The Next Big MBA Career: Global Supply Chain Management
It’s no secret that the world of business is global, fast-paced, and dependent on the movement of goods from one location to another.
As these given features of the business world continue to become more pronounced, those who prefer their “i’s” dotted and “t’s” crossed have started taking their rightful places in boardrooms. Supply chain managers, once considered a secondary or tertiary level of management, have risen to the executive level. In the process, they have become one of the most interesting and lucrative positions in business today.
In a U.S. News article quoting John Fowler, Professor of Supply Chain Management (SCM) in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, he assuredly states that “the average starting salary for our full time MBAs with a specialization in Supply Chain Management was almost $96,000, with a couple of students in the $120K range.” The question remains, though: what exactly does a supply chain manager do?
Supply Chain Management
What’s most interesting about a supply chain manager position is how it has changed over the years— as J. Paul Dittman writes in Supply Chain Management Review, “Ten years ago, the supply chain leader … was a largely functional role that relied on technical proficiency in discrete areas: knowledge of shipping routes, familiarity with warehousing equipment and distribution-center locations and footprints, and a solid grasp of freight rates and fuel costs.”
And while a supply chain manager must remain on top of such functional knowledge today, the position has become infinitely more demanding, with the supply chain manager dealing with processes, inputs, and outputs both upstream and downstream in the creation of a finished product. Thus, supply chain managers must orient themselves toward traditional logistical concerns, but also concerns about raw materials, manufacturing systems, procurements, and marketing/sales. At its heart, the supply chain management position is holistic and complex, and demands a lot from whoever fills it.
Skills Necessary to Succeed in Global Supply Chain Management
While professionals in the global supply chain management field must hone various skills depending on their companies’ needs, the following are some necessary skills for anyone wanting to get into SCM:
- Thinking Globally: Supply chains are increasingly multinational in scope, and so the global supply chain management professional must have deep knowledge of suppliers and customers that span continents.
- Work Sustainably: As sustainable processes become more profitable and more consumers become aware of corporate environmental practices, it is increasingly paramount for SCM professionals to foster and commit to sustainability both upstream and downstream, particularly in the gathering of raw materials.
- Lead Effectively: As SCM positions become more central to organizational leadership structures, the need for charismatic, savvy, friendly, and collaboratively-minded individuals in such positions grows—and the need for such individuals to be able to work cross-company and cross-industry grows, too.
- Have a Tireless Work Ethic: As the demands of the global economy never sleep, SCM professionals should expect to work anywhere between 55 and 80 hours per week, though be compensated handsomely for such non-traditional hours.
The Best Supply Chain Management MBA Programs
There are many wonderful programs in supply chain management, but the following are three of the best, according to U.S. News rankings.
- Michigan State Broad: Eli Broad’s Masters in Supply Chain Management (MSSCM) is a unique program, as it combines onsite courses and learning with online modules, allowing for a more seamless integration of SCM principles into already-existing work schedules and professional commitments.
- MIT Sloan: the Leaders for Global Operations MBA/MS track is among the most elite SCM programs offered, with a defined track for those students who wish to delve deeper into SCM. Companies in the Boston area clamor for students to work on global supply networks after graduation.
- ASU Carey: The W. P. Carey Master of Science in Global Logistics (MS-GL) degree is a nine-month program that prepares those interested in SCM for the complex world of global operations and multicultural perspectives.
How To Break Into the International Business World in San Diego
Known for its beautiful beaches, perfect weather, and being the home to Comic-Con, San Diego is the ideal destination for those seeking serious studies and fun in the sun. Located a mere 100 miles south of the entertainment capital of the world, San Diego is surrounded by some North America’s busiest ports, and due to its location directly on the border with Tijuana, Mexico, large portions of its population and workforce cross the border daily. Aside from being an economic powerhouse, Southern California’s diverse landscape and international visibility make it one of the premier tourist industries on the planet. The advantages of this region are innumerable, especially compared to the rest of the country. Natural Splendor aside, San Diego Also boasts a booming biotech industry and is located in the richest state in the nation. If California was its own country, it would have the sixth largest economy in the world just between the U.K. and France.
San Diego’s multicultural environment and bustling trade economy make it an excellent place to earn an MBA with a career focus in international business. Below, we’ve laid out four of our favorite SD schools to earn the degree.
