From Master’s to Manager in Supply Chains

06-02-2025

For Annelise Clark, choosing the right graduate program meant more than earning her degree. Already working in the industry, she wanted a program that would allow her to balance her career and personal life while learning relevant information to her industry. Graduating in the fall of 2022 with an Online Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management at the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Clark reflects on her journey through the program, paving the way for the possibilities ahead.

Discussing why she picked Purdue’s Daniels School of Business, she immediately mentioned the overall flexibility their online master’s of global supply chain management created. During her 18-month program, she worked full time and was a mother. Having the fully online program approach allowed Clark to complete courses on her time without putting her life on pause.

One of Clark’s most memorable moments in the program came with the birth of her daughter. Clark’s daughter arrived earlier than expected, impacting her ability to work on her courses. Amid the uncertainty, Clark found her professors to be extremely supportive in accommodating her needs. They created a balance where she could still excel academically while ensuring she cared for herself and her family. “It was such a relief to know that at the end of the day, the faculty wants us to excel,” she says.

Clark emphasized the adaptability of the program, allowing her to tailor the number of courses she took at a given time. She was amazed by the availability of elective courses. “My Purdue master’s program gave me the flexibility to choose my electives and shape my career path in the direction I wanted.” Clark took electives in data analytics, leadership and Python, choosing courses that were applicable to her job.

Currently, Clark is an Advanced Planning Manager at Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies, where she leads several teams that utilize data analytics to optimize and forecast supply chain operations. Her role requires daily communication with other departments in the company and reimaging solutions with root cause analysis.

As Advanced Planning Manager, Clark oversees a team focused on mid- to long-term supply chain planning, specifically managing months six through eighteen of the planning cycle. Her daily responsibilities include supervising data management — ensuring that master data across seven different ERP systems is accurate and up-to-date — and overseeing the creation and maintenance of Excel-based analytics tools for forecasting, inventory and capacity planning.

At present, she leads efforts to transition these manual processes into an integrated software solution that will overlay existing ERP systems, aiming to streamline data aggregation and reduce time spent on reactive problem-solving. Clark also manages the challenges of integrating new acquisitions and navigating supply chain complexities like tariffs, all while supporting her team in moving the company toward more proactive, data-driven decision-making.

With her role, Clark faces emerging challenges that influence every stage of the supply chain. She has applied her degree to overcome hurdles by learning how to collaborate with others. She mentions that “the master’s program taught me to navigate working with students with different personalities and backgrounds, allowing me to learn to work together on solving complex problems.” Building her teamwork skills has led to smarter decisions and overall success in her role.

Clark also learned the essential skill of storytelling with data. She keeps a copy of Storytelling with Data, one of her texts from the program handy, pulling it out when she needs to reference it. When presenting to upper leadership, she noted the value of a concise, analytical approach. Her degree taught her how to present data that paints a picture and sets a clear action plan for success.

When asked how she would help professionals evaluating a graduate degree, Clark questions prospective students to uncover their hesitations. For the factors they feel are setting them back, she encourages them to find a school that breaks those barriers and leads to success. “My degree from Purdue gave me the confidence that I needed to export my career to the next level,” Clark shared, and recommends a program that allows you to find the reliability and personal achievements that Purdue has awarded her.