Pranay Deshpande
Program: Full-Time
Graduation: MBA 2012
Organization/Current title: Apple Inc, Service Operations Project Manager
Q: Why did you choose the NC State Jenkins MBA program for your graduate education?
A: The NC State Jenkins MBA Program had a very strong Supply Chain curriculum which is what primarily attracted me to the program. The NC State staff and faculty were also very responsive and the Office of International Students was very supportive during the entire journey as well.
Q: How did your experience in the program contribute to your professional achievements and successes?
A: Having an industry focused approach with ability to work on actual projects as part of Supply Chain Practicum contributed heavily to my professional success. Being an international student, the course work offered by the program enabled me to understand work culture and develop soft skills necessary thrive in my roles since graduation.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your time in the Jenkins MBA Program?
A: I truly enjoyed my time at the program, it was a great experience to work with my core team (Christian, Rodney and Lan are truly amazing and I learned a lot of different things from each one of them). Looking back, working on case studies for Dr. Warsing’s or Dr. Stonebreaker’s was also a very interesting experience.
Q: What do you miss most now that you have graduated?
A: Spending time on campus was something I enjoyed, be it at the Library or Zaxby’s across the street. Visiting Hillsborough street and grabbing a bite to eat every once in a while is something I truly miss. midnight donuts and coffee at the library during finals week is a memory I continue to treasure.
Q: What are a few of the most impactful classes/lessons you learned during your time at NC State?
A: Working with Dr. Handfield on his projects was very impactful and rewarding. Classes like 541 and Practicum were also very helpful. Dr. Stonebreaker offered a class that covered basic statistics and excel skills that continue to be valuable every day.
Q: What are your lasting impressions of the Jenkins MBA program?
A: Being an international student, NC State was my first introduction to America, my core-team and classmates was extremely supportive and helpful during the entire 2 years at the program.
Q: What advice do you have for prospective Jenkins MBA students?
A: NC State offers a solid MBA program and you will definitely have exposure to actual problem solving that impacts business strategy here
Q: What advice would you give for prospective and current students who are interested in your industry/profession?
A: For students who are interested in Supply Chain and Tech, I would advise them to have an open mind. Most times skillsets are transferable and having general problem solving skills and a focus on helping customers can go a long way.
Q: Could you give a brief explanation of your current line of work, and what has led you to it?
A: I am currently working with Apple as a Service Operations Project Manager. After NC State, I took up a Management Consulting Role, then worked for a German conglomerate with focus on metals before transitioning to Apple.
Q: What do you believe is your most interesting accomplishment since graduation?
A: There have been many interesting accomplishments where I have delivered real business impact and improved customer experiences.
Q: What are your goals and plans for the future?
A: Continue to excel in my future roles and improve customer experiences by developing innovative supply chain solutions