Our Favorite San Diego International MBA Programs
California International Business University (CIBU)
The California International Business University offers an ideal San Diego international MBA. In addition to the San Diego campus, CIBU has campuses in China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Denmark, it’s home country. From the time the school was started, its mission was to provide students with a unique international education that would ensure that they entered the business world with a well-rounded perspective upon graduation. Since the school has only 300 students, it is an excellent option for students seeking more individualized attention.
Fermanian School of Business – Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego’s Fermanian School of Business offers 10-day international trips to cities in Europe, Asia, and South America. These trips are open to all MBA students, in order to help MBAs gain a global perspective, and an understanding of the business practices and ethics in cultures around the world. Fermanian is also ideal for students looking to pursue their MBA in a values-focused environment, as the school integrates Christian principles into their curriculum and culture.
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Fowler College of Business Administration – SDSU
MBA students looking for an education tailored to international business would be wise to look at the San Diego State University Fowler College of Business Administration’s International Business Specialization. Students in this program are groomed to take on significant roles with multinational enterprises, nonprofits, and government agencies. This specialization offers electives such as international business finance, international marketing, and global supply chain management.
University of San Diego School of Business Administration
The International MBA (IMBA) at the University of San Diego’s School of Business Administration is an 11-month program that includes a site visit to Madrid, as well as an international consulting project that will involve working with companies in Asia, Latin America, or Europe. Students will spend one summer in Madrid before returning to the San Diego campus. Eventually, all students will complete an international consulting project that will give them the opportunity to problem-solve on a global scale.
For a Career in Supply Chain Management, Head to Washington DC
Today’s boardroom is tomorrow’s chopping block. Business is a beast, no doubt, one whose needs grow increasingly demanding and complex along with those of we, the consumers, who drive it.
To navigate let alone thrive in this hectic environment requires unprecedented strategy, analysis, and execution. For many companies navigating the unruly seas, so to speak, the great white hope is an unsung hero of sorts: the supply chain manager.
Supply chain managers, or SCMS, have long been vital to the quality and productivity of projects. In short: SCMs oversee how all the constituent parts of their product—raw materials, information, and finance—move from supplier to manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer.
There are certainly lots of moving parts to this position—no pun intended—which makes sense why supply chain management has become such a popular concentration at business schools and an increasingly in-demand gig for graduates.
When it comes to ideal places to pursue an SCM degree, it doesn’t get any better than Washington DC, a cosmopolitan, cross-sectional hub for politics, business, and tech. In addition to its strategic mid-Atlantic location, sandwiched between the business centers of the lower Midwest, the upper Southeast, and the lower Northeast, the Chocolate City is home to a wide range of industry players, offering infinite access to whichever field you aspire to enter through an SCM degree. In addition to the warm, friendly folks like Lockheed Martin and Capital One that make their home in the Beltway, startups like HireKeep, NotionTheory, and Click2Mail do as well.
For you aspiring supply chain managers out there, we did the legwork for you and took a deeper dive into four DC metro degrees.
University of Maryland’s R.H. Smith School of Business
The UMD Smith MS in Supply Chain Management is consistently ranked as one of the most innovative in the region. Whether you’re looking to become a buyer, a logistics officer, freight specialist, or key account specialist, Smith will give you the “relevant, real-world experience” needed to “drive business growth, promote efficiency, sustain the planet,” and last but not least—impress recruiters. Smith’s deep ties to Wal-Mart, Bosch Rexroth, AstraZeneca, China Mobile Cooperation, and Unilever will surely benefit Smith MBAs. All graduates become Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt™ (ICYB™) Certified by the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASCC).
Howard University School of Business
The Howard University School of Business‘ Supply Chain Management (SCM) concentration was designed specifically to prepare students for “leadership roles in global corporations and government entities.” Howard’s combination of faculty, curriculum, executive sponsorship, and real world experience means that graduates are well-equipped to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive job market.
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Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business
Operations and Information Management (OPIM) concentration at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business is an interdisciplinary effort that combines Production and Operations Management, Operations Research/Management Science, Statistics/Decision Analysis, and IT/Systems Management. OPIM was designed to create opportunities for research and employment within information systems that support decision processes, risk management, business analytics, and global operations.
George Mason University School of Business
The George Mason University School of Business offers a Project Management concentration that might appeal to MBA candidates with an interest in supply chain. The Project Management concentration—available both online and on-campus—was designed to give MBA candidates the “knowledge and skills needed to manage major projects from conception to implementation.”
