October 24-25th, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence (WISE) Future Leaders Symposium alongside three other WISE board members—Lia, Hailey, and Skylar—as well as our faculty advisor and my professor, Verda. This event, hosted by the University of Arkansas, brought together supply chain students and professionals from across the country to network, learn, and gain inspiration for our careers.
On Thursday, we toured a Sam’s Club store, led by supply chain professionals who shared insights into the bulk-selling model and its impact on retail strategy. Our tour guide highlighted Sam’s Club’s digital innovation, such as the in-store robots that handle both cleaning and inventory counting. This experience grew my understanding of retail supply chain management and Sam’s Club’s approach.
After the tour, we headed to J.B. Hunt, where we heard from industry leaders. To start off, Shelly Simpson, CEO of J.B. Hunt, began with an inspiring talk on leveraging personal strengths and values to make a difference in the world. She invited students to share their purpose statements, which was both encouraging and motivating. We then participated in a networking bingo to meet other students, followed by breakout sessions tailored to our interests. My session focused on finding good mentors, where a J.B. Hunt professional shared his experiences, emphasizing the value of mentors who inspire you and bring diverse perspectives.
The J.B. Hunt event wrapped up with a panel discussion where professionals spoke about current challenges in the industry, such as the trucking recession. They also introduced us to Employee Resource Groups, specifically GROW, which focuses on supporting and retaining talented women in the field. We ended the day at Sam’s Club Headquarters, where we were treated to samples, just like in their stores, and heard from Andrea Albright, Executive Vice President of Sourcing at Walmart. She discussed the importance of flexibility in balancing life and work. A panel of young professionals at Sam’s Club followed, where we learned tips for future interviews and heard firsthand experiences from those new to the field. We then had dinner and prepared for the next day’s events.
On Friday, we headed to the University of Arkansas, where we spent the day listening to insightful talks from professionals across various industries. Stephanie Thomas, the founder of WISE, opened the day with a powerful reminder of the importance of building relationships and networks. We then heard from women representing different sectors: manufacturing at Toyota, transportation at BNSF Railway, retail at Ulta, and other companies like Clorox and General Mills.
One speaker who stood out to me was Jamese Olayiwola, a General Manager of Transportation Operations. She shared her experience working in manufacturing, a traditionally male-dominated field, and encouraged us with the statement, “Where there is challenge, there is opportunity.” Another memorable session discussed finding your “board of directors”—a group of mentors and supporters who help guide you toward making the best decisions for your life and career. This panel underscored the importance of surrounding yourself with people who genuinely want to see you succeed, both personally and professionally.
Beyond the speakers, I loved connecting with other supply chain students from schools across the country. Supply chain is a relatively small major, so it was fun to share experiences with others in the field.
To close the event, we attended a ceremony at the University of Arkansas Baseball Stadium, where we enjoyed dinner, talked with students, and took pictures in the photo booth.
Overall, the WISE Future Leaders Symposium was an incredible experience. I’m leaving inspired and equipped with new insights to advance my career in supply chain. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to attend this event and would like to extend a huge thank you to the Grainger Center for Supply Chain Management, as well as to Blake Bishop and Verda Blythe, for their support. This symposium made a great impact on me, and I could not recommend it enough to any student pursuing a future in supply chain.