PM Essentials: Risk, Quality, Teams & Procurement

Kazimir "Kaz" Karwowski serves as the Executive Director of the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) at Rice University, a position he has held since July 2013. With a robust background that includes four years with the Bernard M. Gordon-MIT Engineering Leadership Program and three years in MIT’s Army ROTC Program, Kaz has dedicated over a decade to developing leaders in engineering and military settings. His 20-year career in the U.S. Army Infantry Branch culminated in his retirement in 2009, after which he transitioned to academia. Kaz's leadership experience includes serving as a Platoon Sergeant in Iraq and leading diverse teams during missions in Somalia, Haiti, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.At RCEL, Kaz focuses on integrating leadership development with entrepreneurship, mentoring startups, and fostering innovation among students. He teaches courses such as Engineering Project Management: Initiating and Planning, Engineering Project Management: Risk, Quality, Teams, and Procurement, and Engineering Project Management: Scope, Time and Cost Management. His commitment to cultivating future leaders is evident through his active involvement in the entrepreneurship community at Rice, where he emphasizes the synergy between leadership skills and entrepreneurial success. Kaz's extensive experience equips him to provide practical insights that prepare students for leadership roles in engineering and technology.