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!
Leading Owls Podcast
Building Something That’s Never Existed Before with First Ever Chao College President Elijah
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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 shares what it actually feels like to build a college from scratch—where traditions don’t exist yet, culture is still forming, and every decision helps shape something that will last for generations. He opens up about leading through uncertainty, learning to trust others (and himself), and why leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being willing to step up anyway.
We also dive into how his experience working at Chick-fil-A—where he became a supervisor at just 17—prepared him to lead under pressure, manage teams, and develop the confidence to take on big responsibility early.
One of the most compelling ideas from this episode? Elijah’s concept of “increasing your luck surface area”—and how saying yes to opportunities (even when you’re unsure) can open doors you never expected.
Whether you’re a current student leader, stepping into a new role this fall, or just trying to figure out your next move, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, uncertainty, and growth.
🎧 Tune in to hear:
- What it’s like to be the first to lead something entirely new
- How to build culture when nothing exists yet
- Why leadership starts long before you have a title
- Lessons from leading teams in high-pressure environments
- How embracing uncertainty can actually give you an edge
Plus: rapid-fire Rice favorites, leadership advice for first-years, and Elijah’s vision for what Chao College will become decades from now.
Listen on your favorite platform:
Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Music
The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway
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