Strategy & Skills for the Future of Supply Chain
Kathy Allen
Founder & Intra/Entrepreneur
February 2026
Entrepreneur Kathy Allen is experienced in optimizing supply chains and managing exports across Asia. When COVID-19 disrupted global logistics and operations, she saw firsthand what can happen when supply chains are fragile.
“Watching a lot of the supply chains break during the pandemic just cemented one of my greatest fears: systems that aren’t flexible will eventually break,” she says.
To stay ahead of emerging challenges, Kathy enrolled in the UW Master of Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics degree program, determined to sharpen her leadership skills and learn how to modernize processes — all while continuing to run her business.
A 2025 graduate, Kathy earned her degree in one year. Along the way, she achieved an almost 4.0 GPA, and the program recognized her academic excellence with an SCTL Outstanding Student Scholarship to support her learning journey. We talked with Kathy about her experience in the UW’s SCTL degree program and why innovation and flexibility are vital for modern supply chain operations.
How did the UW Master of Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics degree program prepare you to run day-to-day business operations?
Kathy’s experience includes founding a company that exported agricultural goods from the West Coast of the United States to markets across Asia. She managed the full end-to-end process of international and domestic shipping, from sourcing to delivery, and maintained long-standing relationships with partners across the supply chain.
“It’s my job to make sure quality products make it to their destination on time to ensure factory production is never disrupted,” she says. “This program taught me that I didn’t know what I didn’t know. It opened my eyes to opportunities in the field I had never considered.”
Why was the University of Washington’s SCTL degree program the right fit for your life and career goals?
Kathy says she was drawn to the practical, career-aligned curriculum. She says courses like Freight Transportation and Emerging Autonomous Systems directly connect to the work she does every day — and prepared her to take on new responsibilities in the future.
She approached the SCTL program as a way to sharpen her leadership skills, embrace new technologies and grow her business. Plus, through coursework and experiences like Residency Weekend, she connected with a supportive network among her peers in the program.
“It seemed like a goldmine of knowledge,” Kathy says. “Also, it worked very pragmatically for me, since I’m a working single mom and the classes are offered online in the evenings.”
How are you using your UW degree to advance your interest in the future of supply chain and logistics?
Kathy says the SCTL program helped her explore business possibilities in supply chain and logistics, and after graduation, she was well prepared to open a new chapter in her career.
Combined with her entrepreneurial drive, Kathy says her SCTL degree gave her advanced knowledge and skills she can use to make new impacts in the industry.
“Change is inevitable,” she says. “Now I have the tools to adapt to whatever the future holds, make smart strategic decisions, and build a more resilient and sustainable future.”
— Thanks to Kathy for sharing her story! This Q&A has been edited and condensed for clarity. To learn more about scholarships and other graduate funding opportunities, visit our Costs & Aid page.
