For the first time in the school’s history, a student graduating from an online program is a featured speaker during the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business’ graduate hooding ceremony. Yolanda Buendia Barrientos, who is graduating from Haslam’s Master of Science in Supply Chain Management Online (MS SCM Online), traveled from her home in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, for the occasion.
A Program Exemplar
Buendia Barrientos poses in front of the Haslam Business Building
Buendia Barrientos was selected for this honor because she represents both a commitment to academic excellence and the Volunteer Spirit. Amy Cathey, Haslam’s associate dean for graduate and executive education, believes Buendia Barrientos epitomizes the qualities Haslam faculty and staff hope to see in their students.
“With her intelligence, dedication and generosity of spirit, Yolanda is an outstanding representative for the MS SCM program and Haslam’s graduate and executive education programs as a whole,” Cathey says.
Buendia Barrientos feels honored and grateful to be invited to speak at the hooding ceremony.
“I know speaking at a university-wide graduation ceremony is an amazing recognition,” she says. “I only hope to proudly represent all my fellow graduates at UT, the Haslam College of Business and also all the Latino community.”
Learning in a Supportive, Rigorous Program
Her degree from UT is Buendia Barrientos’s second master’s degree. With 19 years of business experience, she elected to earn a second master’s degree using a scholarship provided by her employer, automotive giant Cummins Inc. She wanted to obtain a degree from a U.S. university with respected credentials, through which she could gain an in-depth understanding of end-to-end supply chain. Haslam delivered for her. Through the program, she enhanced skills like time management, critical thinking, leadership and collaboration.
In the online program, Buendia Barrientos also experienced teamwork in a global environment with different industries and functions. She further cited the program’s communication component as challenging her in novel ways.
“Specifically, doing executive summaries was new for me, as I had to align them with faculty standards,” she explained.
Buendia Barrientos also was impressed with the exceptional support she received from the staff and faculty.
“It was extensive,” she says. “From Pam Donovan, director of the MS SCM Online program, online program manager, Hannah Carter, and her assistant, Taylor Husted, and from the faculty, all the time reachable to resolve doubts, provide wisdom, mentoring and constructive feedback during the courses.”
Advancing Company Aims
Cummins plans to create an integrated, efficient supply chain positioned to lead in an ever-changing world. Combining her MS training with her multicultural, global perspective on supply chain from her work in regional and corporate roles, Buendia Barrientos can stay ahead in the dynamic field of supply chain and further her career at Cummins.
“Employees play a critical role in achieving Cummins’ goals, so obtaining the knowledge from this master’s program allows me to contribute to my company’s goal,” she says.
Pursuing More Than Career Goals
Beyond her work in the automotive industry, Buendia Barrientos is passionate about supporting her communities. She has been an active member of Cummins’s Every Employee, Every Community program since 2003. The program enables her to volunteer with several nongovernmental organizations, where she helped implement Six Sigma and project management tools. She received an Every Employee, Every Community award for this philanthropic work.
Unleashing the full potential of Latina women by creating an attractive and equal work environment is another of Buendia’s ambitions. She deployed a Six Sigma project, Leading Gender Equity, which won the Global Business Award at her organization and was the basis for its Women’s Mentoring Program. More than 60 women have advanced their personal and professional development through the program since its implementation in 2020.
Buendia Barrientos is an active lay member in her Catholic community. For seven years she led spiritual retreats for young single professionals, and for more than 13 years she has been a catechist at her local parish, sharing how her faith has contributed to her inner strength and resilience.
CONTACT:
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Scott McNutt, business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu
