Priya Kumar, BBA ’07, is using her McCombs degree to its fullest. After tackling the world of supply chain management, she has now launched her own business, Sustainable Inc., where she helps Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies facilitate supply chain issues from the ground up.
She is also giving back to her alma mater by leading the Women of McCombs alumni group and with undergraduates in the Supply Chain Center of Excellence. When asked what inspires her to continue giving back, she said, “My involvement with Women of McCombs brings me to campus often – and I love reading the statement outside of Rowling Hall ‘What starts here changes the world.’ I am set out to do just that!”
Read more about Priya’s journey and what she is up to now:
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: Houston, TX
Q: What brought you to UT Austin?
A: I was most interested in being a part of McCombs. I’ve always had a passion for business, markets, and utilizing my creative spirit to deliver something amazing for the world. UT Austin seemed like a perfect place to nurture those interests.
Q: Tell us what an impact being a McCombs grad has had on your life?
A: McCombs provided me with an excellent platform to launch my career. The reputation alone has gotten me a foot in the door multiple times. The school continues to do amazing things for academic community and the greater world and I feel extremely proud to be a part of that legacy. It’s a wonderful feeling to be viewed so positively in the corporate world by peers and leaders.
Q: Share a lasting memory of your time at McCombs.
A: My favorite memory of McCombs was interview season put on by the career services organization. The corporations were so vested in McCombs students and it was extremely heartwarming to see that. The coaching provided was so beneficial and tips I received from the department were extremely formative, so much so that I have continued to share them with other colleagues I mentor. It was also an amazing opportunity to learn how to story-tell my experiences in an impactful way.
Q: Tell us how you continue to be involved with McCombs, and why is that important to you?
A: I have recently taken up the position as president of the Women of McCombs Alumni gorup here in Austin. We have a series of events planned for this year to help alumni connect with each other in meaningful ways. I am also working with the Supply Chain Center of Excellence to help support the undergraduate program. Providing them with case studies, opportunities to participate in real-life projects and sharing new insights and thought leadership in supply chain are all part of the plan.
Q: We’re getting ready to welcome new students to our campus. Do you have any advice you’d like to share with them as they embark on their college careers?
A:
- Study abroad! Expand your horizon and find beauty in the ways we are all different, yet absolutely the same.
- Find a Mentor. You don’t know what you don’t know. Someone who is where you want to be would be an ideal person to be your mentor. Let them guide you and help you avoid making mistakes.
- Join several clubs based on your interests. It’s important to figure out what you want and who you are. Once you have these nailed, life become super easy. Finding those with like-minded interests helps the journey become pleasant and fun.
Q: What are you doing now with your career?
A: I started my own supply chain consulting company, Sustainable Inc., about six years ago. I’ve had the amazing privilege of working with several Fortune 100 and 500 clients in helping them drive savings in their sourcing and procurement operations, elevate their logistics and transportation strategies and reduce their supply chain complexity through various projects utilizing six sigma methodologies. My firm is growing, and I am looking to hire other Longhorns!
Q: Share your life and career ambitions and how McCombs has prepared you to achieve them.
A: My first job out of college was through McCombs. I started my career with Textron as a part of their Supply Chain Leadership program. I could not have had a more perfectly orchestrated beginning to my career journey. The program provided me with the opportunity to work on several special projects with high visibility to leadership and also to interact with several supply chain groups simultaneously. That is all thanks to McCombs! It is this opportunity that positioned me for the other amazing career pivots I have had throughout the years.
My goals now are to grow my firm and to create a circle of supply chain experts to guide thought leadership for the field in the coming decades.
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