Leading Owls Podcast

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 lesson...

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 eve...

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 sha...

In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we sit down with Rice student leader Abby —Beer Bike designer, Duncan Arts Committee co-head, and Doerr Undergraduate Ambassador—to explore how creativity and leadership come together to build community. Abby shares how her passion for art goes far beyond aesthetics—it’s about storytelling, belonging, and shaping the identity of a college through tradit...

Today’s guest is Bodie Gilbert, one of Rice Business’s top MBA students and the founding president of the Rice Business Management Association. Bodie’s leadership journey has been about turning ideas into movements — and classmates into collaborators. From leading a consulting team in Brazil that earned recognition in Forbes Brasil to building new platforms for future executives at Rice, he’s lear...

In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast , we sit down with Prasanna, a first-year student at Rice University, incoming O-Week Coordinator for Chao College, and student leader deeply involved in campus life. Prasanna shares how curiosity—not a rigid plan—has guided his leadership journey, from stepping into roles like Parliamentarian and Floor Representative at Jones College to building communi...

Today’s guest is Tranell, a standout MBA student at Rice Business whose leadership is defined by community, accountability, and heart. Tranell currently serves as Co-Executive Chair of the Texas Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference, Co-Social Chair of the Black Business Student Association, and VP of Parents in Business. Plus much more! From leading one of the largest ETA Conferences in...

In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast , we sit down with Neya , a first year at Rice University’s Brown College and an emerging campus leader already making an impact through student government.  Neya shares what drew her into leadership from the very beginning of her Rice journey, including her roles as Brown College Freshman Representative and Student Association New Student Representative...

On this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast , we’re joined by Ellie , a first-year student at Rice University who wasted no time diving into leadership, entrepreneurship, and campus life. Ellie shares how her passion for leadership started at a young age, why entrepreneurship has always felt natural to her, and what drew her to get involved in leadership opportunities as soon as she arrived on cam...

On this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast , we sit down with Maria , a first-year student at Rice University and New Student Representative (NSR) for Lovett College in the Student Association. Maria shares what motivated her to jump into leadership early in her Rice journey and how her passion for equity and access is shaping the projects she’s working on—particularly efforts to make academic re...

In Part 2 of this powerful episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we continue our discussion with Saran, a first-year student at Rice whose leadership journey began long before she arrived on campus. At just 16, Saran became the first Mongolian American government-appointed official in California—and in U.S. history, representing more than 850,000 students with disabilities statewide. Her early work...

In Part 1 of this powerful episode of the Leading Owls Podcast , we sit down with Saran , a first-year student at Rice whose leadership journey began long before she arrived on campus. At just 16, Saran became the first Mongolian American government-appointed official in California—and in U.S. history , representing more than 850,000 students with disabilities statewide. Her early work in policy a...

On this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast , we’re joined by Gary Garrett, Program Manager at the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University. Gary has been part of the Doerr team since its early days, helping shape and deliver programs that empower Rice students to grow as leaders—no matter where they start. From overseeing flagship programs like Catalyst to supporting hundreds of student...

On this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast , we sit down with Eman, a 2025 O-Week Coordinator for Baker College, who has worn many hats as a student leader at Rice. From being an O-Week Advisor, PAA, and Room Assignment Coordinator to leading community outreach with Rice360 and conducting research at the BRC, Eman shares how each role has shaped her leadership journey. She takes us inside the exc...

On this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Bernie Banks, Director of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General, and co-author of the new book The New Science of Momentum: How the Best Coaches and Leaders Build a Fire from a Single Spark. If you are interested in increased motivation and momentum in your life, this episode is...

On this episode of Leading Owls , we sit down with Aislinn, a standout student leader and one of this year’s O-Week Coordinators for Wiess College. From her first year on New Student Council to joining 11 IM sports teams (yes—eleven!), Aislinn has made the most of her Rice experience by diving headfirst into nearly every corner of campus life. We talk about what it’s really like to get involved at...

In this episode of Leading Owls , we go behind the scenes with Rachel, one of the 2025 O-Week Coordinators for Jones College, whose leadership is shaped by creativity and a deep love for all things Rice. From her time as a Floor Rep and Associate Justice to leading as the Arts & Wellness Coordinator and Jones Pit Crew member, her journey is all about showing up for her college—and finding joy...

In this episode of Leading Owls , we sit down with Princess, the 2025 O-Week Coordinator for Brown College at Rice University. From her journey as a freshman rep to leading one of the most exciting and pivotal weeks of the year, Princess shares how her leadership has evolved and how her diverse involvements at Rice—from cheerleading to mentoring and volunteering—inform her work today. Princess tak...

In this episode of Leading Owls , we’re joined by Audrey, one of Sid Richardson College’s 2025 O-Week Coordinators and a student leader whose fingerprints are all over campus life at Rice. From serving as Sid Rich Secretary, Vice President, and Pit Crew Captain, to leading the Associates Committee and getting involved in everything from Pancakes for Parkinson’s to Women in Mathematics, Audrey has...

In this episode of Leading Owls , we sit down with Arturo, one of the 2025 O-Week Coordinators, whose leadership is fueled by curiosity, cultural insight, and a passion for building community. As an international student deeply involved in scientific research at both the Bonner Nuclear Lab and the Rice Space Institute, Arturo shares how his experiences in the lab have shaped his approach to teamwo...

On this episode of Leading Owls , we sit down with Yazmine, a powerhouse student leader at McMurtry College and one of this year’s O-Week Coordinators. From her first steps as a First-Year Representative to serving as External Vice President and helping select Resident Fellows, Yazmine shares how her leadership journey has evolved—and what continues to drive her. We talk about what it takes to cre...

  🎙️ Welcome back to the Leading Owls Podcast! Today, we’re sitting down with an incredible student leader, Nimah, the 2025 Hanszen O-Week Coordinator and incoming Executive Vice President of Rice Program Council. Nimah is involved in so many areas of campus life, from student leadership to leading the MOB to theater production as an independent student lighting designer and operator. In this epis...

In this episode of Leading Owls , we’re joined by Kaitlyn, a standout student leader from Duncan College who wears many hats on campus—including 2025 O-Week Coordinator, Doerr Institute Student Ambassador, Culture & Inclusion Committee Co-Head, RPC College Rep, and SER Research Scholar. Kaitlyn shares her journey from first-year student to leading one of the most exciting weeks at Rice, how sh...

Today, we’re diving into the world of student leadership with Carlos, a standout leader at McMurtry College. Carlos has taken on major leadership roles, serving as the 2025 McMurtry O-Week Coordinator, McMurtry Prime Minister, Socials and Cultural Committee Head, and he’s also involved in Rice Men’s Club Volleyball, the Rice Filipino Student Association, and the Rice Partnership for the Advancemen...

Today, we’re joined by Stephanie Taylor, Associate Director of Leader Development at the Doerr Institute for New Leaders. Stephanie plays a key role in shaping the leader development experience at Rice University—overseeing the hiring and training of professional coaches and facilitating programs designed to help students grow into confident and capable leaders. In this episode, Stephanie gives us...