Supply chain master's student Karthik Vadlamani seizes opportunity to build knowledge

Karthik Vadlamani (MS-SCM '25) quickly realized the importance of supply chain as he began working after his undergraduate studies. This led him to ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business for the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management (MS-SCM) program.

Nearly every business relies on the behind-the-scenes world of logistics and the global supply chain in its daily operations. This has led to increased opportunities across industries for those with skills and expertise in supply chain management.

Karthik Vadlamani (MS-SCM '25) quickly realized the importance of this area of business as he began working after his undergraduate studies. "I was actively working on a couple of startups: one in EdTech, and another in green energy," he says.

"Both ventures required a strong understanding of operations, logistics, and efficient resource management, which made me increasingly aware of the importance of supply chain processes in business success."

This led him to decide to pursue a supply chain-related graduate education, bringing him to ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business for the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management (MS-SCM) program.

W. P. Carey News spoke to Vadlamani about his choice to join the MS-SCM program, how it has changed his perspective on business, and how he sees his career unfolding after graduation.

Why W. P. Carey?

Vadlamani graduated with a bachelor's in international business before beginning his career in the world of tech startups. Working in this kind of environment gave him a look at how much businesses rely on their supply chains to be successful. This helped him appreciate the importance of global logistics and sparked a new interest for him.

While visiting the United States last year, Vadlamani came across the MS-SCM program at the W. P. Carey School of Business and was instantly intrigued. "I realized that supply chain was a fundamental aspect of the projects I was working on," he says.

He adds, "The accelerated 9-month format was particularly appealing, as it offered a fast-paced, immersive experience that aligned with my goals of quickly gaining expertise and applying it to real-world challenges." He quickly applied for the program, eager to gain a better understanding of supply chain management to go along with his previous business knowledge.

Not only was Vadlamani impressed by W. P. Carey and the highly ranked Department of Supply Chain Management, but he was also inspired by the charter and mission of ASU as a whole.

"If it weren’t for President Crow’s vision of ASU being 'measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed,' I probably wouldn’t be here," Vadlamani says. "I had bad academic credentials, but I’ve gone from failing semesters to acing them."

Why supply chain?

Beginning his career at different startups gave Vadlamani a strong appreciation for the importance of supply chain, logistics, and operations across the business world.

Vadlamani already has knowledge and experience in global business operations, as evidenced by his undergraduate degree in international business and work experience in the U.S. and India. He also has an entrepreneurial streak heightened by his previous work at startups.

He hopes to combine all that knowledge, experience, and passion with the skills he's gaining through the supply chain management program in his post-graduation career as a supply chain consultant.

Going through the MS-SCM program has given Vadlamani a deeper understanding of supply chain and global logistics, as well as a stronger appreciation for some of the tools that are essential to the industry.

"I absolutely hated Excel and struggled in my Decision Models class with Professor Byers since everything was based in Excel," Vadlamani says. "But somewhere along the way, I actually fell in love with it. I even kind of miss the weekly challenge questions! It changed my perspective because I realized how integral it is in business."

What's next?

Still early in his business career, Vadlamani wants to continue learning even after graduation. He believes that a position like supply chain consultant would be a perfect fit for him, exposing him to a variety of businesses and industries all at one job.

He also has more long-term, impactful goals for his future career. "I hope to contribute meaningfully to redesigning supply chains for the future, making them more efficient and resilient," he says.

He encourages future students to come to W. P. Carey with an open mind and a flexible vision for where their career may go.

"Don’t come here trying to calculate every step of how you’ll get a job and what exactly you’ll do next," he says. "Just fall in love with the subjects, the knowledge, and the process. Everything else will line up."