Alumni Success Story - Alyssa Palmer, ZLOG 2021

Alumni Success Story: Alyssa Palmer, ZLOG Alumni 2021 and Global Value Stream Strategy Lead at Roche.

"Through the ZLOG program, we were given the tools necessary to find the right number - whether it’s a safety stock level, a forecast, or a network capacity plan."

Alyssa Palmer, alumna of the MIT-Zaragoza Master in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, is currently leading global value stream strategy at Roche. With a career spanning from the manufacturing floor to last-mile delivery, she is committed to ensuring equitable access to healthcare through innovative supply chain solutions. Her journey is a powerful testament of how thoughtful supply chain design can directly improve patient outcomes around the world.

What initially drew you to the field of global health and supply chain strategy?

I discovered supply chain during my undergraduate studies at Arizona State University in the United States. After just one introductory course, I declared it as my major. I was fascinated by how it combined analytical precision with real-world human impact. I especially loved how it required both data-driven planning and strong collaboration across procurement, manufacturing, and operations. I was determined to apply this knowledge in a purpose-driven context, which led me to GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines—where I saw firsthand how supply chain decisions directly influence access to life-saving medications.

Can you share a project where you felt you truly made a difference in ensuring access to healthcare?

During my time with Medecins Sans Frontiers in the Central Africa Republic, I served as the site’s supply chain manager. I quickly realized that while the local team was highly committed, they lacked a clear understanding of how their daily work contributed to the flow of critical medical supplies. I focused on capacity building: teaching supply chain fundamentals, coaching on planning and stock management, and creating simple and sustainable operating procedures. By the end of my mission, the team could run supply operations independently - a shift that meant more continuity and fewer disruptions for patients relying on critical medical care.

As a Global Value Stream Strategy Lead at Roche, what are your main responsibilities and how do you drive strategic impact?

I truly have one of the most exciting roles at Roche. As Global Value Stream Strategy Lead, I work with teams across the business to design and improve how our medicines reach patients - aligning everything from supply and manufacturing to delivery and access. We are constantly asking how we can make treatments more convenient, more accessible, and more impactful? That might mean home delivery, device return programs, or building new partnerships to reach patients where they are.

What aspects of the ZLOG program do you still apply in your day-to-day work?

The rigor of data based decision making. Through the ZLOG program, we were given the tools necessary to find the right number - whether it’s a safety stock level, a forecast, or a network capacity plan. I have no tolerance for ‘’guess and see’’ when it comes to life saving medications. That mindset, grounded in precision and analytical thinking, continues to guide my work every day.

Can you share a memory or lesson from ZLC that has stayed with you?

The conversations with my classmates, both in the classroom and in social settings, we were a small and diverse cohort, not only by nationality, but by industry. Learning alongside people from pharma, automotive, consulting and tech challenged my perspective. We also completed the program during COVID, which brought global supply disruptions to the forefront. It made the case studies feel real-time and underlined how essential resilient supply chains are to our society. That awareness still shapes how I show up as the supply chain expert in cross functional rooms today - ensuring we make the right decisions so our supply chains can reliably serve patients.

And we couldn’t end this conversation without acknowledging your recent recognition as one of BSMA’s “Under 40” leaders in supply chain. What does this recognition mean to you, and how does it reflect your journey so far?

It is incredibly meaningful. I haven’t followed a traditional career path. I have intentionally chased opportunities that pushed me to grow, working across different health systems and tackling big challenges around how supply chains can truly enable the patient experience. To have that non-linear journey recognized is something I am deeply proud of, and also motivated by. I am passionate about building stronger connections between ecosystem players so we can better understand how the value chain is not just a cost center, but a key mechanism for unlocking a healthier society.