Graduating senior Joshua Taylor, a supply chain management major from Houston, Texas, came to Howard University with a completely different career path in mind. As a standout member of the Howard University School of Business community, Taylor spent his college career as a beacon of professionalism for his fellow students. 

“I do my best to make sure that everybody knows that if Josh can help you, he will, and if not, he will do his best to find somebody who can help you,” said Taylor. “Over the past four years, I’ve done my best to put myself in positions of leadership, so I can be that beacon of light that I had in my freshman year.” 

Coming from a high school where there were only three other Black students in his graduating class, Taylor applied to Howard as a management major with aspirations to work in sports management.   

“I knew I wanted to graduate not only knowing more about what it means to be a Black man in America, but also what it means to be a Black professional in America,” said Taylor. “When I was looking at the best places to do that, Howard University was at the top of the list.” 

Discovering a New Path 

Taylor’s first introduction to supply chain came during freshman orientation. Taylor recounts Professor Tanya Penny Woods telling the freshman class that they all would be supply chain management majors by graduation. At the time, he knew nothing about the field, but little did he know that projection would soon become true for him. 

Taylor’s most transformative experience at Howard came in the form of the 21st Century Advantage Program, a requirement for all first-year students at the School of Business. Coordinated by Melissia Gould, the program partners with corporations such as Mastercard, Deloitte, and PwC to help School of Business students develop foundational business skills and guide participation in case study competitions, and scholarship and networkingopportunities. As a freshman, Taylor excelled in the program and was named MVP of his team.  

His success in the program earned him a spot as a mentor for the incoming freshman class during his sophomore year. Taylor’s experience as a mentor helped him evolve from a good student to an engaged student leader. As a mentor, Taylor was assigned a group of 22 students to guide through their first-year experience. His students won team of the year at the end of the program. Two of his mentees won MVP awards, three of them won $5,000 scholarships, and Taylor himself won a $10,000 scholarship as team leader.  

“Josh always had that spark!” said Gould. “Having the opportunity to witness his growth as a young man and development as a professional has been incredible. He took full advantage of every opportunity to serve and faced each challenge with poise and integrity. He is a stellar example to his peers and an amazing representation of the caliber of students here in the School of Business.” 

After taking on a procurement internship at Rockwell Collins during his sophomore year, Taylor switched his major to supply chain management. In January 2025, he became involved in the university’s Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management, directed by Woods. The center provided him with the opportunity to travel the country for case study competitions, network with professionals from global corporations, and connect with companies who have offered him various career opportunities.  

Taylor completed his Howard journey as vice president of the Howard University School of Business Student Council and will return home to Houston after graduation for a rotational supply chain program at HP Inc. His long-term goal remains to work in professional sports as a supply chain and procurement professional. 

“For anybody looking to be a Black professional, I don't know that there is anywhere better to be than the Howard University School of Business,” Taylor said. “One thing I really appreciate is how this school broke down my boundaries and exposed me to so many new things, so that I know, wherever I go, there’s nothing that the world will be able to throw at me that I can’t handle. It has made me so much more resilient, insightful, and creative. Having spoken to a lot of business students across the country at other highly competitive institutions, I haven't met any group that's as prepared as a collective than Howard University students.”