Raajan Aravindhan
MSCM ‘12
Senior, Advisory Services Practice
Ernst & Young Consulting
Dallas, Texas

When Raajan first heard about the MSCM Corporate Advisory Council (CAC), he didn’t expect too much. “I thought, ‘OK, I’ll get to talk to a couple of VPs once or twice, but that will be it.’ I was wrong.” Comprised of a group of senior executives from Fortune 500 companies and consultancies, members of the CAC pair off with students to act as mentors. “I had an individual mentor, but we had access to all the mentors,” says Raajan. “Getting so many insights directly from the people who manage the global supply chain was amazing. I also asked for specific advice about my own career path, which was immensely helpful.” Though he’s transitioning into a new job at Ernst & Young Consulting in Dallas, Raajan says he’ll “always find excuses to come back to Ann Arbor.” As a recent graduate, he's already started mentoring a few current MSCM students. “Ross has given me so much. I'd do it all over again if I could, but that’s not practical. So I plan to stay connected by giving back and leveraging the network.”

Jim Beaver
MSCM ‘12
Commodity Sourcing Manager
Parker Hannifin
Richland, Mich.

Jim’s interest in supply chain came from working in operations at Ford Motor Co. “When you see a supply chain work well, it’s an amazing thing. But there can also be near-catastrophic failures. I wanted to understand more about the strategy behind the process.” A summer project through the Tauber Institute for Global Operations — a partnership between the Ross School and the University of Michigan’s renowned College of Engineering — gave him 14 weeks of hands-on experience at ConAgra Foods Inc. There, he partnered with an MBA and an engineering student to develop an actionable plan to improve the company’s meal production process. “At the time, I wasn’t too familiar with supply chain strategy, but being open to new experiences and knowledge helped me grow and solidify my specific interests,” Jim says. A recent graduate, he’s now working closely with Ross Career Services to evaluate and negotiate offers. “The MSCM Program is action-packed. It flies by. But the quality of the faculty, students, and experiences make it a year you’ll remember — and draw upon — forever.”

Malvika Bhatia
BSE ‘11/MSCM ‘12
Sourcing Manager
Microsoft Corp.
Redmond, Wash.

After graduating from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, Malvika co-founded a company that develops low-cost medical devices for limited-resource settings. As she was heading its business development and operations, she soon realized that her engineering background had not prepared her for the management of complicated global supply chains and operations. She decided to enroll in the MSCM Program to gain more knowledge in the field and hone her skills through the Tauber Institute for Global Operations, a partnership between Ross and U-M’s College of Engineering. “Tauber is an amazing frontier to develop connections with companies, participate in action-based learning projects, and work on teams with diverse groups of people. For someone with limited industry experience, this helped me prepare for the working world through various modules, from leadership to project management,” she says.

Matthew Carson
MSCM ‘12
Perfect Execution Manager
Emerson - Process Management
McKinney, Texas

When Matthew came to Ross’ MSCM Program, he already had more than eight years of healthcare supply chain management experience under his belt. He also had an MBA, but was ready to take his career to the next level. “I wanted to go back to an academic environment where I could focus on learning, developing my critical thinking skills, and broadening my horizons,” he says. He felt that the MSCM Program’s full-time, year-long format was the right fit. Matthew immediately was impressed by the caliber and dedication of the Michigan Ross professors. “They’re respected experts in the field and truly passionate about teaching. Their excitement and enthusiasm for their work was contagious,” he says. He’s also pleased by how much he learned from other MSCM students. “Everyone brought great experience with them — logistics, IT, military, engineering, and so on. Many students were from different countries. This brought a lot of value and diverse, global perspectives to the classroom.”

Rahul Chowdhury
MSCM ‘12
Senior Manager, Global Business Process
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Bentonville, Ark.

When he decided to pursue an MSCM, Rahul had been working as a lead process consultant, mapping businesses to IT solutions. “I wanted to understand supply chain management on a global level. Ross is one of the best schools out there that offers this very specialized focus,” he says. The 14-week Tauber Institute summer project also was a major attraction for Rahul. “I enjoy hands-on learning, being in the thick of things. But my favorite feature was the faculty interaction. Faculty advisers came in every week to provide active guidance and consultation on projects. They challenged us to ask the right questions and find the best solutions,” he says. In addition to the faculty support, Rahul was impressed by the integrated resources provided by Ross’ Career Services team, which include workshops on every aspect of career development. “They prepare you from the very start to effectively work with companies during your internship, projects, and job search. I left this program with more than supply chain management expertise. I am a better professional overall.”

Amanda Hillman
MS/MSCM ‘12
Supply Chain and Manufacturing Consultant
Deloitte
Chicago, Ill.

Amanda’s experience is unique — she was the first MSCM Program student to earn a dual degree through the Ross School and the School of Natural Resources and Environment. “There aren’t many universities out there where you can have access to top schools and great resources in both subjects of your interest. Both the University of Michigan and Ross promote interdisciplinary approaches and encourage students to pursue this type of collaboration and study,” she says. This allowed Amanda to focus her studies on the intersection of sustainability, business, engineering, supply chain, operations, manufacturing, and construction. When it was time to begin her job search, she was able to find a position that was just the right fit through one of Michigan Ross’ many on-campus recruitment events. Looking back at her experience, Amanda is amazed by the strength and value of the Ross alumni network. “The program truly leverages the Ross community and their connections to create remarkable projects and opportunities, both during the MSCM Program and beyond,” she says.

Shashank Kadetotad
MSCM ‘12
Operations Manager
Amazon
Chattanooga, Tenn.

Shashank chose Michigan Ross because of its reputation for exceptional operations faculty. “I knew I’d be learning from world-class professors,” he says, “but the level of teaching at Ross is something I never could have imagined.” In addition to his Tauber Institute project with General Motors Corp. in Germany, Shashank ranks Professor Izak Duenyas’ “Manufacturing and Supply Operations” course as one of the highlights of his Michigan Ross experience. “Izak can explain extremely complex concepts in a matter of minutes. Plus, his sense of humor is out of this world.” But in the end, it wasn’t just the professors that left an impression on Shashank. “The admissions director obviously knows a lot about how to build a great class,” he says. “My classmates’ experience, diversity, and drive were incredible. I made lifelong friends.” He has joined Amazon in an operations management role, which he landed through on-campus recruiting. Shashank says Ross Career Services was a great resource for resume tips and mock interviews, but he especially appreciated the career coaches’ cultural insights. “In India, we don’t engage in as much small talk, so learning how to connect with people in America is important, both for business and personal life.”

Jingjing Qian
MSCM ‘12
Manager, Global Supply Chain
Microsoft Corp.
Redmond, Wash.


Coming from an operations background in China, Jingjing chose the Michigan Ross MSCM because of her interest in global supply chain management. “I wanted to pursue a degree at a U.S. school to gain a better understanding of American culture. Ross is highly regarded, so it was a natural choice,” she says. From an eye-opening internship at W.W. Grainger Inc. to networking with executive mentors from the Corporate Advisory Council, Jingjing’s MSCM experience was packed with learning opportunities. But she says working with Ross Career Services was just as valuable as gaining supply chain knowledge. “When I first came to Ross, I knew I needed to gain confidence in my presentation abilities and everyday interactions. Working with career coaches — and on the job with Grainger — helped me understand how to interact in an American setting. That’s invaluable when you’re working in a global capacity.” Career Services’ mock interviews, resume tips, and on-campus recruiting events helped Jingjing land a supply chain management position with Microsoft Corp. “Ross has an abundance of resources,” she says. “Everyone wants to see you succeed.”