Leading Owls Podcast
The Leading Owls podcast, brought to you by Rice University's Doerr Institute for New Leaders, showcases Rice student, faculty and staff leaders along with leader development professionals and coaches. Each week, we bring you inspiring stories and practical tips from successful student leaders across the Rice campus. Learn about student leadership at Rice University, get tips from current leaders that will help you on your journey, and discover how you can make a real impact on your campus and community. You will hear from presidents, club leaders, social entrepreneurs, and other changemakers on what it takes to be a student leader. Don't miss out on unlocking your full potential as a student leader. Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast today for your weekly dose of motivation and leadership insights. New episodes drop every Tuesday!
Episodes
36 episodes
Behind the Magic of Rice University O-Week with Nimah
🎙️ 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 m...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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25:45
Tradition Meets Vision: Kaitlyn on Leading at Duncan and Beyond
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 Commit...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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17:26
From O-Week to Prime Minister: Behind the Scenes of a McMurtry Leader
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 Cultu...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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13:29
Growing as a Leader at Rice University: Inside the Doerr Institute for New Leaders
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 train...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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12:36
What It Takes to Lead a College at Rice University: Lynn-Chi’s Story
Today, we’re sitting down with Lynn-Chi, President of Baker College, to get an inside look at what it takes to lead one of Rice’s residential colleges. From stepping into leadership for the first time to managing campus-wide initiatives, Lynn-C...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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23:22
The Sound of Leadership: How Doctor of Musical Arts Student Molly Incorporates Leadership into her Graduate Journey
Welcome back to the Leading Owls Podcast, where we spotlight the stories of student leaders making an impact at Rice University!Today, we’re joined by Molly, a Doctor of Musical Arts student at the Shepherd School of Music, where she pla...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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17:31
Leading with Impact: Hong Lin on Leadership, Creativity & Leaving a Legacy at Rice
Today, we have a truly inspiring guest—Hong Lin, a student leader whose involvement at Rice spans across Brown College, student government, campus organizations, creative projects, and more. From serving as Associates Coordinator at Brown Colle...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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18:54
Creating Change on Campus: Lindsey’s Leadership Experience
On this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we’re joined by Lindsey, a dedicated student leader whose impact at Rice speaks for itself. From serving as Will Rice College Senator to leading as Director of the Students with Disabilities Commissi...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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10:24
The Science of Resilience with Rice University's Dr. Danielle King
Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Danielle King, a leading voice in the field of resilience and an associate professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Rice University.Dr. King is the Principal Investigator of the WorKin...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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24:44
From Owl Access to Beer Bike: How America Keeps Rice Traditions Strong
Welcome back to the Leading Owls podcast, where we highlight the incredible student leaders at Rice University who are shaping our campus and communities.Today, we’re thrilled to have America joining us—a true powerhouse of lead...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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17:38
From Student-Athlete to Transformational Leader: Tim Harrison and EPOG Academy
Today, we’re honored to be joined by Tim Harrison, a Rice alumnus, founder of the Enjoyable Pain of Growth (EPOG) Academy, and a true example of transformational leadership.Tim’s journey began as a student-athlete, arriving at Rice...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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33:01
Behind the Scenes of Leadership at Rice: Jennie’s Journey
Today, we’re thrilled to introduce Jennie, a dynamic leader whose involvement on campus spans an impressive range of roles and organizations.Jennie’s leadership journey at Rice includes serving as a 2025 Co-Student Director, a Vietnamese...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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18:34
Shaping Leaders of Tomorrow: Insights from James Madison University
In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. David C. Kirkpatrick, PhD, Vice President and Chief of Staff, Office of the President and Dr. Margaret F. Sloan, PhD, Director & Professor, School of Strategic Leader...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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33:41
Your Key to Success in 2025: Accountability Strategies with Leadership Expert Bernie Banks, PhD
As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can grow, lead, and make this our best year yet.Today, we’re honored to be joined by Bernard "Bernie" Banks, Director of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders an...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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17:43
Rice University Behind the Scenes with O-Week Coordinator Abram
In this episode of Leading Owls, we sit down with Abram, one of the Duncan College O-Week Coordinators and Chaus Managers to explore his leadership journey at Rice. From planning one of the most memorable weeks of the year to managing ...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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8:01
Developing Future Leaders at Oklahoma State University, Meet the Classified Campuses Series
Welcome to our special series, Meet the Classified Campuses, where we spotlight some of the top higher education institutions leading the way in leader development. These remarkable schools have earned the prestigious Carnegie Elect...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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33:11
Beyond the Bottom Line: How Leader Development Can Build or Tear Down Team Culture
In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we sit down for the second part of our interview with Aaron Pomerantz, PhD, who serves as the Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the Doerr Institute for New Leaders’ Research Team. Aaron dives ...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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14:47
The True ROI of Leader Development with Aaron Pomerantz, PhD
In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we sit down with Aaron Pomerantz, PhD, who serves as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the Doerr Institute for New Leaders’ Research Team. Aaron explores the true ROI of leader development a...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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16:10
Blueprint for Success at Rice Business with President of Rice Consulting Nico
In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we sit down with Nico, a Rice Business senior who has taken on leadership roles across the Rice campus since he arrived here four years ago. As a Lead Ambassador at the Doerr Institute for New Lea...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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30:07
Inside the Role of an O-Week Coordinator at Rice University
Ever wondered what it takes to make Rice University's Orientation Week, or O-Week, such an unforgettable experience? In this episode, we sit down with two amazing O-Week Coordinators: Tinde from Brown College and Alessa from Baker College. They...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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16:56
The Power of Measurement in Leader Development with Ryan P. Brown, PhD
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ryan P. Brown, the Managing Director for Measurement at the Doerr Institute for New Leaders, to explore why measuring leader development programs is essential for meaningful impact. Dr. Brown shares the Doe...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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16:35
Embracing Conflict: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities with Coach Elizabeth De La Pena Veeser
In this episode of the Leading Owls podcast, we welcome Leadership Coach Elizabeth De La Pena Veeser, who shares her insights on understanding and navigating conflict in our personal and professional lives. Elizabeth discusses the natu...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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10:29
How to Boost Your Resilience with Coach Stephanie Taylor
In this episode of the Leading Owls podcast, we’re joined by Doerr Institute Coach Stephanie Taylor to explore the powerful skill of resilience. Stephanie breaks down what resilience truly is—and what it isn’t. She shares practical str...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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14:13
Rice Leader Spotlight! Meet Lovett College President Andrew
In this episode of the Leading Owls podcast, we sit down with Andrew, President of Lovett College, to dive into what’s on the horizon for this year at Rice University. Andrew shares exciting upcoming events and opportunities, plus how students ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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9:11
Inside O-Week: Behind the Scenes with O-Week Coordinator Arryana
In this episode, Rice University O-Week Coordinator Arryana gives us an exclusive look into the planning and execution of Rice University's O-Week. She explains the vital role O-Week Coordinators play, how she stepped into this leadershi...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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7:02