Over 100 Years of Supply Chain Expertise Drew Graduate Student Around the World to Syracuse University

Coming from Patna, India, an ancient city along the banks of the Ganges River, Shubham Krishna ’23 M.S. was interested in another place steeped in tradition: Syracuse University and its supply chain program at the Whitman School of Management, which has been in existence since 1919.

“I was definitely drawn to the Whitman School because the University was one of the first to offer supply chain in the U.S. – over 100 years ago,” he says.

With a bachelor’s degree in business administration and corporate law from Symbiosis International University in Pune, India, Krishna is eager to earn a master’s degree that will help him learn more about data analytics, management and, of course, the importance of supply chain in business.

“My favorite parts of the program so far have been case studies on public companies and simulation experiences in the coursework,” he explains. “These make the subject matter more interesting and applicable.”

Krishna is particularly appreciative of two members of the supply chain faculty who have helped him since his first days on campus: Professor of Supply Chain Practice Patrick Penfield, who is also the director of executive education, and Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management Zhengping Wu.

“The first person I met after arriving at the University was professor Penfield,” he says. “I was already fascinated by his accomplishments, but I had never had a chance to speak with him before. When I approached him to share my interests and background, he patiently listened and later shared an opportunity to work as his graduate assistant, which was unexpected. To assist him with a class and the executive education program is an opportunity to understand different problem parameters and their management.”

Krishna is also grateful for Wu’s role as his academic advisor. “Every time I meet with him, he shows enormous interest in understanding my goals and interests,” Krishna explains. “The supply chain-related advice he has given me has heightened my understanding of various concepts I’m learning about. My learning experience here would not be the same if professor Wu wasn’t my academic advisor and professor.”

Krishna has already had the opportunity to test out some of the concepts he’s learned in his first year studying supply chain. In the spring of 2022, he had an internship as a supply chain coordinator at Airial Robotics, a gyrocopter manufacturing company. 

“There, I was able to apply learned inventory management skills to structure supply of key components for the category,” he says. “I was also doing market analysis to understand the best price for key components depending on the demand and variability.”

This summer, he is working as a supply chain analyst at midwestern supermarket chain Hy-Vee, Inc., where he is gaining first-hand experience with supply chain function and conducting cost based analysis to fulfill analytical requirements for decision making. 

Krishna has one more year of the graduate program to complete, and he is excited to continue learning from his professors and mentors. He has fully embraced the University’s resources, attending business-related events on campus and participating in a number of case study competitions. 

“I have a keen interest in working for an operations team as a supply chain analyst after I receive my degree. Analyzing processes, inventory and making effective decisions with an intentional purpose to create an adaptable and aligned supply chain is my end goal,” he says. ”With over a hundred years of expertise in supply chain, Syracuse University, and, of course, the Whitman School, certainly was the right choice for me.”

By Caroline Reff