Riding the Wave: How to Navigate Your Curricular Practical Training Journey

“It was a steep learning curve that required immediate and proficient adaptation,” said Ayesha Pandey, a Master of Supply Chain Management alum, as she reflected on her Curricular Practical Training (CPT) experience. Ayesha, an international student who grew up in Dubai, felt both nervous and excited as she secured a CPT role that allowed her to gain work experience in her field while completing her master’s degree. When she landed a Procurement Analytics Consultant role at Sievo, she realized the growth opportunities didn’t just meet her expectations – they exceeded them.

Resilience in action

Throughout the steep learning curve, Ayesha kept afloat by relying on the blend of lessons learned in the UW Foster graduate program. “When I took the Strategic Sourcing & Procurement class, it really helped with my understanding of the fundamentals. The Spreadsheet Modelling class also helped with critical thinking and looking at problems in a different way,” Ayesha said.

An ambitious student and up for any challenge, Ayesha threw herself into learning Sievo’s software modules. One day she was decoding complex queries and the next, she was tailoring dashboards for high-stakes client demos. “It was all trial by fire but it taught me the value of resilience and the importance of technical acumen in supply chain management,” Ayesha said. This is something she became very familiar with during her time at UW Foster, where the symbiotic relationship between the program and her new role helped bridge theoretical knowledge with practical skills.

Navigating new challenges

Over time, Ayesha grew more confident in her role, balancing client interactions and project management meetings with back-end SQL work and integration configuration. When a departmental restructuring was announced, Ayesha was asked to take on even more responsibilities. Even though the increased workload was a big change for a consultant who thought she’d be doing tech analysis in the background, Ayesha expertly managed the uncertainty. “It tested me. In those moments, I leaned heavily on my ability to communicate and just stepped into the unknown.”

Ayesha utilized the soft skills she gained from the program to navigate a range of work scenarios. “In my role, we do a lot of demos, presentations, and client meetings. I got a lot of practice presenting in many of my classes, which improved my communication skills.” This blend of technical knowledge, business acumen, and soft skills is how Ayesha transformed her status from “just another consultant” to “trusted advisor.”

Growth through experience

Ayesha’s CPT experience wasn’t just a professional opportunity. It was a transformative journey that better prepared her for the complex world of global supply chain management. When asked to reflect on her key takeaways from her CPT experience, Ayesha was quick to respond: “the intersection of resilience, continuous learning, and adaptability.” While her foundational knowledge of SQL and analytics helped her excel in her role, it was her resilience and willingness to adapt that helped her overcome the initial overwhelm.

Ayesha completed the Master of Supply Chain Management program in June 2024. She’s still using her technical skills and newfound adaptability to ride the waves that are part-and-parcel of an analytics role. While the mix of Competitive Strategy and Data Analytics courses at UW Foster help with the technical part, the Leadership and Professional Development course (along with some surfing lessons) prepares you for managing the unexpected waves that come with the territory.

“If I could give any advice to current or prospective students, I would say to embrace every challenge as an opportunity,” Ayesha said. “The more you step out of your comfort zone, the more you grow.”

Learn more about the Master of Supply Chain Management program.