued on in my corporate career. And, you know, I'm actually in, like, that window where I'm looking for something new to do. And I want to pivot into something else. I currently, you know, I work in credit. It's been awesome. It was like a continuation of business school. But I may want to shift into something else, you know, here soon, you know, within the next probably three to six months. I'll be doing something different, something new, something I haven't done before.

Show Links: 

• Transcript

Guest Profiles:

• DeRae Crane
• DeRae Crane | LinkedIn
• BP

Mikki Hebl, an industrial organizational psychologist and the Martha and Henry Malcolm Lovett Chair of Psychology – Professor of Management at Rice University, has been studying workplace discrimination and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for 30 years, well before DEI became the widely discussed topic it is today.

In March of this year, Mikki and Eden King, the Lynette S. Autrey Professor of Psychological Science at Rice, released a new book (Working Together: Practicing the Science of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). In it, they outline the state-of-the-art science that makes the case for DEI and delve into effective strategies for individuals and organizations to foster more inclusive environments. 

Mikki chats with host Maya Pomroy ‘22 about her book, the subtleties of biases, and the importance of staying informed and aware of biases to make the world and workplaces fairer and more equitable for everyone. 

Episode Guide:

00:17 From Pardeeville to Rice University: Dr. Hebl's Academic Path

03:17 The Evolution of DEI

05:03 Unveiling Subtle Discrimination

08:32 Strategies Against Discrimination: Individual and Organizational Approaches

13:07 Her new book Working Together

16:37 How Current Political Climates Are Impacting DEI

20:11 Understanding The Psychological Resistance to DEI

25:44 College Admissions & DEI

29:53 Exploring the Impact of Quotas: How Much Do They Really Do?

37:19 The Importance of Tailoring DEI Initiatives to Organizational Needs

42:15 The Science and Impact of Diversity Training

50:41 Future Hopes for DEI Work and the Role of Science

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

DEI spans beyond one group or issue; it's about shifting demographics

18:18: The book [Working Together] is to get people to think about what DEI really is. It's about protection in the workplace for people who are 40 and older. Well, it turns out the realistic, like, imperative of our world is that it's very much changing. We're getting older. Women are entering the workforce. Women should be entering the workforce more, in my opinion, but the reason they don't is because we don't have family-friendly policies that allow them to have paid childcare, have paid family leave. We're not enabling our families.

17:11: DEI is not going away. Whatever conversation, whatever words we want to use, DEI is here to stay, and it's here to stay because it is not this weaponized definition of just blacks or women who are getting rights that they shouldn't get. 

Why is diversity training important?

43:13: Why do we want diversity training? Because diversity training is teaching us: What are the norms in this organization? How should we be treating people? What I like to say is, it's very similar to safety training. So, if you wanted to go to an organization and you said, I don't want to do safety training," I don't want to learn how to wear my hard hat. We would laugh at you. We would say you have to know the rules. You gotta, like, tie off. You gotta do these things. We don't want you to lose your hand in the wood chipper, okay? And so, the same thing is true of diversity training. It's trying to protect people.

Show Links: 

• Working Together: Practicing the Science of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Transcript

Guest Profile:

• Dr. Mikki Hebl | Rice University
• Dr. Hebl’s Personal Website

In this episode of Owl Have You Know, we explore the journey of Suman Khatiwada, from his roots in Nepal to becoming a trailblazing force in the chemical manufacturing industry.

Suman is the co-founder, chief technology officer (CTO), and board director at Syzygy Plasmonics, focusing on using light-driven chemistry instead of combustion to power a cleaner, safer world. 

As CTO, he leads the technology team in developing, scaling up, and integrating the company’s core technologies: photocatalysts and fully electrified chemical reactors. Suman earned his Ph.D. in materials science and nanoengineering from Rice University and his bachelor’s degree in physics from Morgan State University.

Suman joins host Scott Gale ’19 to discuss his early interest in physics and how his passion evolved at Rice University. He highlights pivotal moments, like his transition from academia to entrepreneurship, forming his first company Big Delta Systems, and eventually starting Syzygy Plasmonics. 

Suman shares the challenges and rewards of scaling a startup, the importance of balancing personal and professional life, and his efforts to give back to his native Nepal through mentorship and support for local entrepreneurs. 

Episode Guide: 

00:39 From Nepal to Nanotechnology: Suman's Educational Journey

05:00 The Spark of Entrepreneurship at Rice University

10:13 The Birth of Syzygy Plasmonics: A Revolutionary Tech Venture

22:12 Navigating the Challenges of Commercializing University Technology

29:34 Balancing Entrepreneurship with Personal Life

36:25 Giving Back: Suman's Commitment to Nepal and Beyond

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

Building a sustainable future with Syzygy Plasmonics

09:38: Our aim with the company is to provide this technology and deploy it for many different market verticals, from production of hydrogen to production of sustainable aviation fuel, e-diesel, making butadiene for rubbers, making ethylene—all of those verticals—and start decarbonizing the way those chemicals, fuels, and fertilizers work. And it goes with the ethos that we cannot change the way we live anymore in this world; right, our way of life is now our way of life. So our technology, we believe, has a very sustainable pathway to still enjoy modern life that has been built with conventional petroleum products, these chemicals, fuels, and fertilizers. But in a more sustainable way, we don't have to lose our modern way of life.

Building a sustainable future with Syzygy Plasmonics

09:38: A lot of things that I find myself drawing on are the same things that are key to who I think I am as a person. Always being good with people, being eager about other people, learning from their experiences, relating to everyone equally—you never know who is going to help you in what way, whenever in life—so, being people-centric in my outlook on life. I learned from that early engagement during my graduate school, I think, still holds to this day, as we've now built a 120-person company.

The impact of environment and opportunity in Suman’s entrepreneurship journey

15:32: So, I think your surroundings and the environment that you are in play a large role. You might want to do something, but being nudged and having access to certain things, I think, plays a big part. And Rice obviously does a really good job, and now, with the Ion and Liu Idea Lab, it's, I think, even better for someone within the Rice ecosystem wanting to be an entrepreneur and start companies.

Show Links: 

• Transcript
• Syzygy Plasmonics 
• Rice Alliance
• Big Delta Systems - Bloomberg
• Rice Advanced Management Program
• Rice Business Helps Nepal Develop Leaders 
• The Great Nepali Diaspora
  
  

Guest Profile:

• Suman Khatiwada | LinkedIn