A Desire for Learning from the Best Leads Business Professional to MSU’s Global Supply Chain Management Program

Last Updated October 24, 2024

Mortada Akasha Ali has worked for years in business development and as a senior consultant to businesses, but he still had one goal in his professional career he had not yet reached. He wanted to develop a higher level of expertise in supply chain management.

A British citizen, Ali and his family began living in Alabama in 2019. As the COVID pandemic reached the United States, he already had started looking for a place to go back to school. He chose to enroll in the online Michigan State University Master Certificate in Global Supply Chain Management program, and completed the program in 2021.

“I started researching where I could find the best supply chain institution in the United States. MSU came first and indeed, they are,” said Ali. “I am proud that I am a Spartan today.”

The pandemic took a personal toll for Ali, as well. His 85-year-old father died of COVID on Christmas Day in 2020. While tragic, the loss gave him the motivation to complete his education. He dedicated earning the certificate “to my late parents, especially my Dad, one of the first mine engineers in Sudan, Africa.”

What Professionals Learn in the Global Supply Chain Management Program

The 100% online Master Certificate in Global Supply Chain Management is designed to give professionals a competitive advantage, offering them expertise in the tools and techniques used in the full range of global supply chain functions.

The program consists of three eight-week courses taught by an MSU faculty that is considered among the leading experts in the field. U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks MSU’s supply chain and logistics programs No. 1 in the country.

Due to the complexities of global commerce – especially during a time of crisis such as a pandemic, which has disrupted supply chains worldwide – the success of a supply chain dictates the success of the business. MSU focuses on producing graduates from degree and certificate programs who know how to run efficient, effective and successful supply chains.

For Ali, the program provided exactly what he wanted.

Supply Chain Offers Glimpse Into Business “Anatomy”

An education in supply chain opens the door to a great many possibilities for careers. Job titles in the industry include purchasing agent, purchasing manager, logistics analyst and supply chain manager.

For Ali, coursework in supply chain management offered a glimpse into the heart of every organization.

“Supply chain management has been my passion for many years, and I have always found an interest in it,” Ali said. “I guess one reason is that it is a continuously challenging area of knowledge. I like to describe it as the anatomy of a company, organization or entity in the global business environment. Without this knowledge a firm will see no light in the tunnel when working in the challenging business world of today.”

Although concerned at first about the challenge of returning to school, Ali said he received support from all involved. He mentioned Dr. David Closs, Dr. David J. Frayer and Dr. Tomas Hult as professors “I would not forget.” He also said his Bisk student success representative, Peter Savitz, offered him “supportive professionalism” throughout the program.

Overcoming the Challenges of Returning to School

Ali said returning to school seemed a bit intimidating at first. He had last attended school in 2009, his last year at the University of Sussex. He earned a Bachelor in Economics and a Master of Science in International Management.

However, he said with the help of professors and his wife, he quickly adapted and “enjoyed every minute” of his time in classes.

“The thing that surprised me the most is that I never felt that I was an online student,” he said. “Honestly, every Wednesday I felt as if I was in Lansing, Michigan, in class. I guess they must be so good at it, professionalism at its best is my view about my teachers.”

The Impact of the Education on His Career

Ali said the master certificate has opened a wealth of possibilities for this future in supply chain management. He called the impact of the program on his career “enormous.”

One possibility Ali is considering is continuing his education with a doctorate. He also already is applying his supply chain education into his job. He currently works as a merchandising team manager for Belk, a department store chain.

Ali said the certificate program not only provided him an education, but widened his perspective. “I became knowledgeable of the anatomy of organization in respect to best practices from a supply chain point of view,” he said. “I see the world differently now at my current job than before. I got a new Spartan lens.”