When asked why he decided to minor in information management along with his major in supply chain management, Griffiths Walker ’24 will tell you he wanted a more specialized degree.
“I knew I wanted a business degree, but also wanted to have something that would make me stand out more. The combination of supply chain management that provides a very holistic overview of business and information management that taps into computer systems and technology made that possible.”
Walker stumbled upon the importance of his minor in information management while working at Dick’s Sporting Goods, a job that he would return to in the summers before sophomore and junior year. The necessity of structured databases that supported an organized global supply chains was emphasized during the COVID pandemic. Supply chains across the globe were severely disrupted and Walker witnessed first-hand how information technology could mitigate some of the distribution issues.
“When inventory is tight because of supply squeezes and general scarcity, being able to aggregate data and extract valuable information from your current stock is incredibly important.”
Walker had another chance to see the implications of his minor when he interned with Titleist in the field during his senior year. Titleist is an American brand of golf equipment, focusing on golf balls, clubs, and golf bags. The internship itself is highly competitive to secure, with only 39 spots available nationwide. For Walker, it has been his favorite college experience and a great opportunity for him to combine his love for golf with his business and technology education. While interning, Walker developed his own inventory system, capable of tracking stockouts and reordering needs during busy weeks of special events.
“I learned a lot about inventory planning during my internship. I had to be able to forecast, roughly, the number of products I would need over a two-week period, and then get an order sent up to headquarters in Massachusetts. I also had to be able to determine how much product I would need for extended trips to the far away portions of my territory, and how to ration stock if I was running low. Technology was crucial in all of that!”
With loads of experience under his belt and an in-demand skill set, Walker is more than ready to apply his education to his future endeavors.
