On a tranquil afternoon in Lima, Patrizio White sat back with a book in hand, admiring the slowly setting sun off the Peruvian coast. Along the tree-lined seaside parks of Miraflores, his favorite district in the city, time seemed to stand still. Looking down at the book, Measure What Matters by Rice alum John Doerr, Patrizio flipped to the first page. The first words on the page were his sister’s - she had handwritten them before giving him the book in 2019.
“Most of the time, the difference between success and failure is just one more attempt.”
Two years later - in February of 2021 - Peru experienced the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Patrizio was at a crossroads. His career as a project manager and consultant on hydraulic projects in both the public and private sector was reaching its peak. To keep his health and that of his family as priorities, Patrizio had to decline many career advancement opportunities and ended up going a different way - starting his own business.
“It began more out of necessity than ambition,” Patrizio said. “It was essentially a supply and demand play.”
During the pandemic, the two mask suppliers in the entire country held a firm grip on the market, inflating prices on personal protective equipment to values much higher than their actual worth. Seeing an opportunity, Patrizio began producing his own face shields from the three 3D printers he owned. His product used fewer materials and proved to be more durable than those of the other suppliers, which saw his start-up company’s profit margins soar to nearly 500%.
Realizing he’d carved out a niche business and that the market would quickly shift against him once factories in the country reopened, Patrizio sold off his remaining product and equipment with minimal losses. As the world slowly began bouncing back, Patrizio looked ahead at what his future might have in store.
Although he had extensive experience in civil engineering and now in entrepreneurship, Patrizio’s goal - since his first year of high school - had been to study business and pursue an MBA in the United States. He enrolled in the Rice University Intensive English Program in the spring of 2022, spending three months here before going on to attain a certificate in Data Science at UCLA in California. Patrizio returned to Rice for his MBA program, graduating earlier this year in May.
Today, Patrizio works in turnaround management, which involves identifying underperforming businesses, applying disciplined financial modeling and operational restructuring, and converting distress into lasting value.
We sat down with Patrizio for a Q&A in which he looks back at his time in the Intensive English program and the MBA program here at Rice, recalling every hardship, challenge, and victory that led him to where he is today.
Why did you originally decide to study English here in Houston?
“Because I knew this was my first step toward something greater. I always dreamed of earning an MBA in the United States. Since I had completed my undergraduate studies abroad, I was conscious of the need to strengthen my foundational language skills to achieve my goals - not only academically but also professionally. Studying English was not simply about learning a new skill or obtaining a certificate; it was a decisive choice to pursue a better future in a country full of opportunities.”
When you first began your studies here, were there any big surprises for you about life in the United States?
“Yes. One big surprise was how much importance people place on habits and routines. Many of the successful students and professionals I met had very structured daily schedules, making the most out of their weekdays to rest and enjoy their weekends. Contrasting to my time before coming to study here, I realized that I never really tried to think of my weekends as time for relaxing and creative activities in the past. Weekends were just more days in my work weeks then, but by [adopting] this approach, I learned how taking a break can lead to better performance in any aspect of life.”
When you joined the Intensive English Program, you already had the goal of attaining your MBA in mind. Did your time in the program help to reaffirm that goal?
“I did [have the goal in mind], although I was not yet sure at which institution I would study. Along the way, with the guidance of my teachers in the program, I was encouraged to navigate the process and pursue my goals. Their stories and advice were highly valuable to me, and I cherish them to this day. Their classes were not just your ordinary ‘come and learn’ sessions. [Beyond that], they were also an opportunity to reflect on [my] journey and think of the future as an exciting horizon to discover.”
Continuing to look back at your time in the Intensive English Program, what did you enjoy the most about your studies here?
“The extracurricular and social activities, as well as getting to know new cultures and supporting [my classmates] through simple conversations.
Another great thing about the [Intensive English Program] was that [teachers] encouraged us to go beyond ordinary homework. For example, we often had to prepare presentations to teach our classmates about our cultures, which helped directly with similar assignments in the MBA program in discussing business cases and simulating presenting them to an organization.”
