For international graduate students navigating the competitive American corporate landscape, the transition from academic theory to executive-level practice can be a daunting hurdle. Yet, for University of California, Riverside (UCR) Professional MBA candidate Paul Lawrenz Ong, that transition was marked by a series of high-stakes presentations delivered directly to senior vice presidents and directors at one of the world’s most recognizable toy manufacturers.
Before enrolling at the UCR School of Business, Ong built a solid foundation in technology and analytics. He earned a Bachelor of Science in information technology, specializing in service management and business analytics, from the FEU Institute of Technology. He then spent about four years applying those skills at global companies, including Nestlé, Tribal Software, and Arbour Group, where he worked as a business intelligence specialist supporting Cencora.
When searching for an MBA program, Ong sought an institution that could offer more than classroom instruction; he required an environment that could actively prepare him to communicate and lead in the global market and allow him to focus on analytics and supply chain. He found both at UCR, specifically pointing to the Graduate Student Success team’s hands-on workshops.
"Coming in as an international student, I needed more than theory," Ong explained. "I needed real practice on how to network, negotiate, and show up with confidence in front of American professionals. That is exactly what I got."
This rigorous preparation was put to the test in summer 2026, when Ong secured a highly competitive internship as a graduate data analyst within the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) logistics division at Mattel.
Ong integrated himself into the operational core of Mattel’s supply chain to design and build three production Tableau dashboards: Open Order Aging, On-Hand Inventory, and Location Utilization. The project required him to master entirely new tools and systems, compile data across multiple warehouse systems, and utilize BigQuery to streamline reporting.
During the process, Ong identified and resolved a data integrity issue between two primary database systems and collaborated directly with distribution center managers, IT departments, and senior leadership to validate his findings.
The internship culminated in a high-pressure presentation where Ong walked into a boardroom of Mattel’s executive leadership—including vice presidents and senior vice presidents—to present his dashboard findings. As part of the same internship, Ong also co-led the concept development and presentation of "DELU," an original intellectual property brand developed through a collaborative MBA project with Mattel, contributing brand naming, marketing materials, and go-to-market strategy alongside his team.
"Getting to be one of the speakers—for my team’s DELU presentation and for my own individual dashboard project—and watching both land well in front of SVPs, VPs, directors, and managers was incredibly rewarding," Ong said. "Standing in that room, receiving that recognition, and knowing I earned my seat there is something I will carry with me."
The hands-on experience has permanently shaped Ong’s career trajectory. While supply chain logistics is often viewed as an analytical back-office operation, Ong now views it as a dynamic, end-to-end story. Tracking the customer journey from a single click on a digital storefront to final delivery at a residential doorstep confirmed for him that the supply chain sector is where he wants to build his professional future.
Ong attributes much of his rapid adjustment and operational readiness to UCR’s targeted curriculum and the direct mentorship of the program’s career coaches. Their guidance on resume building, value communication, and interview preparation provided the competitive edge necessary to stand out.
When describing the UCR graduate business community, Ong highlights its deeply supportive nature, where faculty, staff, and peers operate as a unified team rather than independent competitors. It is a culture he encourages incoming students to embrace, while holding themselves to high standards.
"Be consistent. Be authentic," Ong advised incoming graduate cohorts. "And remember: 'good' is the floor, not the ceiling. Someone else is always one coffee chat away from outworking you. Show up like it."