Student Spotlight: Brooks Richardson

Brooks Richardson at Four Kites
August 5 , 2024  |  By Meghan Perry

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT 

Meet Brooks Richardson, an incoming senior from Prosper, Texas who is majoring in supply chain management. He is currently an AI and Data Science Intern in Chicago, Illinois for FourKites, Inc. He is also involved on campus as President of ASCA (Arkansas Supply Chain Association).
 
How did you secure your Summer internship especially in a competitive job market and city like Chicago?
Last fall I traveled with some of our supply chain department faculty and fellow students to CSCMP, a large industry conference in Orlando, Florida. I met some of the FourKites team at their conference booth. After a great conversation with a few of the team members, I maintained the relationship I made at the conference throughout the school year. When we neared summer, I began talking to them about opportunities and that led me to do my internship here!
 
How has your leadership position as president of Arkansas Supply Chain Association prepared you for your internship and for future roles after graduation?
Being a leader in a student organization has been one of the most beneficial opportunities I have had in my time here at Walton. Being surrounded by like minded students that are determined and driven to succeed in the supply chain industry creates an amazing environment for yourself to succeed. Going into my career and internship, I felt extremely prepared to tackle complex problems and come with a wide range of knowledge I have learned as a result of being president of ASCA.
 
What advice would you give to your freshman year self?
My advice to my freshman year self would be two things. One, experience as much as possible. Case studies, school sponsored trips, industry events, and guest speaker events can provide you with early exposure and knowledge about your industry. Getting involved in this way can show you what your industry is like outside of the classroom. Second, make relationships with your faculty. A lot of your professors have spent a [significant] amount of time in the workforce in your field. Building these relationships can open up endless opportunities for you and give you a wider network as you search for jobs/internships.

Meghan PerryMeghan Perry is the marketing and communications specialist for the Sam M. Walton College of Business. She facilitates press releases, digital content and dean communications to promote the work of the students, faculty and staff (always with a cup of coffee or two in hand).

In addition to working in higher education, Meghan has built a career writing and copy editing, specializing government technology, B2B and LinkedIn. She believes in the healing nature of the arts and most recently helped edit the poetry book Plant People, An Anthology of Environmental Artists Vol. 3. In her free time, you can find Meghan enjoying nature walks, burning every batch of muffins she attempts to bake and watching a medieval history documentary.