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 community through small, meaningful events. He reflects on balancing structure with fun, leading without having all the answers, and the power of simply reaching out.

From navigating unexpected challenges to learning how to delegate, adapt, and lean on others, Prasanna offers honest insights into what it’s like to lead early on at Rice. He also shares advice for new students feeling overwhelmed: take it one step at a time, stay open to opportunities, and trust that growth will follow.

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Summer registration will open in April 10, 2026! Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log

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 the state — bringing together more than 450 attendees — to mentoring prospective students and uniting MBA cohorts, Tranell has built his Rice experience around one simple belief: it’s all about connection.

In this episode, he shares what it takes to build trust across diverse teams, how fatherhood has shaped his approach to leadership, and why food, culture, and connection are central to who he is — both as a person and as a leader. Plus, he gives a peek inside life as a Rice MBA student.

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Summer registration will open in April 10, 2026! Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log

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. She reflects on how Rice’s culture of openness and collaboration has shaped the kind of leader she wants to become—one grounded in listening, community-building, and advocacy.

Throughout the conversation, Neya offers a behind-the-scenes look at planning college events that bring people together, what she’s learned about creating meaningful student engagement, and how balancing multiple leadership perspectives has helped her grow.

Neya also discusses her powerful personal experience founding Unbound Angels, an organization inspired by her time in India supporting children who lacked access to medical care—an experience that continues to shape her vision for service and impact at Rice.

The episode closes with thoughtful advice for new students who want to get involved but don’t know where to start, and a reflection on what legacy means as a young leader just beginning her college journey.

Whether you’re a first-year student stepping into leadership for the first time or someone looking to make change through community and service, Neya’s story is an inspiring reminder that leadership is built through showing up, listening, and taking initiative.

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Summer registration will open in April 10, 2026! Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log

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 campus. From participating in first-year programs to launching creative side projects like custom Rice merch, Ellie reflects on what it means to take initiative—even before you feel “ready.”

In this conversation, we talk about:

• What motivated Ellie to pursue leadership early on as a first year
• How Rice’s culture encourages students to say “yes” to opportunities
• Finding a sense of belonging through involvement and community
• Turning ideas into action through entrepreneurship and creativity
• Lessons learned when things don’t go as planned—and how setbacks shape leadership growth

Ellie’s story is a reminder that leadership at Rice doesn’t require a title—just curiosity, courage, and a willingness to jump in.

🎧 Tune in to hear how Ellie is making the most of her Rice experience from day one—and what advice she has for other students who want to do the same.

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Summer registration will open in April 10, 2026! Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log

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 resources more accessible for FGLI and low-income students.

Throughout the conversation, Maria reflects on balancing academics, leadership, and community life as a first year, lessons she’s learned about collaboration and decision-making, and how Doerr Institute programs like Catalyst Leadership Workshops have helped her align her time with her values.

NEW AND INCOMING STUDENT TIPS! She also offers thoughtful advice for new students looking to get involved, insights on building trust in diverse teams, and what legacy means to her at this stage of her college experience.

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Summer registration will open in April 10, 2026! Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log

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 policy and advocacy has already contributed to six bills signed into law and reached hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

Saran shares how she stepped into policymaking spaces typically dominated by adults, the challenges she faced as a young woman of color, and how she learned to transform individual stories into systemic change. She also opens up about the biggest gaps she sees in youth mental health policy today and what she’s learned from working with organizations across the country and internationally.

Now at Rice, Saran is continuing her impact through Political Science and Global Affairs while holding multiple leadership roles at Sid Richardson College—from Associate Justice to DRC Chair. She discusses how she’s navigated leading in a completely new environment, her work with Students with Disabilities SA, and her vision for improving accessibility and inclusion on campus.

Saran reflects on how her definition of leadership has evolved, the skills young policy leaders need today, and how she stays grounded while working on issues that shape people’s lives. She also shares her hopes for the legacy she wants to leave at Rice, her long-term goals in public service and global policy, and the message she wants to send to other young people ready to make a difference.

This conversation is inspiring, energizing, and full of wisdom from a leader who has already made history—and is just getting started.

If you missed part 1, listen here!

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The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Summer registration will open in April 10, 2026! Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log

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 and advocacy has already contributed to six bills signed into law and reached hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

Saran shares how she stepped into policymaking spaces typically dominated by adults, the challenges she faced as a young woman of color, and how she learned to transform individual stories into systemic change. She also opens up about the biggest gaps she sees in youth mental health policy today and what she’s learned from working with organizations across the country and internationally.

Now at Rice, Saran is continuing her impact through Political Science and Global Affairs while holding multiple leadership roles at Sid Richardson College—from Associate Justice to DRC Chair. She discusses how she’s navigated leading in a completely new environment, her work with Students with Disabilities SA, and her vision for improving accessibility and inclusion on campus.

Saran reflects on how her definition of leadership has evolved, the skills young policy leaders need today, and how she stays grounded while working on issues that shape people’s lives. She also shares her hopes for the legacy she wants to leave at Rice, her long-term goals in public service and global policy, and the message she wants to send to other young people ready to make a difference.

This conversation is inspiring, energizing, and full of wisdom from a leader who has already made history—and is just getting started.

🎧 Listen now on the Leading Owls Podcast.

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Summer registration will open in April 10, 2026! Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log

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 students and professionals in their development journeys, Gary has seen leadership take shape in many forms.

In this conversation, Gary shares how his own view of leadership has evolved—from focusing on management and getting things done to embracing leadership as a deeply human, reflective, and relational practice. He also offers an inside look at what makes the Doerr approach to leader development so distinctive, what students can expect from coaching, and how programs like Catalyst help learners put theory into real action.

Plus, as a Sid Richardson College Associate, Gary reflects on the joy of mentoring students, the lessons he’s learned from the Rice community, and his best advice for anyone beginning their own leadership journey.

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Summer registration will open in April 10, 2026! Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log