How did your teachers in the Intensive English Program and your professors in the MBA program push you closer toward your goals?
“They encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone with long lists of tasks. It [was] more than just learning the subject matter - I think this [created] an environment that pushed me to become a better version of myself. The instructors also always made themselves available to answer questions and provide support.”
After completing your time in the Intensive English Program, you moved on to attain a certificate in Data Science from UCLA. How did this prepare you to return to Rice for your MBA?
“My certificate in Data Science pushed me beyond my boundaries, [helping me] learn how to think about data visualization, coding structures and data storytelling. I chose this over my other options in finance because I wanted to bridge the gap between engineering and business. I wasn’t there because I wanted to become the best coder, but to develop a structured mindset in interpreting trends and integrating that data in a model.
In the end, the certificate gave me a new toolkit, and more importantly, the confidence to walk into Finance and Real Estate classes knowing I could wrangle data and make sense of it, even if I’ll never be mistaken for a full-time data scientist.”
What was the hardest challenge for you during your MBA program?
“The hardest challenge during my MBA wasn’t finance or strategy - it was figuring out how to survive on four hours of sleep while juggling what felt like ten lives at once. In the span of just a few months, I managed to squeeze in a car accident (unplanned), buying a new car (very planned), getting married (the best plan), interviewing for jobs, reading what felt like a library’s worth of business cases, finishing my capstone project, working part-time, and preparing to move to a different state. At one point, I was convinced I should add ‘professional juggler’ to my resume.”
You must have recalled your sister’s handwritten words from Measure What Matters, completing so many tasks in such a short amount of time. How did you overcome those challenges?
“How did I overcome it? A lot of caffeine, some strategic power naps, and the occasional reminder from classmates that if they could survive accounting problem sets, I could survive wedding planning and case prep in the same week. In the end, I realized the MBA wasn’t just teaching me finance and leadership [skills] - it was secretly training me in time management under extreme conditions.”
After graduating with your MBA this May, you must have felt that you made a great deal of progress toward your career and life goals.
“Definitely. My long-term goal is to build a career in turnaround management. What excites me the most is the challenge of diagnosing what’s broken and designing a clear path back to profitability. I’m drawn to situations others walk away from, because that’s often where the greatest opportunities hide.
The MBA has equipped me with the tools to approach these challenges with rigor…[and] has given me the confidence, framework, and community [around me] to scale this vision.”
How does your family continue to support and inspire you today?
“‘Tu futuro lo construyes con lo que haces hoy, no mañana.’ This is just a family phrase I was told growing up, [which means] ‘you build your future with what you do today, not tomorrow.’ [It helped] me to look into the future and to never lose focus on my goals. At the heart of it all, my inspiration comes from my family - especially my mother and my brother Michael, whose work ethic and resilience continue to drive me. On days when I’m tired, I remember this and it helps me reflect on myself while being kind to the progress I’m making. I know I will ultimately come back with more energy and determination.”
What is your advice to prospective students from abroad who are considering studying English in the United States?
“My advice is simple: raise the bar for yourself. Studying English is not just about learning a language - it’s the first step toward something greater. You’re not only coming to learn from excellent teachers, but also to meet wonderful people who genuinely want to help you succeed.
That said, it’s important to be serious and committed from the very beginning. Define your path early, prepare for what’s ahead, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Reach out to people who are already where you want to be. If your goal is graduate school, start preparing for the required exams as soon as possible and get them out of the way.
Along the way, stay detail-oriented with paperwork and documentation, but also make time to meet new people and enjoy the experience. The social side will enrich your journey - you’ll learn from others, share cultures, and create memories while working toward your goals.
In short: be committed, be curious, and be proactive. You’ll not only improve your English, but also open doors to opportunities that can shape your future in ways you never imagined.”
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Thank you for reading this edition of our Alumni Spotlight Series. Stay tuned to our social media channels for more stories like this one coming soon.
By Hadrian Barbosa