Makayla Stewart, a student-athlete at Wayne State University, is set to graduate this spring after just three years with a bachelor’s degree in global supply chain management and finance. She will join General Motors full-time in July, following an internship with the company’s Global Purchasing and Supply Chain organization.
Stewart began her studies at Wayne State as a marketing major but switched to finance before discovering supply chain management in an introductory course. She found that combining both majors provided valuable skills for her career goals. “Knowing how businesses make money and how to analyze financial statements is really good background to work in a career in supply chain,” Stewart said.
She has maintained a 3.939 cumulative GPA while actively participating in campus organizations such as Alpha Kappa Psi, the Mike Ilitch School of Business’s professional business fraternity. Stewart credited faculty members Lori Sisk, Jeff Rightmer, John Taylor, and Chao Wu for their support and guidance during her studies. “She is fantastic. She has helped me grow tremendously and given me so many opportunities,” Stewart said about Sisk.
As part of Wayne State’s four-person team—alongside Tasnim Anam, Joseph Burton, and Alejandro Lázaro—Stewart contributed to the university’s first-ever first-place finish at the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) 2025 Global Case Competition held in Orlando, Florida. The team presented its case solution before more than 2,000 professionals and won national recognition along with a cash prize and year-long ISM membership.
In addition to academic achievements, Stewart competed as a thrower on the Wayne State track and field team throughout her college years. Balancing athletics with academics required strong time management skills. “When you spend two or three hours every day with your team, you need to become more efficient with getting your assignments done,” she said.
Her summer internship at GM confirmed her interest in pursuing a career there; she accepted a full-time offer after completing the program. In her new role as a TRACK (Technical Rotation and Career Knowledge) employee at GM, Stewart will rotate through several areas including purchasing and logistics before settling into a permanent position.
As she completes her final athletic season at Wayne State, Stewart mentors younger teammates on the track team while preparing for upcoming competitions such as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet. Reflecting on her time at Wayne State University, she stated: “Wayne State has given me incredible opportunities to grow. I’ve been able to meet so many incredible people that have changed my life for the better, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
