Motivated to Make Impacts On a Global Scale
Rodgers Ndeda
Logistics Datacenter Operations Manager, Microsoft
May 2026
Rodgers Ndeda spent his early life in the bustling port city of Mombasa, Kenya, where he developed an early fascination with logistics.
“Being surrounded by ships, containers and freight activity sparked my passion for supply chain and operations at a young age,” Rodgers says. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to pursue.”
In 2025, he turned his lifelong interest into a major milestone — after just one year of graduate studies, Rodgers earned his master’s degree from the University of Washington’s Master of Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics program.
Along the way, Rodgers earned the Matson Emerging Leaders Fellowship, a $5,000 award recognizing his leadership and promise in the supply chain field. We talked with Rodgers about his experience in the MSCTL degree program and how his UW education prepared him to make an impact in this global industry.
Why was the University of Washington’s MSCTL degree program the right fit for your life and career goals?
After Rodgers earned a bachelor’s degree in transportation, logistics and supply chain management, he launched his professional career with United World Lines, a U.S.-based Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), where he applied his skills across four continents.
Ready to keep his career moving forward, Rodgers discovered that UW’s MSCTL program offered the option he needed to pursue his long-standing goal of earning a graduate degree. In 2024, he enrolled in the MSCTL program, completing the rigorous, one-year program while still working full time.
Rodgers appreciates that the academic experience in the MSCTL degree program aligned with his interests in solving real-world challenges.
“Beyond fulfilling a personal dream, it was also a way to challenge myself academically and prepare for higher-impact roles in global operations, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation,” he says.
How did the UW Master of Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics degree program prepare you for the next steps in your career?
Rodgers says his University of Washington instructors brought deep real-world experience to the classroom. The program’s engineering focus and data-driven curriculum also allowed him to build technical and analytical skills he now applies directly to his work.
After earning his master’s degree, Rodgers started putting his new knowledge to work right away in his next career move — a new role as Logistics Datacenter Operations Manager at Microsoft, where he manages logistics operations across the datacenter environment, supporting compliance, operational continuity and service excellence. His responsibilities span team leadership, inventory and asset management, vendor partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration.
“I aspire to grow into a senior leadership role where I can drive strategic, systemic improvements in supply chain efficiency, foster diversity and equity, and advance sustainability to create global impact,” he says.
How are you using your UW degree to advance your interest in the future of supply chain and logistics?
As the industry grows in scale and complexity — and technology and sustainability shapes its future — Rodgers says he’ll keep building on the knowledge, skills and perspective he gained in the MSCTL degree program.
Looking ahead, Rodgers plans to leverage his industry experience and his MSCTL education to champion sustainable and circular supply chain practices at Microsoft.
“Seeing how the field changes and adapts keeps me motivated,” Rodgers says. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds now that I've earned my degree.”
— Thanks to Rodgers for sharing his 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.
