Finding a team: Dylan Sing’s future in supply chain management
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University senior Dylan Sing of Berrien Center, Michigan, knows how to effectively work with a team. From the classroom and his internships, to winning soccer games with his teammates on the men’s soccer team, collaboration is key. Building a close network of friends, colleagues and industry contacts will allow Sing to find the perfect fit in his future career in procurement, logistics, data analysis or wherever he finds the team that will support him best.
As a supply chain management major, Sing is eager to grow from all that he has learned participating in extra curricular activities—specifically, the Supply Chain Management Association.
“Participating in the Supply Chain Management Association has been a highlight of mine at Western and has allowed me to meet many of my peers, foster relationships with professors and learn from industry leaders,” he says.
Learning from experts in the industry has exposed Sing to different methods of professional development and has taught him to analyze each aspect associated with management.
"Supply chain management is a diverse field, which excites me because of the opportunities to add value to a company. It's all about continuous improvement—doing things better, faster, and more cost-effectively in order to find the competitive edge to make your company stand out in the market,” he adds.
Brainstorming how to do this takes a team of individuals.
“There are many ways to complete one task. Working as a team, students can combine their strengths and generate the best possible solutions for the issue at hand,” Sing says. “Whether it is receiving help from others or taking a step back and looking through different lenses to find the desired solution, perspective is everything in this field.”
Being team-oriented and communicative has been beneficial during Sing’s procurement internship with the company Foundry.
“I gained a lot of professional experience taking on projects during my internship, but I was also able to learn from a great supervisor who always steered me in the right direction,” he says. “I interacted in professional transactions by quoting and recommending new supplier relationships for the company to pursue in the future.”
Balancing his experiential learning with his commitment to the men’s varsity soccer program is not an easy task but finding a mentor was the exact support Sing needed.
“As a student-athlete, I had struggled to find time for school and internship opportunities with a busy soccer schedule, but Dr. Sime Curkovic, professor of supply chain management, gave me a hand and guided me through a stressful time in my life. He taught me how to balance each area of my life and how to continue to remain successful,” Sing adds.
His experience on and off the field has helped him as a team member and leader in a variety of contexts.
“I have grown significantly from my time as a student-athlete at Western and will take my experiences to the next chapter of my career,” says Sing. “With the trust I have in my team and the confidence I have in my abilities, I won’t hesitate to face adversity. It’s important to move forward to reach for success.”
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