Global logistics master's helps career changer chart a new path

Christon Valdivieso looks back on his time in the W. P. Carey Master of Science in Global Logistics (MS-GL) program with great fondness and pride. Although he already had several years of experience in the workforce, he had changed careers and decided he needed to develop the skills he needed to succeed.

Christon Valdivieso looks back on his time in the W. P. Carey Master of Science in Global Logistics (MS-GL) program with great fondness and pride. Although he already had several years of experience in the workforce, he had changed careers and decided he needed to develop the skills he needed to succeed.

"A couple years ago I made the shift from hospitality to the supply chain world," Chris says. "As I was looking at my trajectory of where I could go within the industry, I thought, 'I can either stay in this position for two to three years and figure out some things or take time out, invest in myself, and become a better asset to whatever company I went to.'"

"When I did that search, I found W. P. Carey, obviously a great school for business and supply, and decided to take a shot," he explains. "The global logistics program really spoke to what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be."

The tools you need to succeed

The MS-GL develops deep expertise in global logistics while also exposing you to multicultural perspectives and to the tools you need to succeed in emerging markets. The nine-month program helps meet a crucial market need, as logistics continues to be a growing field worldwide.

As Arnie Maltz, associate professor of supply chain management, explains, "The program is designed for people who want both a global perspective and in-depth expertise in the logistics/customer-facing area of supply chain. We take particular pride in our emphasis on exposing everybody to the emerging markets that will be the growth engine of the world economy in the medium and long term. We also emphasize fact-based decision-making as well as real-world skills, which we know will better prepare students for a rewarding career."

One of the big takeaways of the program for Chris was how interpreting data could help him — and organizations — make better decisions. He remembers, "Coming from where I was, there wasn't a lot of that. It was a lot of, 'This is coming at you; how do you respond?' But when you want to start thinking more strategically you need data to support that."

Focused curriculum on a 9-month schedule

Another important factor for Chris was the deeper dive of a specialized curriculum like the MS-GL, along with the shorter time requirement to earn the degree. "There's a lot of people getting MBAs, and a lot of people who can think broadly across the spectrum of business. But at a certain point, companies need you to know a particular function, a particular role," he says.

"So a degree like this, with that depth — that's the value of the MS-GL to me. The length of the program...I can't take more than nine months off work," he laughs. "Having a program where I can have a great job coming out of it, making more than I was before the program, I can make things work for a shorter amount of time."

Having moved to Arizona specifically to pursue his MS-GL, Christon is now putting down roots in the Grand Canyon State. After earning his degree, he joined PetSmart as a merchandise fulfillment inventory analyst. 

Learn more and apply today

The W. P. Carey School of Business is consistently ranked Top 5 in undergraduate and graduate supply chain management programs by U.S. News & World Report. Put the power of a top-ranked school and an innovative global logistics career to work for you: Discover the MS-GL curriculum and find out what it takes to apply.