An awesome accomplishment: WMU student wins national scholarship for women in supply chain

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—When Western Michigan University supply chain management student Alex Little was seeking out inspirational women leaders in her field, she didn’t have to go far. Her mother worked in supply chain at a Fortune 500 company, and Little found that what she learned about her mother’s role and job opportunities in the field drew her to the discipline. 

Fast forward to her senior year, and Little is receiving a $5,000 scholarship from Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management & Education (AWESOME) and is one of only 20 students from across the country selected for the honor. And this Western student, who hails from Midland, Michigan, is the definition of a woman leader in supply chain: someone who others look to for direction, sound supply chain practices and fresh ideas.

When Little began her academic journey at WMU, she connected with another woman supply chain student who was leading by example, Madison Dober, B.B.A. 24. “What really made WMU feel like the right fit for me was the tour of the business college I received from Maddie, who was the president of the Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA). She talked about the opportunities she had been given through the supply chain management program. Hearing about her experiences with internships, site tours and case competitions made me realize that if I came to Western, I could have a similar experience and that the college would help me grow in so many ways.”

Little still has the Business Broncos t-shirt that Dober gave her during that WMU Haworth tour. “As I continued deciding which college I wanted to attend, WMU started to feel less like a school and more like a home. Looking back, it is meaningful to me that the person who helped me choose Western was also a woman in supply chain who showed me what was possible.”

Today, Little is president of SCMA, and she’s building opportunities for supply chain students to connect with each other and professionals in the field. 

“Being president of SCMA is a relatively new role for me, and I was thrown into the deep end of leadership immediately. Leading an organization with more than 100 members is challenging, and I’ve had to develop a new skill set,” she says. Little’s responsibilities include communicating with different audiences, managing competing priorities and taking charge when something needs to get done.

“One of the biggest things I have learned about myself is that I am capable of making decisions without always waiting for someone else’s approval. As president, there are situations where I have to make a decision and move forward, even if I do not have every detail figured out. I have become more confident in trusting my own judgment and taking responsibility for the outcome. Leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about being willing to listen, learn, adjust and make sure the people around you have what they need to be successful. I am still refining my leadership style, but I am enjoying how much I have grown through this experience. I know the lessons I am learning will help me become a better leader when I enter the professional world.”

As Little thinks about receiving the AWESOME scholarship, she reflects on supporting and elevating women’s leadership in supply chain and considers the type of supply chain professional she wants to be.

“I see both challenges and opportunities for women in supply chain,” she says. “One challenge I have personally noticed is making sure your voice is heard. I have seen this even in my own SCMA meetings, where more than 80% of our attendees are male. During employer conversations, I have noticed that male students can sometimes dominate the conversation, and there have been times when I have felt like my voice was not being given the same weight.”

Through Little’s experience in SCMA, she has become more confident in those situations. “I have learned how to step back into a conversation, speak up when I have something to add and interrupt when I know something being said is incorrect. While these can be uncomfortable moments, I have been able to practice being composed and not being afraid to make my voice heard. I know the self-assurance I have gained in these settings will translate to the workplace.”

At the same time, Little sees so many opportunities for women in supply chain. 

“Organizations like Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence (WISE) have been an important part of my experience at WMU. Through WISE, I have been able to hear from powerful women leaders, attend conferences focused on women in supply chain and see the many different paths women can take within the field.”

Little looks forward to similar connections with women in supply chain through AWESOME, which intentionally builds networking and mentorship opportunities into its scholarship program.

“As I begin my career, I hope to lead in a way that is both inclusive and strong. I strive to be kind and approachable while also being confident and firm when decisions need to be made. I want the people around me to feel comfortable sharing their ideas and know that their voices are valued, while also making sure things get done. As I grow in my career, I hope to mentor other women and help them build the confidence to speak up and find their own place in supply chain.”

Learn more about supply chain management at WMU. 

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