Emma Scott is a third-year student at Penn State, studying supply chain management with a minor in information systems. An ambitious student, she is heavily involved with the Sapphire Leadership Academic Program, the Schreyer Honors College, THON, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals as well as Schreyer for Women.
The Sapphire program is a rigorous academic program at Smeal College of Business that only takes 50 students a year and offers them academic opportunities and exclusive resources including guidance from a Faculty Director and a designated Sapphire Academic Adviser. This particular feature of the program is one of Emma’s favorites—finding that professors like Dr. Bob Novack make a key difference in her learning and that the network, paired with the incredible guidance of faculty, makes Smeal special for all students.
Today, Emma holds many awards and accolades that make Smeal proud. She is the recipient of the 2022 NASPO scholarship as well as the the President Freshman Award and President Sparks Award. She has also won first place in the Ethics Case Competition and the 2021 Business Innovation Proposals. The awards mean the world to Emma, especially because they led her to having two internships with ALDI, with a third on the way.
At the end of the day, Emma pursued supply chain because she enjoys the scope and range of its industries and that it’s a field which encourages curiosity and unconventional problem-solving. She is inspired by the people who are affected by supply chain because it’s such a vast network— whether it be employees, customers, vendors— there is always a connection between people and product.
“I eventually want to be a leader of supply chain in the company I find myself working for and I want to encourage women in the field to excel and inspire others to enter the field as well,” she shared. “My personal goal is to be in a position of influence to affect both policy and achievement. To have the opportunity to put my fingerprints on something and to contribute to an organization I believe in is awe-inspiring to me.”
Emma is excited for the future of this resilient industry, seeing that companies more and more are looking to increase efficiency, productivity and collaboration between warehouses and operations teams. She hopes that when she enters the workforce, the focus on innovation and “moving the needle” will be just as prominent.
Looking to the future, Emma is hopeful companies will increasingly support inclusive practices and promote diversity-focused programs. Specifically, she is interested in companies offering more formal mentorship programs, diversity trainings, and those that instill a culture of listening.
“Everyone deserves a seat at the table,” Emma said. “For me personally, being a woman in what is largely a male dominated field, I can understand that feeling of wanting to be heard. I aim to do exactly that by being a creative and hard worker, establishing trust so that my team can go on to accomplish great things.”