Ria Verma’s path to the supply chain world might seem like a no-brainer in hindsight, given her parents’ careers—her dad, a veteran ship captain in the Merchant Marines, and her mom, a computer programmer. “My dad has been a ship captain for over 30 years, so he knows logistics inside out, literally from being on the ocean and working with freight and container ships,” she shared. But for Ria, a first-generation Indian American, there were more exciting plans. “I actually wanted to be a lawyer for most of my childhood. I thought, ‘My sister’s a doctor, so I’ll be a lawyer,’” she laughed.
Taking Her Talents to Tempe
Ria followed through with her plan during her first two years at Arizona State University, diving into pre-law while developing an interest in economics. From academics to meeting lifelong friends, it was an experience she’ll never forget. “ASU might have a reputation, but I loved it there and will stand by ASU forever,” Ria said, reflecting on her time at the university. “It’s a big public institution, but if you want to find opportunities, they’re there. The resources are amazing, and the people are humble but incredibly challenging and supportive.”
Ria was also part of the Honors College at ASU, which offered her a more intimate academic experience during her first two years. “Being in the Honors College meant being on a different side of campus, surrounded by other honor students. It was a smaller, tight-knit community, and I learned a lot from them,” she recalled. This environment, combined with her involvement in various clubs and her membership in the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, helped her build a strong social and academic network. “I had a very active social life alongside school, and having friends with the same mentality really kept me grounded and focused on my goals,” Ria said.
However, her academic path changed after her sophomore year when she landed an internship at W.L. Gore & Associates. It was there that she was introduced to the world of supply chain management, an experience that completely shifted her career trajectory. “That experience really changed everything for me, and I ended up adding supply chain as a double major,” she explained. Upon returning to campus, she enrolled in industrial engineering statistics courses to dive deeper into the technical side of the business. What once seemed like a clear path to the courtroom was quickly replaced by an unexpected passion for the supply chain.
Despite being accepted into other competitive programs out of state, Ria chose to stay at ASU for her undergraduate education, valuing the balance of academic rigor and affordability it offered. “I didn’t want to hash out so much money for undergrad. And I knew that ASU would allow me to achieve everything I wanted academically,” she said.
Next Stop: Seattle
At the end of her junior year, Ria packed up and moved to Seattle for a summer internship at Microsoft. Continuing to flex her technical muscles, Ria was assigned to a machine learning project that would later become her honors thesis at ASU. As part of Microsoft’s first-ever Supply Chain rotational program, she immersed herself in learning the ins and outs of demand planning, channel management, and data science. “Microsoft was an amazing internship experience,” Ria recalled. “But it was also nerve-wracking because I really wanted to get a full-time offer.” Her hard work paid off, and by the time she graduated, there was an offer waiting for her to join Microsoft as a full-time employee.
Reflecting on her journey, Ria credits her internships for setting her on the path to success. “They’re crucial for getting your foot in the door and gaining job experience. They also help you figure out what you actually want to do by allowing you to try different things.” For Ria, the hands-on experience she gained at Microsoft during her internship not only solidified her interest in the technical side of supply chain management but also gave her the confidence to pursue it further.
However, Ria wasn’t one to rest on her laurels. Upon accepting the full-time position at Microsoft, she immediately sought ways to continue growing her expertise. She enrolled in online courses to deepen her understanding of data science and machine learning, areas she knew would be critical for her future. “I didn’t have to do any of that, but I wanted to make that transition into a more technical role,” she explained. Her dedication paid off, and after two years, she officially became a data scientist at Microsoft.
A Leap to MIT
Despite her success at Microsoft, Ria felt a pull to go back to school and learn more. While at ASU, she won the Supply Chain Excellence Award through a partnership with MIT, which included a conditional acceptance and a small scholarship to attend their famous Supply Chain Management graduate program. But the decision to go back to school wasn’t an easy one, particularly because of the financial implications. “Financially, it was a big decision,” Ria recalled. “But I received the UPS Fellowship award for MIT, which granted me a full tuition scholarship. That was one of the happiest days, ever.”
With the financial burden lifted, Ria was able to fully immerse herself in the one-year program, and it turned out to be everything she had hoped for and more. “It was one of the best years of my life,” she reflected. “I went in thinking I’d just learn technical skills, but I came out with so much more.”
MIT’s program was unique not only for its technical depth but also for the strong sense of community with her fellow students. She found herself surrounded by like-minded individuals from around the world, each bringing their own perspectives and experiences to the table. “The community at MIT was incredibly supportive,” she said. “I made some of my best friends, and we still keep in touch regularly. We have a group chat where we share updates, celebrate each other’s successes, and even help each other with career advice.”
One of the highlights of her time at MIT was working on a Capstone Project that involved applying generative AI technology to optimize supply chain operations for a global pharmaceutical company. The project was so successful that the company hired her and her partner to continue their research beyond graduation, and Ria hopes to have another paper published this year on the topic.
The Next Chapter
Now based in New York City, Ria recently began a new position as a Senior Data Scientist at 84.51°, a retail data science, insights, and media company. And like most newcomers to NYC, she’s making the most of the experience. “One of my main interests now is creating a work-life balance where it’s about developing a community. I’ve been living out of a suitcase for the last two months, hopping from place to place, and I’m embracing the lifestyle. It’s probably the last time in my life that I live so freely, but it gives me a really good perspective on my personal development as I try new things.”
As for the future, Ria envisions going back to school again, but maybe this time as a professor. “I stay really close to my professors at ASU and MIT, and my hope is that one day I can come back as an adjunct professor or something. That’s one of my North Stars.”
By 24/7 Staff August 29, 2024