Matt Smith
Lecturer in Communication
Undergraduate Business Co-Advisor at Virani Undergraduate School of Business
Matt Smith, PCC, is a Lecturer in Communication at Rice Business and Undergraduate Business Co-Advisor at the Virani Undergraduate School of Business. He teaches communication courses for MBA and undergraduate students, helping future leaders communicate with clarity, influence, and authenticity. His teaching focuses on structuring ideas, tailoring messages to diverse audiences, building professional relationships, and turning insights into action.
A Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Matt's work sits at the intersection of communication, learning, coaching, and behavioral science. He is particularly interested in how people learn, think, and change, drawing on principles from psychology, neuroscience, and coaching to help individuals and teams build stronger habits, deepen relationships, and become more effective leaders.
Most recently, Matt served as Vice President of Learning and Development at Curana Health, a value-based healthcare organization serving senior living communities across the country. Prior to Curana, he held local, regional, and global learning and development leadership roles at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he designed and led programs focused on leadership development, coaching, relationship-based business development, professional effectiveness, and ways of working.
Earlier in his career, Matt was a Project Leader at BCG, advising clients on strategy, organizational transformation, and large-scale change initiatives, particularly in healthcare. He also worked in Fidelity Investments' Fixed Income Division, covering the telecommunications, media, automotive, and financial services sectors.
Matt earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, and a B.S. in Mathematics and Economics from Tulane University.
He lives in Houston with his wife, Christy, their daughter, Stella, and their pets. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, eating, and continuously refining the art of chopping vegetables rather than fingers.
Teaching Interests:
- Business communication and executive communication
- Structuring ideas and influencing decisions
- Leadership communication and executive presence
- How thinking styles shape communication and collaboration
- Relationship-based business development
- Learning, coaching, and behavior change
- Growth mindset, belonging, and team effectiveness
- Effective working habits and professional development
