Graduating senior Rhea Kumar found many opportunities at the Fox School of Business. (Photo courtesy of Rhea Kumar)
Name: Rhea Kumar
Major: Supply Chain Management
Hometown: Miami
Supply chain management major and Miami native Rhea Kumar was drawn to Temple University because of the opportunities she felt awaited her.
“During accepted students’ day, I met a Fox student who told me how much choosing Fox helped him grow as a person and as a business professional,” she says. “His personal testament and candid words showed me that Fox could be a place where I could challenge myself.
“I investigated the programs and made many trips to Philadelphia, ultimately deciding that I could see myself at Fox, pushing the boundaries of what I thought was possible for myself.”
And challenge herself – she did!
“I knew I wanted to weave sustainability into my higher education journey, so being part of this organization has been very impactful for me. I’ve learned about many small and large businesses that are doing good for our planet and its people.”
Often seeing herself as one of the few women in the supply chain field, Kumar took action and created the first Women in Supply Chain panel event.
“By talking to women in my professional network, I was able to create a panel of incredibly diverse and accomplished women to speak about their own experiences and provide advice to the younger generation of professionals,” Kumar says.
“I would say that night was one of my greatest achievements because I saw firsthand the women in my major getting together to learn, connect and see the many possibilities for themselves after college.”
Rhea Kumar introducing the first ever Women in Supply Chain event.
Photo courtesy of Rhea Kumar
Her discovery of what’s possible continued to increase as Kumar found herself seeking more information on the supply chain industry.
“I had an unforced curiosity for the subject. Naturally, this led to me wanting to strive to learn more in the field,” Kumar says.
This drive led her to Temple Net Impact. In Kumar’s leadership role as vice president of the organization, she created a diverse student body that focused on making everyday lifestyle decisions that sustain the social and physical environment on and off Temple’s campus.
“I knew I wanted to weave sustainability into my higher education journey, so being part of this organization has been very impactful for me. I’ve learned about many small and large businesses that are doing good for our planet and its people,” Kumar says.
More from our 2024 Graduation Spotlight
Upon graduation, Kumar will move from her current internship at IBM into a full-time role at the company with the procurement team working on artificial intelligence for IBM.
Beyond that, one of her greatest goals is to work in cloud supply chain. The cloud reduces inefficiencies to make our global supply chains more sustainable in the long run.
She also aims to keep up her work advocating for women in supply chain.
“I have already joined a group at IBM that informs girls about opportunities in technology and helps them find mentors in the field—and to inspire them and show them that anything is possible.”