Transportation
Rising Demand in the Supply Chain Industry: A Golden Era for New Talent
Supply chain professionals face unprecedented opportunities as AI and data analytics transform logistics, creating urgent demand for skilled newcomers ready to
Key takeaways
COVID-19 accelerated supply chain disruptions, creating urgent demand for new talent in logistics and operations roles.
AI and data analytics are rapidly reshaping the supply chain industry, offering newcomers opportunities to make an immediate impact.
Personal influences — including family industry ties and international exchange programs — can guide intentional career choices in supply chain.
The supply chain industry is becoming an increasingly vital field, especially after the global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the industry continues to grow, new talent is key to meeting the evolving logistics, planning, and operations challenges. Recent trends, such as the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, are reshaping the landscape, making this a dynamic time for newcomers to enter and make an impact.
As the demand for supply chain professionals soars, what advice and experiences can guide those just starting out in the field?
This episode of Hammer Down, hosted by Mike Bush, explores the fresh perspective of Baden Schrab, a junior studying Operations and Supply Chain Management at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In an industry where many professionals “fall into” their careers, Schrab offers insights into his purposeful decision to enter the supply chain field and how he envisions shaping his future. Bush and Schrab dive into career advice for newcomers, how COVID-19 influenced career choices, and what excites Schrab most about the industry's rapid growth.
Key Discussion Points:
- How legacy family influence and international experiences guided Baden Schrab into supply chain management.
- The impact of COVID-19 on Schrab's decision to pursue a career in supply chain, as well as his desire to tackle industry challenges head-on.
- Schrab's thoughts on AI, technology trends, and how he uses tools like ChatGPT in both his academic and daily life.
Baden Schrab is currently a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, pursuing a degree in Operations and Supply Chain Management. With a family background in the industry, Schrab has participated in various educational experiences, including an international exchange program in Germany. His exposure to global supply chain roles and his father's work as an Associate Director at ProMEGA have inspired him to seek a career in planning within the sector.
About the author
Beginning his career by learning how to tell a brand’s story, leveraging marcom to build market share, utilizing PR to get people engaged, and innovating trust-based relationships between products and people, He took on diverse challenges and continually grew. Mike created the first ever SEO practice in Washington DC — generating $10M+ in revenue for 10+ clients. Throughout my career, Mike gained unique experiences such as spearheading marcom for a company after a real-time suicide (incident inspired a Law & Order SVU episode) with minimal negative publicity. And advising a client in PR best practices after an employee had committed a highly publicized terrorist attack in the US. Company was able to maintain all major financial relationships (JPM, BofA, Well Fargo, AmEx, etc.). He worked for a leader in the automotive services industry — building a reputation as nationally recognized expert on road rage (including an appearance on Court TV as a Subject Matter Expert). This included creating media that generated 100M+ impressions.
