Throughout the LSCM BBA program, I have grown mentally and socially. I have learned to view situations from different perspectives instead of mine. Foremost, I have learned to make decisions based on what is best for the company and to do this you must weigh the pros and cons of the decisions. It is also important to be aware of what is happening in the economy. Most decisions are from a cause-and-effect situation. Things just do not happen for a reason. Knowing this now, I understand the reasoning for teamwork.

     Teamwork is a skill that I have learned in this program and has proven to be beneficial in this career path I have chosen. In the past, I did not communicate with others because I enjoyed my sense of independence and working alone. As I progressed in my career and changed roles within the company, working with others became an important aspect of my day-to-day tasks. You learn valuable information from listening to others, their thoughts, and their methods of doing things. They may be unable to resolve a problem but with multiple inputs, there are no limits to where you will go.

     Teamwork does provide its benefits but, it is difficult to work with others at times. This has always been one of the more difficult things for me to do because of the different personalities you encounter and the different opinionated thoughts that you may disagree with. It works best if you remain open and less confrontational about any situation you are working with others on. One person does not know it all. It is about coming together and developing everyone’s thoughts to come to a solution. Another challenge was having to manage my time outside of school. Having to balance my time between school, a full-time job, and kids can be quite difficult. It is incredibly stressful at times too. I have always hated to write and there were several papers that I had to write throughout this program. Looking back at it now, I am appreciative of this opportunity because I have learned so much that will build my career.

     This program has enhanced my understanding of common practices within the supply chain. Concepts such as KPIs, Theories of Constraints, continuous improvement, corporate social responsibility, and financial management all pertain to the career path that I chose to follow. They help me to understand decisions that are made by upper management. They also help me understand the role I play in achieving the company’s goals. Overall, I appreciate the push from my professors because that is the same drive that a company will have on you in the business world. Companies are striving to sustain in this global market and this program gives you the tools and knowledge that you need to fulfill your role in doing so.