From Boxing to Business School feat. DeRae Crane ’22

Owl Have You Know

Our guest is an Army veteran, a world-class boxer, a father, a strategic credit advisor at BP, and on top of all that, a Rice Business alum.

DeRae Crane '22 was raised in Davenport, Iowa by a single father, and began boxing at the age of 9. He was awarded the Bart Stupak Scholarship to attend Northern Michigan University (NMU) for boxing, which is also home to the United States Olympic Education Center.

DeRae and host Maya Pomroy ’22 discuss DeRae’s life story, including competing as an elite boxer for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, serving in the Army, winning numerous national boxing titles, and coming out of retirement from boxing for another Olympic run.

Episode Guide:

01:55 Growing Up in Davenport, Iowa: A Boxer's Journey Begins

04:49 The Science of Boxing: More Than Just a Sport

08:05 College Years: From Walk-On to Team Captain

17:11 The Olympic Dream: Trials and Triumphs

22:09 Joining the Military: A New Chapter

28:04 Reflecting on Mentorship and Lessons Learned

28:29 Military Service and Boxing Ambitions

29:52 Returning Home and Reconnecting with Family

31:39 Adjusting to Civilian Life

35:12 Pursuing an MBA and New Adventures

37:43 Moving to Houston and Career Shifts

39:25 Balancing Work, School, and Boxing

45:16 Training for the 2024 Olympic Trials

49:56 Words of Wisdom and Future Aspirations

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

On DeRae's transition back from service

31:41: [Maya]: How was it adjusting back to civilian life? Was there, you know, sort of this process, or were you like, you know what, I'm back, I'm not going to think about it like the way that you've been, you know, up until this point of like, leaving that there, and I'm moving on over here, and this is now my focus. Or was there a time of transition for you?

32:03: [DeRae Crane]: I was aware. I became more aware that I am different now. There is no way to go downrange and come back the same. So I was aware of it, and I would catch myself getting upset about certain things that are, that's bothering someone else. But it wouldn't bother me because the way I see the world and how broad my purview is now. So yeah, that was. That's a journey, and I'm still on that journey today. You know, as I try to give people grace, so yeah, I mean, you know, you just become more aware.

Why DeRae held on to boxing

Why I was so ambitious is just because I grew up so poor. I don't want to be poor anymore. And boxing was my way out. It exposed me to different things in the world. So, for the first year, we travel around Iowa and then you start getting better, you're qualifying for regionals and you're moving on to nationals. I won my first national title at 11 years old and I was hooked. Mike Tyson says success begets success. Absolutely. Because once you experience that, you're, like, okay, I want to do this again.
[07:19] Maya: Yeah, it's a fire. It's a fire that lights you up, right?
Fire was lit. I held on to boxing and I did not let go, held onto it tight - tighter than a lot of my relationships, my friendships, as it was the thing that was the most rewarding, the most fulfilling. I could go put the work in and, you know, get the results back, get the benefits back. And it kept me out of trouble. So, that's always good. Kept me focused and disciplined.

The importance of investing in a good business school

52:37: I think folks, if they do, have the opportunity to go to business school. You know, go to the best business school that you can go to—the one where you feel like you'll grow there. Now, those are the ones where you're a little, you know, a little nervous, a little anxious being around those folks because you're on the other side, just like the depression in 2008, like on the other side. You're gonna be so much better. You have to stretch.

What’s next for DeRae?

50:37: I do have other interests, and if you look at my resume for the last 15 years, like every two to three years, I'm in a different role. I'm doing something. So even in the military, like every two or three years, you're doing something different, something new. And that's continued on in my corporate career. And, you know, I'm actually in, like, that window where I'm looking for something new to do. And I want to pivot into something else. I currently, you know, I work in credit. It's been awesome. It was like a continuation of business school. But I may want to shift into something else, you know, here soon, you know, within the next probably three to six months. I'll be doing something different, something new, something I haven't done before.

Show Links:

• Transcript

Guest Profiles:

• DeRae Crane
• DeRae Crane | LinkedIn
• BP

Check out this episode featuring Professor Anastasia Zavyalova here: https://business.rice.edu/owlhaveyouknow/season-3-episode-10