At just 26, AJ Shaw has interned at Bosch, BMW, and Tesla, spent three years working at Microsoft, and earned a Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management from MIT. Now, as he begins a new chapter as a Program Manager at Google, we spoke with AJ about his journey, the lessons he’s learned, and his plans for the future as he transitions from the halls of MIT to the tech hub of Atlanta.
Can you share a little about your background?
I’m from Troy, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Growing up, I was really into sports—played youth soccer, and football, and later picked up lacrosse. But I always focused on school as well, which was something my family emphasized a lot. My twin sister and I were both very academically motivated, and there was a bit of a friendly rivalry between us.
What did your parents do for a living?
My dad worked for General Motors in logistics planning, and my mom is a medical assistant. My dad’s work definitely influenced my interest in the supply chain, especially since he was in the auto industry. My dad and his dad both went to Michigan State University, so I became a third-generation Spartan. The school has a well-known supply chain program, which was a big factor in my decision to study there.
What did you study at Michigan State?
I earned my degree in Applied Engineering Sciences, which is part of the School of Engineering. I chose a concentration in supply chain, so I took a mix of engineering, business, and supply chain courses. I figured it was a great way to build my skills in both technical and business areas.
Did you enjoy those classes?
Definitely. I found them really interesting, especially the supply chain ones. It was interesting to take classes and work with engineers versus working with business school students on supply chain marketing. It was insightful because, in the workforce, you see many different types of people with different strengths and weaknesses. It was great preparation for working with diverse teams in the workforce. Plus, I liked how we’d use real-world examples and case studies to learn.
Were you a good student in college?
Yes, I was pretty focused and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. But I also got to be involved in some other stuff like club lacrosse and an honors fraternity. My sister ended up going to the University of Michigan, so we had a bit of a rivalry there as well. She went into neuroscience, which was a completely different path from mine.
What was your first internship?
My first internship was with Bosch, where I worked on conflict minerals sourcing and reached out to suppliers around the world to make sure everything complied. I took a semester off during the spring of my sophomore year to work there full-time, but it was worth it. I was commuting from my parents’ house in Troy, Michigan, to Novi, which took about 45 minutes to an hour.
Was it tough to leave college when you’re barely 20 to move back home for a full-time internship?
It was a tough decision but I didn’t have an internship after my freshman year and wanted some real-world experience. My only concern about leaving school was if I’d be able to stay on track to graduate on time. But I brought in a lot of AP credits from high school that I was able to use.
What did you learn from that internship at Bosch?
Bosch is a very large company so it was great that I was able to get a foot in the door at a Fortune 500 company. It mostly helped me because it was my first corporate job, so I learned a lot about what an internship is like, what responsibilities I could take on, and what I liked and disliked about future internships.
Speaking of future internships, tell me about your time at Creative Techniques?
It was a smaller packaging company that 3D printed its products. It was a very hands-on experience, and I wore a lot of different hats—from working on CAD drawings to helping assemble parts on the shop floor or talking to different companies they supplied. It was a great exposure as I got to go on the factory floor and do the work. It was a smaller company than Bosch so I had more flexibility and got to see more of the business instead of being stuck in a specific role.
How did your internship experience at BMW come about?
A: I was planning on going back to school that fall for my junior year when BMW reached out and expressed interest in me. Again, I had to do some research and see if I could graduate on time. But I figured BMW was a top-tier company and it sounded like a great experience going down to their plant in South Carolina and helping with new model vehicles and helping electrify their fleet. I worked with my counselors at Michigan State and saw that if I did some online classes, I could still stay on schedule to graduate in four years. So I decided I was gonna take that leap. It was my first time moving somewhere else too.
I imagine getting a call from BMW was pretty exciting. Do you remember it?
Yeah, it’s funny because they left me a voicemail but I couldn’t hear what they were saying because the recording was muffled. At first, I was like, “Whatever,” then I realized I should at least call back to find out more. So I called back and they told me they were interviewing for an internship. I was glad I made that callback.
