Alumni Success Story - Sofía Pauls, MDSC 2025

Alumni Success Story - Sofía Pauls, MDSC´25 Alumni and Service Designer at hiberus. See profile on Linkedin

"This connection between companies and students, when it works like it did in my master’s final project, adds a unique value to the Zaragoza Logistics Center program compared to any other master’s degree"

Sofía, you come from a very different world than logistics, with experience in service design and UX research. What motivated you to make this shift towards supply chain management?
That’s right. The truth is that since I finished my degree in Industrial Design Engineering and Product Development almost five years ago, I’ve been professionally focused on service design and the optimization of digital businesses—a field in which I still work today.
However, the growth potential of Zaragoza, my hometown, and my engineering background pushed me to expand my career into this sector, as I believe the opportunities that will emerge in the city will be extraordinary.
Additionally, as the course progressed, I began to see more and more ways to leverage my experience in digital transformation projects within industrial processes, supply chain operations, and logistics control.

A few days ago, you mentioned on your LinkedIn profile that the master’s program was a major challenge. What was the biggest hurdle you faced coming from a different background, and how did you overcome it?
As someone newly entering the logistics and supply chain sector, I was unfamiliar with most of the day-to-day concepts used in any distribution center—things like the names of the most basic processes, handling equipment, or transport options. Many of these were clarified by the professors themselves, who were well aware of the students’ varied backgrounds. I also learned a lot from my classmates—some of whom have long careers in the sector and were always willing to explain everything to us less-experienced students.
Of course, I was looking for a high-level academic challenge, and I definitely found it. But it was a challenge for several reasons, not just because of my background.
On one hand, academically, the master’s program maintained a high level of rigor throughout the year—which is exactly what I was looking for at Zaragoza Logistics Center.
On a personal level, like many of my classmates, I balanced my professional work with my studies. This meant we all had to learn to manage our time better in order to keep up with our daily responsibilities, assignments from each subject, and the master’s final project—all at once!

And you clearly rose to the challenge—you were recognized with the Best Academic Record Award during the Graduation Ceremony. What study strategies or habits do you think made the difference during the master’s? And of all the course content, what inspired you the most?
Well, I think it was a mix of factors, including the classmates I had the chance to work with in the group projects throughout the course. That said, I won’t downplay my own role—I’ve always seen myself as a disciplined and consistent person, both academically and in daily life.
Throughout the year, I tried to maintain a steady pace of work, getting ahead with assignments whenever I had some free time—very much like how, in an assembly line, keeping product flow level helps avoid bottlenecks. I also tried to go a bit deeper into the subjects that caught my interest, especially in some of the projects we were given. Even though I didn’t have a theoretical background in logistics, I did have some programming skills that proved very helpful in subjects involving software and data visualization.
In general, I enjoy solving problems—whether it’s a crossword puzzle or an optimization challenge. I particularly enjoyed subjects that highlighted how supply chain and logistics decisions directly impact a company’s results—like Supply Chain Coordination and Supply Chain Strategy, taught by Santiago Kraiselburg and Spyros Lekakos respectively.

Zaragoza Logistics Center is known for its international environment. What was it like to live and work with classmates from so many different countries and cultures? What do you take away from that experience?
It’s been a very enriching experience. Although I was aware of the center’s international atmosphere, it wasn’t something I had specifically aimed for—but I’d now say it became one of the most interesting aspects of the year.
I tried to be a proud ambassador of my city for the classmates coming from abroad, sharing not only professional experiences but also our Aragonese culture and traditions.
In return, I met fantastic people—talented, eager to learn, and with a great sense of responsibility.
I’ve definitely made some great friends—some of whom are staying in Spain to continue their careers, so we’ll be able to keep in touch or even work together professionally in the future.

The final master’s project is a key part of the program. ZLC’s academic partners program connects companies with talent to develop innovative projects that tackle real challenges. Could you briefly explain what your project was about and what you learned from it?
In my final project, I had the opportunity to explore from the inside one of the most advanced logistics complexes in our region. The main objective was to study optimization options for outbound shipments, focusing on automated parcel sorting systems. And yes—it turned out to be just as complex and fascinating as it sounds.
Throughout the project, I applied much of the knowledge I’d gained in class: data analysis, simulation software, operational inefficiency detection, and more. I believe the project provided me with an invaluable learning experience—getting to know the detailed operations of a global distribution center.
I’d also like to sincerely thank the company’s employees who took the time to explain their operations to us in such a clear and constructive way. In the end, we were able to present the project’s findings to area managers and supervisors and see how our work could actually lead to real improvements.
In my opinion, this close relationship between companies and students—when it works like it did in my project—is what truly sets Zaragoza Logistics Center apart from other master’s programs.

How has this master’s influenced your approach to problem-solving as a service designer at Hiberus? Have you noticed a change in your professional mindset?
Absolutely. Learning how the supply chain works and all its implications has helped me offer better solutions to the clients I work with. I now have a much more holistic view of processes and can anticipate friction points I wouldn’t have seen before.
I also want to highlight the training in artificial intelligence that we received throughout the course. Understanding the potential of AI and being able to make informed proposals around it will be crucial in the coming years—especially in the tech sector, where I currently work.

And finally, what are your future plans? Do you see yourself combining design and supply chain in your next professional steps?
All processes—including the supply chain—are designed, and that’s exactly where I see my greatest opportunities.
Even if they may seem like very different fields, service design has a lot in common with continuous improvement methodologies and Lean thinking. I believe discovering this synergy and knowing how to take advantage of it has helped me stand out professionally.
At my company, Hiberus, we’re developing a software solution for transport optimization. I hope to soon be part of that project and contribute everything I’ve learned from this hybrid perspective I’ve gained through the master’s. It will be the perfect opportunity to apply all this knowledge in a real-world setting and demonstrate the value of this unique skill set.