Bronco Spotlight: Emily Wood
Buyer at Humphrey Products
I am going to be a buyer for a local family-owned manufacturer in Kalamazoo. I will be in charge of negotiations, purchasing, and supplier relationships for multiple commodities. During this time I will be part of a small team that makes up the supply chain department at Humphrey Products.
If you had a campus job or internship, how did they impact your career development?
While on campus starting in the fall of 2016 I was able to work as Student Ambassador for the office of admissions. This not only helped to become more confident in public speaking but allowed me to share my passion for WMU and create relationships with potential students and their families. I also had the opportunity to participate in a co-op with Humphrey Products for the last 18 months in the department. This helped me to be immersed in my role even before starting full time and was essential to my success not only as young professional but also as a student.
What activities, resources, or people helped you prepare for your career?
My biggest help to me outside of the classroom and my internship was my business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi (DSP). This is truly the reason I was able to succeed throughout the past four years. DSP has taught me how to make professional relationships throughout the college of business, across different majors, and throughout multiple industries. The added brotherhood I found within the people there are truly what kept me going, even during stressful times as a student.
Which of your skills had the biggest impact on your success?
I think that my ability to create relationships has been my biggest help over the past four years. It was something that became a part of all my roles in college; as a Student Ambassador, as a Brother in Delta Sigma Pi, and in my current role at Humphrey Products.
What experiences impacted the choice of your career path?
I was interested in something that would be spread across multiple industries and would allow me to grow in my career with the same freedom you can grow on a personal level. Studying ISM has given me just that, and once I was able to get a taste my freshman year after taking advantage of externships through the career center I couldn't get enough.
What advice do you have for others pursuing a career similar to yours?
I would say most importantly to get as much experience and exposure to supply chain across multiple different industries. There is an assumption that if you work in supply chain that you must work in manufacturing, and that is not the case. The Zhang Career Center was instrumental in helping me explore my field of study in a multitude of settings.