What was it like working at BMW?
It was a great experience working at a Tier 1 auto company and seeing their manufacturing process. At the time, their hybrid vehicles were brand new so I saw how they could integrate that into the current process flow without slowing it down. Working at a large scale manufacturing facility has its learning curves and understanding the processes was a transition but I was glad I had that earlier manufacturing experience to at least get a sense of what it was like.
Was it tough to pack up your life and move to South Carolina for that internship?
There were a bunch of other interns so I had people my age, and most were also from Big Ten schools and a few students from Germany. We all became friends and did a lot of things together, so that helped.
Your last internship was at Tesla. How did that compare to BMW?
It was 2019, and at the time, Tesla felt more like a startup, but there was a lot more responsibility placed on interns. I was a Global Supply Management intern on the purchasing side, working on indirect components—things that didn’t go on the car—ranging from IT networking hardware for some of their facilities to uniforms for their service centers. I worked on everything under the sun. It was nice to have a lot of small commodities to own. I really enjoyed the culture at Tesla—it was fast-paced and innovative, and I had a lot more responsibilities compared to BMW.
However, I enjoyed BMW more in terms of the work itself, as I was involved in a new product that was super interesting to me. But from a cultural perspective, I preferred Tesla because of the responsibility and the opportunity to wear many different hats. I also noticed that at Tesla, everyone was super motivated, loved the product, and was willing to go above and beyond to help others solve problems they were also passionate about. There was a lot of camaraderie in that way.
After graduating, you landed a job at Microsoft. How did the pandemic affect your plans?
I graduated in 2020, right when the pandemic hit. I had already secured a job at Microsoft in the fall, but instead of moving to Washington as planned, I ended up working remotely from Michigan. Eventually, the company started to go back to the office but they told me I could stay in Michigan. I was working with teams in both Europe and Washington, so the time zone difference worked out in my favor.
What were you doing at Microsoft?
I was a Technical Program Manager, overseeing data center deployments. My job was to bring together different stakeholders to successfully deploy new data centers across the world. I was there for three years before deciding to attend grad school at MIT.
How did MIT come into the picture?
A: During my senior year at Michigan State, I applied for the MIT Supply Chain Program‘s Supply Chain Excellence Award, which offers partial scholarships to top supply chain students. You only have five years from when you graduate to enroll. I received the award, and after working at Microsoft for a few years, I decided to pursue the program, which was just one year. I graduated this past May.
What did you think of MIT?
A: MIT was an amazing experience. The program was very flexible, allowing me to focus on what I was most interested in. Beyond the classroom, I got a lot of advice and support from the alumni network. Everyone was so helpful, and it was great to connect with people from different industries and roles. Unfortunately, I moved away about two weeks before the Celtics won the championship so I missed out on the celebration.
And now you’re moving to Atlanta for a new role at Google?
Yes, I’ll be starting as a Program Manager in the data center space at Google. It’s similar to what I was doing at Microsoft but with some new challenges and learning opportunities. I’m excited about the move and the new role. Being early in my career, it’s important to try something new. I absolutely loved Microsoft but I’m excited to try something new—from the work itself to the company culture.
Do you have any long-term career goals?
Eventually, I’d like to move into a people management role. I’ve seen a lot of different management styles throughout my career, and I think I’d enjoy helping others develop their careers and play to their strengths.
Would you recommend internships to others in college?
A: Absolutely. Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door, gain experience, and figure out what you want to do. I also recommend considering internships during the school year if you can make it work, as there tends to be less competition for those positions.
What would you say to someone considering a career in the supply chain?
I’d recommend it. There are so many different avenues to explore within the supply chain, from network optimization to digital supply chains. It’s a constantly evolving field with a lot of opportunities, especially with the growth of cloud infrastructure and digital enhancements. And with the supply chain disruptions we’ve seen in recent years, it’s only going to continue growing in importance.
By 24/7 Staff August 19, 2024
