Meet the MBA Class of 2025: Charles Ping-Hsu Chen, Rice University (Jones)

Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan

Fun fact about yourself: A competitive swimmer and rower, I am now playing more “land” sports and have joined the golf club.

Undergraduate School and Specialization: New York University: Communications and Mathematics

Last employer and job title: Uber – Sales Program Manager

What has been your favorite part of Houston so far? Why? The city itself has a lot to explore, especially when it comes to dining! With access to Restaurant Week, I was able to explore different options and have a pocket list to bring my friends and family when they come to visit.

Aside from your classmates and location, What was the key element of the Rice Jones MBA program that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? In addition to the direct flight from Houston to Taipei, I had the opportunity to chat with several other Taiwanese students attending Rice and its MBA program. The extensive alumni network and potential opportunities throughout Texas helped motivate my decision to come to Rice’s MBA program.

What class, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Rice Jones? Without a doubt, it’s the school party. My girlfriend and I moved to Houston. I came for school and she came for work. The party is a great way for our loved ones to get involved. The slogan, You Belong Here, really resonated with us.

Describe your greatest achievement in your career so far: I took advantage of the flexibility of Rice’s deferred enrollment program to work and eventually had the opportunity to lead a team as a sales program manager, where I gained invaluable experiences to share at conferences and discussions.

Describe your greatest achievement as an MBA student so far? By winning the Deloitte Case Competition, I gained experience working with a diverse group of students from various backgrounds (technology, energy, law, consulting, and finance) and implementing the lessons we learned from the program in a real-world case setting.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? I started an unofficial tennis club at Rice Business. We invite our friends and family to play together and meet each other. The first meeting was in August in 110 degree weather – the biggest mistake of my life – but still the best memory I have ever had!

What advice would you give to help potential candidates gain admission to the Rice Jones MBA program? Be honest, but (most importantly) ambitious in your application! Rice MBA is always looking for like-minded individuals who are eager to grow. Think carefully about how each decision you make will contribute to your short- and long-term goals, and what impact you can make along the way, whether through community service or self-initiated entrepreneurial ventures.