Cody Scott does Dhillon School of Business proud with international recognition

Bachelor of Management (BMgt) student, Cody Scott is embracing every opportunity he can when it comes to his education at the University of Lethbridge. So when the option to take part in Co-operative Education presented itself, the General Management major and supply chain and operations management minor did not hesitate. The Dhillon School of Business (DSB) student knew co-op was part of the plan to help set him on the right path. However, one major opportunity that arose from Cody's first co-op work term was something he never would have predicted.

Why did you choose DSB?

After completing my two-year college diploma in Nelson B.C., I wanted to further my studies in business and the University of Lethbridge had a transferability agreement in place with my college. Being able to continue my studies, building off what I previously learned and not having to start from scratch was why I chose ULethbridge.

Tell us about your co-operative work experience and the best thing about co-op?

My one-year work term was at a global energy company called CNOOC International was a major learning experience in all respects. The start of my term was primarily dedicated to learning the internal system of the company and the day-to-day operations. I showed competency within those tasks and was provided additional tasks that challenged my learning and allowed me to grow. The final months of my work term have been imparting my knowledge to new employees and assisting with running the portfolio. The best thing about my co-op experience was being able to learn from individuals who have been in the industry for many years.

What is the World Commerce and Contracting Leaders of the Future competition and how did you get involved?

The Leaders of the Future program provides the opportunity for a new generation of commercial and contract managers to gain fresh insight into key topics that are impacting the industry. I was nominated by a team lead at CNOOC International to participate as a team member in the competition. There were a total of five people on my team: myself and our mentor in Canada, two from the USA and one from Guatemala. Since the competition was held online we utilized zoom, teams and other social mediums to stay connected throughout the entire process.

Where did you place in the competition?

It was a very close competition, but we ended up winning! Our team was dynamic in that we did not assign each person a different role but we all came together to work collaboratively on each task. I think our success came from gathering information from experienced individuals in our respective industry. We brainstormed unique and interesting ways to present our information and collaborated with our mentor to analyze our data. The competition allowed me to gain tremendous insight into the industry and I was able to make lasting connections.

What is your most memorable ULethbridge experience?

My most memorable ULethbridge experience was being a team member on the Dhillon Business Students' Association. Being able to connect with like-minded individuals in the association to provide a better experience for students at ULethbridge was very rewarding and memorable.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time in DSB, and what advice would you give others about to begin their journey?

Use all the resources at your disposal. This includes the professors, other students and teacher's assistants. We all have the same vision of wanting to succeed in our studies. Being able to utilize your resources and help others to achieve this vision has been the most important lesson. For those about to begin their journey, enjoy the experience and make as many connections as possible. It can be stressful at times, but this is one of the most exciting times of your life. The connections you make can open up doors that you wouldn't have known were there.

What are your hopes and plans for the future?

I plan to continue in the supply chain industry after I graduate. I will be starting a new graduate leadership role at PepsiCo. in September that I am very excited for. Down the road I hope to be in a senior management position where I can influence and directly impact the supply chain industry.

The Dhillon School of Business at the University of Lethbridge is known for its immersive experiential learning opportunities, connecting learners with industry, its supportive, personalized approach and for exposing students to emerging technology. Study options are available in both Lethbridge and Calgary.