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Balancing Career and Graduate School: Shilpa Nanja’s (MSOTM ’25) Journey to a Nike Supply Chain Analyst Role
Two-time UP alum, Shilpa Nanja, BS ’17, MSOTM ’25, is a problem-solver at heart.
After earning her BS in computer science in 2017 and working as a software and firmware engineer at Intel, she wanted to strengthen her business and operations skill set.
So, she returned to University of Portland to pursue her graduate degree in Operations and Technology Management. With its small class sizes and strong sense of community, “UP felt like the right place to continue growing both personally and professionally,” she said.
Keys to Success in a Fast-Paced MSOTM Program: Time Management and Mentorship
Attending graduate school can be a balancing act, and that was no different for Shilpa. She had professional responsibilities, family obligations, financial concerns, and her own well-being to consider—like having time to play tennis or go to Trail Blazers games with her partner. Shilpa addressed how she balanced all of this, including moments of self-doubt.
“What helped most was being really intentional with my time and speaking up early when I needed help,” she said. She also attributes her success in the program to “a great support system of family and friends, mentors who encouraged me to keep investing in myself, and the Master of Science in Operations and Technology Management professors and classmates who gave me the confidence that I was right where I needed to be.” She finished the program in one year. Through hands-on projects, collaboration, and mentors who challenged her, she learned to anticipate change rather than react to it—growing into a forward-thinking leader who sees possibility where others see uncertainty.
Driving Data-Driven Decisions in Omnichannel Operations at Nike
After getting her master’s degree in operations technology management, Shilpa secured a job at Nike as a Supply Chain Business Analyst. In her role, she supports supply chain and omnichannel operations, partnering with cross-functional teams to analyze processes, use data to drive more efficient, scalable solutions, and improve how products move through the business from end to end.
“One of the biggest things I got out of the MSOTM program was the ability to apply what I was learning to real-world problems,” she said. “Coming from a more technical background at Intel, the program helped me build the business and operations side of my skill set.”
Why Recommend MSOTM? A Collaborative Mix of Technical and Business Acumen
When asked why she would recommend the MSOTM program, she said it offers a great mix of both technical and business skills in a collaborative environment. While she acknowledges that it’s a challenging program, she also said that the support she received from the professors throughout the program helped her to succeed.
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School of Business Graduate Programs Overview
Master of Science in Operations and Technology Management
Bachelor of Business Administration in Operations and Technology Management
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