Internships a 'win-win' for Supply Chain majors and FSB's Center for Supply Chain Excellence corporate partners
Lexi Laskonis, Supply Chain and Business Analytics double major, enjoys challenging Procter & Gamble internship
Internships a 'win-win' for Supply Chain majors and FSB's Center for Supply Chain Excellence corporate partners
When Lexi Laskonis arrived on ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University’s campus two years ago, she knew she wanted to be in the Farmer School of Business but didn’t know where. She took MGT295, intro to supply chain, and “fell in love with the industry.”
The junior from Rockford, Illinois, who now has a double major in Supply Chain and Operations Management and Business Analytics, has a 12-week summer internship at Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with a global supply chain leader who makes brands we all know and love,” said Laskonis, a supply network operations intern. “Every day I look forward to going into work, and I feel like my contributions have direct impacts and are valued.”
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s Supply Chain and Operations Management program hosts a major and a minor. It is ranked among the top 25 in the nation by Gartner, a global research and advisory firm. The Farmer School of Business program was ranked No. 20 among public universities and No. 23 overall.
The Center for Supply Chain Excellence (CSCE), created in 2021 as a hub to connect companies with students and faculty from ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s program, helps ensure “our students are learning not only from faculty but also from supply chain professionals to be constantly exposed to relevant and timely business problems,” said Monique Murfield, associate professor of Supply Chain and Operations Management and director of the center.
Eight companies, including Procter & Gamble, are currently in the corporate partners program. They invest in the Center for Supply Chain Excellence annually in order to build a long-term relationship with students and faculty.
“Corporate partners get priority for student interaction, speaking in classes, speaking on panels and at events, and serving on the CSCE advisory board to help guide the direction of the Supply Chain and Operations Management program at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú,” Murfield said.
Procter & Gamble director calls ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú internships a win-win
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú alumnus Seth Harms, director of Supply Network Operations Global Innovation Air Care at Procter & Gamble, hopes student interns learn new skills, sharpen existing strengths, and learn about opportunities for growth.
“I want interns such as Lexi to gain valuable hands-on experience in supply chain. I hope it will be an opportunity for students to validate for themselves that this is the type of work they want to do and understand what a career in supply chain can look like,” said Harms, who earned his ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú degree in Supply Chain and Operations Management in 2008.
“Additionally, I hope our interns contribute at a high level and have a strong impact on our business,” he said. “Even though the experience is only 12 weeks, we provide projects that are challenging and meaningful.”
Harms said he joined the CSCE advisory board more than a year ago primarily to aid in the company’s ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú recruiting efforts.
He sees the internships as a win-win situation for the student intern and P&G.
“They come in with fresh eyes, a new creative perspective, and deliver a very strong impact to our business. So, it is absolutely a win for us,” he said. “For the interns, it is an opportunity to work with one of the best supply chain companies in the world, determine if this is the type of career they want to pursue, obtain incredible coaching and skill development, and, of course, have some fun.”
Harms pointed out that P&G has been recognized by Gartner as a Supply Chain Master every year for the last 10 years. “I believe it is an excellent fit to pair outstanding students from a highly recognized supply chain program with one of the best supply chain companies in the world.”
Murfield said 80% of students in the program have internships, and 52% have more than one internship during their time at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú.
“Internships are critical for students to learn how the concepts they have learned in the classroom actually apply and to see what they like (and don't like) doing,” she said.
Laskonis: Having an internship “opened so many doors for me"
Last summer, Laskonis worked at Woodward Aerospace in her hometown as a supply chain and data analytics intern. She said her main project was excess and obsolete inventory disposition.
“I was able to ‘be in the driver’s seat’ and manage that project entirely on my own, resulting in over $2.4 million of tax reduction,” she said.
She sees the tremendous value of internships.
“I recommend all students try to get their hands dirty in any fields of interest, as you can learn and apply what we are taught at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú hands-on,” she said, noting that “seeing it and doing it will really help these concepts stick."
Laskonis said having an internship “opened so many doors for me,” and she will carry the lessons and connections with her throughout her professional career.
“Your internship is a test for your organization to see if you’re a good fit but just as much as an opportunity for you to reflect on if you would want to come back full time.”
After graduation, Laskonis wants to have a role that will allow her to explore different career paths within supply chain while also utilizing her data analytical/digital skills. “I am really excited for the possibility to work globally within supply chain and to see where my job will take me,” she said.
For now, she’s enjoying her internship at Procter & Gamble, where she is part of the centralized team that supports digital operations planning and automation across all business units such as home care, health care, and beauty and brands such as Tide, Pampers, Febreze, and Charmin.
“I am on the Digital Planning & Automation team, which allows me to work and innovate in both a supply chain and analytical space. We are a centralized team that supports all business units throughout North America (and even on a global scale),” she said. “Being one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world, it is no surprise how critical the supply chain function is for the overall health and growth of the company.”
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