Getting out of your comfort zone

Jessica Dela Cruz has undertaken many different journeys since moving from the Philippines to her first Canadian home in a small Saskatchewan town. Most recently, she was able to successfully change her career for the better using the skills and knowledge she gained in Mount Royal’s Supply Chain Management Extension Certificate program.

Supply chain management is an integral part of business operations that has been thrust into the spotlight. Jobs in supply chain management involve coordinating the movement of goods from suppliers to customers. Problem-solving and critical thinking skills are of paramount importance. Mount Royal’s programming ensures that learners are educated about how the latest developments in technology, sustainability and risk management can add value to businesses, consumers and the economy.

Dela Cruz says the support she receives from the instructors and her peers in the program, along with the theoretical and practical knowledge she’s acquired, have been instrumental in helping her to not only make a career change, but to get a job in supply chain management while still taking classes toward her certificate.

A change for the better

On-theme with her dream of becoming a chef, Dela Cruz graduated with a degree in food science and technology in her native Philippines. When she first moved to Canada, she took different jobs to make ends meet before landing a role in quality assurance at Aurora Cannabis. The role lent itself to naturally learning about supply chain, Dela Cruz said, as she was developing operational procedures and assisting with logistics, procurement, distribution, shipping and receiving. Although there wasn’t an available position in supply chain in the company at the time, she decided to start learning more.

“When we moved to Alberta in 2022, I started looking for schools that would offer courses in supply chain. I did some researching and found MRU. I chose it because the courses would help me understand more about the career I wanted, and also because MRU is a university and an established school that everybody wants to get into.”

After starting in the introductory course taught by Jason Riley, Dela Cruz knew for certain that this was the right path for her. She also particularly enjoyed the procurement course taught by Sherri Pelesky and having the opportunity to learn from her instructors and classmates alike.

“The instructors made a huge impact on me,” she says. “They always made themselves available, even outside of class hours, to answer my questions and give advice.”

While taking the inventory and warehousing course with Andrew Mardon, Dela Cruz decided to take a chance and apply for a supply chain role in January 2024. It ended up being perfect timing. “The interview questions and our discussion were mostly about inventory and warehousing, so I was very confident when answering the questions. It was just so amazing.

I got the job! And my next course is about planning and scheduling, which is going to be a huge part of my new job. So the courses will absolutely help me to be successful in this job.”

The road ahead

Dela Cruz believes that having Mount Royal on her resume was a helpful factor in being chosen to interview, as was demonstrating her willingness to learn.

“When you’re having a discussion with your future employer, it matters that you explain your passion. I told them that I’m making an effort to understand this job and that's why I’m studying at MRU. I think they really liked that,” she explains. "I'm naturally a shy person, so my instructors also gave me the good advice to be sure to make conversation with my boss and my colleagues."

Her job now involves problem-solving, planning and strategizing to improve processes, one of which is exploring how to use more environmentally safe materials in her company’s product packaging.

“I’m not done with my supply chain certificate yet, but I’m already looking to take the Supply Chain Resilience and Scope 3 Reporting micro-credential in ESG, because it is very important to consider the materials we’re using,” she says.

As she looks ahead to her future, Dela Cruz says that the move to Alberta and her studies at MRU have been positive steps for her family. Her husband currently works in quality assurance and they have two sons who are seven and 12 years old. While she’s loving her role in supply chain, her longtime dream of being a chef is still alive. “When we first moved to Alberta, I didn’t have a job for a few months, so I started developing my cake business,” she tells. “It’s a Filipino cake that is very popular. I am working on getting AHS certification now, and hope to sell it in the local markets soon!”

Dela Cruz has four more courses remaining until she earns her certificate, and plans to continue. “The program really helped me understand more about what I really want to be, and what direction I really want to take my career. It made me confident in myself and what I’m doing right now.”

Courses for Mount Royal's Supply Chain Management Extension Certificate and Supply Chain and Scope 3 Reporting micro-credential are currently open for registration. Visit the program pages to learn more and apply.

* Please note the Supply Chain and Scope 3 Reporting is a standalone course and does not ladder to an extension certificate