u/vishipanda

Came back from a party and on the way bought the book. How to think like a Roman Emperor and drunk reading it

Hi everyone,

I’m currently pursuing an MBA in Supply Chain & Operations and come from an Army background. I’m trying to transition into the corporate supply chain domain and would really appreciate some honest, ground-level insights from people already working in the field.

My background:

•	Ex-Army (operations, planning, logistics exposure)

•	Currently doing MBA in Supply Chain & Ops

•	Comfortable with Excel (advanced) and SQL

•	Learning Python (NumPy/Pandas) and building supply chain projects (inventory optimization, demand forecasting basics, dashboards etc.)

•	Familiar with tools like Power BI

•	Understanding of concepts like lead time, safety stock, basic analytics

What I want clarity on:

1.	Salary expectations (realistic, not inflated):

•	Entry-level roles post MBA (India)

•	2–3 years experience

•	5-year trajectory (if I perform well)

•	Does ex-Army background add any premium or not really?

2.	Best roles to target initially:

•	Supply Chain Analyst vs Operations Manager vs Procurement vs Planning roles

•	Which role gives best long-term growth + exposure?

3.	Skills that actually matter on the job:

•	How much of Python/ML is actually used?

•	Is SQL + Excel enough to start?

•	Should I focus more on tools (SAP, Oracle) vs analytics?

4.	Projects that really help in getting hired:

•	What kind of projects stand out to recruiters?

•	Any specific real-world datasets or case studies I should build?

5.	Certifications:

•	Is APICS (CPIM/CSCP) worth it early on?

•	Or should I focus on experience first?

6.	Reality check:

•	Work-life balance in supply chain roles

•	Pressure levels vs corporate expectations

•	Differences between FMCG / E-commerce / Manufacturing roles

7.	Transition from Army to Corporate:

•	Any specific challenges I should prepare for?

•	How to position my Army experience in interviews?