Chaundra Frank
“Placing myself in an environment to be challenged—while immersing myself in the resources MBA@Rice provides—was the best decision I ever made. My classmates are brilliant, diverse and eager to make a difference beyond the hedges of the university.”
Coming Back Home to Rice
Chaundra Frank refers to herself as “Rice Twice.” She earned her B.A. in economics and managerial studies from Rice University in 2000 and returned two decades later for her MBA.
“Growing up in Houston, my parents always found an excuse to pass through Rice’s campus. Whether it be the highlight of a Sunday drive, basketball camp or robotics camp, I am no stranger to the university,” she laughs.
Chaundra’s hometown connection to the Rice community led her to return for her MBA online.
Continuing to Grow and Learn
She started her career as a natural gas trade analyst at Shell Trading, then embarked on careers in management consulting, private equity and education. But for Chaundra, the learning is never done.
“My motto is, ‘Second me will be the better me.’ I wanted my MBA to build a new muscle, allowing me to demonstrate new leadership and management skills for future endeavors.”
In addition to developing her leadership skills in the classroom, Chaundra took full advantage of the many networking and extracurricular opportunities available to MBA@Rice students. While enrolled, she took on the following:
- led the development of a new student association for MBA@Rice
- served as president of the MBA@Rice Board Fellows program
- joined the Black Business Student Association and Rice Business Women’s Organization
- enrolled in the first Women in Leadership Cohort provided by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders
- completed the Launchpad program at the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie)
How Chaundra Defines Success
In her final year of the MBA program, Chaundra accepted a position with the Houston Botanic Garden as the vice president of finance. But for her, the impact of a Rice education goes beyond job opportunities.
“The MBA@Rice program has redefined my perspective of business and how I personally contribute to the bottom line,” she explains.
She adds that the virtual style of learning has allowed her to adapt to the remote/hybrid workplace. “It’s helped me develop the skills and competency to be successful in this new age of business. Fresh ideas and a new mindset are top of my list.”
Earning her MBA from Rice is an important milestone for her career and her life. But what is ultimately the key to Chaundra’s success? It’s Chaundra—and her growth mindset.
“I am proud that I keep evolving, achieving new goals and doing my best to make a positive impact in the world. I am proud of the success of my nonprofit organization, Lake Houston Youth Sports Association. I am proud of my students and athletes. And I am proud that I continue to navigate this journey while doing it my way. My way means finding the courage to walk into my story, own it and write the ending.”
