Instead of going to the playground as a child, Luana Tu’ua spent her childhood going to the Salt Lake City airport to watch airplanes take off to destinations beyond. Ever since, Tu’ua, the BYU Marriott School of Business global supply chain senior and Women in Business club president, has endeavored to pursue her passion for aerospace and make an impact on others abroad, wherever life takes her.
As soon as she stepped foot onto BYU campus, Tu’ua felt a sense of home at BYU Marriott, and she quickly became involved in school activities. “At freshmen orientation, I met the co-president of the Women in Business Club (WIB). She put her arm around me and told me about the global supply chain program and why she loved her major. Her influence was huge and added to my decision to major in global supply chain. Today, I strive to be that kind of mentor for others,” she says.
Having been part of WIB since day one, Tu’ua went all in, attending activities and serving in various leadership positions. She has accomplished much while in the club, such as transforming its social media outreach efforts and participating in the mentorship program where she supports and guides many of her peers. “The reason why I do Women in Business is because I believe passionately in giving opportunities to everyone,” she says. “Women in Business is a great outlet for women to feel valued. At BYU Marriott and Women in Business, any student can make an impact through opportunities of service.”
Through the global supply chain program and BYU Marriott, Tu’ua is able to pursue one of her biggest passions— aerospace. Tu’ua knew that she had to carry this passion with her into adulthood and whatever career path she decided to take. While studying at BYU, she realized that she could use her degree in global supply chain from BYU Marriott to find a job in an industry that she was passionate about.
This past spring, she was able to share her love for aerospace during the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals local chapter competition. “My presentation was on technology in the supply chain, but because the topic was broad, I decided to focus on what made me unique: global supply chain combined with my love for aerospace. I talked about the Internet of Things and how technology will affect efficiency in airlines and airports and the manufacturing of aircrafts in the supply chain,” she says. Tu’ua won the top prize scholarship. “That entire experience was fulfilling,” she says.
After finishing her junior year, Tu’ua sought a job at the world’s largest aerospace company and one of the top recruiters at BYU: The Boeing Company. She entered the 2020 Boeing Intern Case Competition, and along with other global supply chain and engineering students from various universities in the country, she utilized data in order to solve a problem that Boeing was having with ordering aircrafts. Tu’ua and her team presented their work to Boeing executives and won first place.
Placing first in the competition helped Tu’ua grow to be a positive influence as an intern at Boeing. This past summer, she worked remotely from Utah for Boeing’s Seattle office for twelve weeks on multiple aircraft projects regarding aircraft tubes and airducts. “The internship was a great experience,” she says. “BYU Marriott fully prepared me for my time there. I had a project during my internship that was similar to an assignment I had worked on in a class, and because I had already dealt with the issue, I was able to solve the problem efficiently. I finished my internship learning more about what I value in a company. The internship pushed me to think critically and ask in-depth questions that matter.”
Wherever she may be in the world, Tu’ua hopes to always follow her passions for aerospace and helping and mentoring others. “BYU Marriott provides the best opportunities to grow and to learn and become,” she says. “I will walk away having all of these skills, having spent four years here at BYU, with the biggest desire to go out and serve, accomplish my own personal goals, think outside of myself, and make the biggest impact on others, even if it’s just one person.”
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Writer: Emily Atwood
