Master’s In Supply Chain Management: Bekuechukwu Uzondu, Howard University

“Almost every day was a great memory because there was always something happening at the School of Business, such as a career fair, a company coming to hold an event, or a department having a seminar. My absolute best memory would have to be being part of the team that won the case competition at the HU MBA Exclusive Fair.”

Student Name: Bekuechukwu Uzondu

Graduate Business School: Howard University School of Business

Describe Yourself In 15 Words: Humble, brave, and eager to tackle new challenges head-on.

Master’s Graduation Class: 2020.

Undergraduate School and Major: Howard University, Chemical Engineering.

Current Employer and Job Title: Program Manager at Dell Technologies.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In my current position, I lead a team of tenured expert programmers and developers to drive multiple process improvement projects simultaneously. 

Describe your biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: Winning the Howard University MBA Exclusive case competition on risk management.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I don’t know of any other school that looks after people of color in the way and manner that Howard does. Plus, the robust curriculum and amazing network of people that go through Howard made it a no-brainer for me.

What led you to choose a Master’s in Supply Chain Management over an MBA? Howard University School of Business offers an MBA with a concentration in Supply Chain Management. This specialization allowed me to earn an MBA that was tailored toward a career in supply chain management. 

What has been your favorite course and how has it helped you in your career? My favorite course has to be the immersive lab course which is a consulting class. I am truly grateful for this experience because it put my MBA into perspective. It taught me the importance of making sure you are aligned with your stakeholders and are able to give a well-rounded presentation on what is asked. Being able to lead a team and see a live project through its successful completion is exactly the kind of experience that has helped me in my career so far.

What role did your school play in helping you to land your first job out of the program? The MBA program definitely gave me the exposure to my current company. My resume was shared with recruiters through the network I developed at the School of Business, which led to an interview and a job offer.

How did your classmates enhance the value of your business school experience? This is where the beauty of an MBA really comes into play. The mere fact that it brings in people from all walks of life, means that you get to experience so many different perspectives and are exposed to so many other ways of thinking. So that meant that the conversations that were had in and outside of the classroom were rich in diversity of thought and experiences, and this is very important to have because it makes you more of a critical thinker when tackling issues.

Who was your favorite faculty member and how did this person enrich your learning? My favorite faculty member has to be Mr. Eric Williams, director of the Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management at Howard University School of Business. He has always looked out for me, and is still looking out for me as he was the one who recommended me for this feature. Mr. Williams coached me on mindfulness and how to be a better leader. His teachings are lifelong lessons that I will always carry with me and utilize as I advance in my career. Mr. Williams is also a very kind and caring person who made sure that we left the program with what we wanted to gain.

What is your best advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s graduate Master’s program? Differentiate yourself. Show that you are a hard worker who is diligent and humble. Also demonstrate not just how you did things but why. My most important advice is that you should show how you are an embodiment of Howard’s motto – Truth and Service. 

What was your best memory from your Master’s program? Almost every day was a great memory because there was always something happening at the School of Business, such as a career fair, a company coming to hold an event, or a department having a seminar. My absolute best memory would have to be being part of the team that won the case competition at the HU MBA Exclusive Fair. 

DON’T MISS: MEET THE MASTERS OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT