Kai Peiris ’26 turned his Rice experience into a full-time industry role before his December graduation, drawing on hands-on experience, faculty mentorship, and the University’s alumni network.
In August, Peiris began working as a coordinator in entertainment business development within global partnerships at TKO, the parent company of WWE and UFC.
His path to the position reflects the role Rice’s Sport Management program played in helping him identify a career direction, build practical experience, and connect with professionals in the industry, even on a shorter timeline than traditional four-year students.
“I transferred in after two great years at community college and used that open window as fuel,” Peiris says.
When Peiris transferred to Rice, he was playing semi-professional soccer and wanted to explore how those interests could translate into a career. He took advantage of opportunities the Sport Management department offered, including volunteering at soccer matches and working in event operations for organizations, including U.S. Soccer, as well as talent-escort roles with the NFL and ESPN.
In January 2025, he also represented Rice Sport Law Society at the Tulane International Fútbol Negotiation Competition, where his team competed against law students in simulated athlete transfer and endorsement negotiations and reached the national semifinals.
Peiris says Rice faculty helped him turn those experiences into a foundation for pursuing internships and more specialized opportunities. One of his crucial experiences was at Echelon, a sports agency where he worked as a sports partnerships intern.
“I'll always be grateful for my 12 months at Echelon for throwing me into real client work with no training wheels,” Peiris says.
Another internship with NRG Energy’s sports partnership portfolio allowed Peiris to support sponsorship activation and client hospitality, including work involving the Houston Texans.
“NRG Energy was a powerhouse client to get my hands on, and being so involved with the Houston Texans made the whole experience even more comprehensive,” he says.
These experiences helped him identify corporate partnerships and entertainment as areas where his interests aligned with his professional goals. Peiris credits Rice Sport Management faculty members Diane Crossey, Clark Haptonstall, Stephanie Wilka, Steven Rackley, and Tom Stallings with helping him find opportunities and build industry connections.
“Stallings’ trust let me rack up 8 to 10 experiences my first year alone, which gave me the resume and connections to go after internships elsewhere, like with Echelon,” Peiris says.
Stallings, who is the Director of Career Development and Experiential Learning and a Professor in the Practice of Sport Management, said transfer students face a shorter timeline to explore career options, making it important to identify their interests and pursue relevant experience early.
“We help students understand the wide range of opportunities available in the sports industry, and then work with them to explore the areas that best fit their interests,” Stallings says. He added that faculty draw on their industry experience to provide guidance, make introductions and, when appropriate, recommend students to professionals and hiring managers.
For Peiris, the Rice network extended beyond faculty. Although he grew up watching WWE stars Jeff Hardy and John Cena, UFC was a newer interest. Seeing Rice Sport Management alumni Louis Alvares ’21 and Kristian Stengal ’21, along with recent intern Pieter Versloot ’26, working at UFC prompted him to explore their department.
“I noticed that they were all in the same department, and that realization led me right into finding my dream team at TKO, global partnerships,” Peiris says.
In his new role, Peiris helps develop entertainment partnerships connecting TKO’s brands and audiences with movies, video games, and popular culture. He is particularly excited by projects that bring different fan communities together through collaborative content, activations, and events.
“Getting to do that while attending my favorite sporting events around the world, with some of the most creative people in the industry, is the dream,” Peiris says.
Following graduation in December, Peiris will relocate to Las Vegas to work out of UFC headquarters.
For students hoping to follow a similar path, Peiris emphasizes the importance of remaining open to opportunities and learning from people with more experience.
“Say yes to everything,” Peiris says. “Nobody starts by closing the big deal or working the Super Bowl.”
He also speaks highly of Rice's alumni network, encouraging current students to reach out to graduates working in areas that interest them.
“I'll always give a Rice Sport Management student top priority. A lot of alumni follow that same rule, and it's how I landed my dream role,” Peiris says.
Keya Patel, a sophomore from Knoxville, Tennessee is studying Global Affairs and Sport Law while serving as Assistant Sports Editor for the Rice Thresher.