UCS: Could you provide a brief overview of your career journey after graduating from the Kelley School of Business? What positions or roles have you held?

Brad: I started my career in consulting, working for Ernst & Young, supporting large-scale systems and process implementations for the Life Sciences industry. I then moved over to Kraft Heinz Company, where I supported their Sales & Operations Planning group as an Inventory Manager. I then worked for West Monroe Partners, helping to build out their Supply Chain Consulting practice for a few years, before joining Peloton Interactive, first leading their Network Strategy team and then becoming the Director of Supply Chain Optimization. Finally, I have been with Dollar General for about 1.5 years now, first as the Senior Director, Supply Chain Strategy and now as the Senior Director, Inventory for our Food, Candy, and Snacks business.

UCS: What inspired you to pursue a career in your current industry? Was there a specific experience or moment that sparked your interest?

Brad: When I was at Kelley, I remember being in Compass/similar class where each Major representative came to give an overview of their major and what it meant. And when Supply Chain came in, the first thing the professor said was that there was not enough graduates to fill the job opportunities in past years. Figuring that was a good place to start, I started taking classes and realized how much I enjoyed supply chain, largely because it’s a great area to learn how to problem solve. There are so many unique challenges that supply chain practitioners have to deal with, plus it is one of those areas of the business that is constantly evolving, there is so much opportunity for growth and impacting change in it as well!

UCS: How did your education at Kelley prepare you for your current role?

Brad: Kelley was instrumental in preparing me for my whole career. Kelley not only teaches extremely effective technical skills (Excel, coding, functional backgrounds), but also soft skills that I would argue are more beneficial to me now. Learning how to speak eloquently in front of peers in Business Presentations, how to effectively build out PowerPoints, and write nuanced emails have all been extremely valuable. Without Kelley I would not have been able to progress at the pace I have so far or take the chances that I have been able to take!

UCS: What specific skills or knowledge from your Kelley education have been most valuable in your career?

Brad: Soft skills have driven so much benefit. Learning how to be more comfortable with public speaking and those tips to use when you are in an uncomfortable situation have been extremely valuable to me. In addition, Kelly pushed learning how to be uncomfortable and going outside of your comfort zone, whether that be with I-Core or classes or campus groups. That has really pushed me to take chances and aspire to continue to learn and has helped tremendously in my career so far.

UCS: Can you share a highlight or accomplishment from your professional journey that you are particularly proud of?

Brad: When I was Peloton, I got to see first-hand the impact of COVID. It started off that home fitness was booming and we were trying to react to that demand boost and then went the other direction as demand started decreasing as the world opened up again. In that latter phase, I am so proud of myself and the team who were able to help right the ship, in regards to supply chain, and really problem solve a new fire drill every single day as we tried to get the company back to what it was.

UCS: What advice would you give to current Kelley students who are considering a career in your industry?

Brad: Continue to learn and practice how to problem-solve and think critically. Go outside your comfort zone and do case competitions or read about the current supply chain issues going on in the world. A new problem seems to pop up every day and the industry needs more smart, creative, problem solvers in the future.

UCS: How has networking and building connections played a role in your career advancement? Any tips for students on effective networking?

Brad: Networking has been integral in all of my jobs. Both networking with folks at the companies I am trying to join, but also internally once in the companies, especially outside of my direct space. It allows me to see other areas I may be interested in, as well as get context into other decisions that may affect me or my team. My tip for networking would be to ask good questions and do your research. Anytime I talk with other folks, I want to show them that I at least tried to learn about what they do and how it impacts me, it allows for a much better 2-way conversation.

UCS: Have you pursued any further education or certifications since graduating from Kelley? If so, how have they contributed to your career growth?

Brad: I have gotten 4 certifications in LLamasoft Optimization software as well as my Yellow Belt in Six Sigma. I am also planning to start my Executive MBA program this coming Fall. Continued education is extremely important to me – it allows me to stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest in my industry, while also allowing me to network and meet other folks with similar interests or backgrounds.

UCS: In your opinion, what are the current trends or challenges in your industry that students should be aware of?

Brad: Retail is interesting because it moves so fast and changes so quickly. Upcoming trends look to be related to the continued rise of eCommerce and how does that impact brick and mortar stores as well as the use of AI across retail. Are there opportunities to get better with planning demand, moving/storing product, as well as adapting faster to dynamic, customer buying habits?

UCS: Can you describe a typical day or week in your current role? What are the main tasks and responsibilities you handle?

Brad: The thing I love about my job is that no day or week is the same. However, on a whole my week is focused on ensuring we have enough (but not too much) inventory in our Distribution Centers and stores. This means working across our vendor community to ensure we are placing the right orders, working with our transportation team to make sure the product moves correctly and timely, as well as our store operations team to get the product to the shelves. Across 20,000 stores and 3,000 Food items though, it is easier said then done!

UCS: How do you maintain a work-life balance in a demanding industry? Any strategies or tips you would like to share?

Brad: You need to be very intentional about your work and life responsibilities. I have a young son at home so being direct about taking time off from work in the evenings to ensure I can eat dinner with him/my wife has been big. If I need to catch up on a few things later, I can, but I know I will not sacrifice that time. Also, having a very supporting spouse/partner relationship is also key – overcommunicating with them while balancing both career paths is something we continue to work on and sometimes that means making a work sacrifice on occasion.

UCS: Is there anything else you would like to share with current Kelley students who are exploring different industries and career paths?

Brad: I would say to be open to an opportunity you may not have thought about before. I have done numerous roles that I had very little context or background into before joining and they have made me more well-rounded and enhanced my professional background/skillsets. I remember being nervous/scared to take that leap at the time, but it has produced such dividends later on.