Journey to TEDx

A degree from the C. T. Bauer College of Business can take alumni to many places. Bauer graduates are working in oil and gas in Houston, Big 4 firms in New York City, and in the case of 2012 supply chain management alumna Christi Brent, a nonprofit in Japan.

Brent is a Center Operations Manager at the USO, a nonprofit that aims to strengthen the well-being of military members and their dependents. Last month, she gave a TEDx Talk sharing her life experiences, halfway across the globe from her hometown of Houston.

"“My TEDx Talk, ‘The Power of No,’ is about transforming rejection into fuel for growth,” Brent said. “A ‘no’ doesn’t define us; it refines us. Some of life’s most significant turning points don’t begin with yes, but with a no that redirects us toward something greater. With persistence, grit and the courage to adapt, every ‘no’ can become the spark that leads to our greatest evolution.”

Christi Brent graduated from Bauer College in 2012.

Leading up to this point, Brent has jumped over many of life’s hurdles, or ‘nos.’ As a Bauer student, Brent was a single mom, always working a job to provide for her family alongside studying. Regardless, she completed three supply chain internships in her college years, in procurement, manufacturing and logistics.

“It really set me up for success because no matter what position I went into after that, I knew the process from cradle to grave,” she said. “I have a great understanding of how supply chain works and how it's embedded in any organization or any position that I'm in.”

Brent’s hard work at her internships paid off, securing her a full-time job in the supply chain industry. While living in Houston, Brent met her now husband, who was serving in the military and stationed in San Antonio. Not wanting to give up the career she worked so hard to build, Brent stayed back in Houston.

That ‘no’ didn’t stop her, as she continued working her way up the corporate ladder. Eventually, Brent landed a role at Valero, which brought her to San Antonio. Unfortunately, another ‘no’ soon followed.

“I moved there, and a week later my fiancé received orders to relocate to another state,” Brent said. “Even during our first year of marriage, we lived apart. It was devastating.”

Time went on, and Brent continued working in supply chain until her husband got orders to go to Japan. After the couple relocated abroad, Brent didn’t know what to do, being unfamiliar with how to integrate into the new environment. Searching for community, Brent began volunteering for the USO and eventually landed a paid position there.

“It's just been so fulfilling and rewarding,” Brent said. “I really got to experience what it is to be part of the military community. My husband is no longer in the service, but we both have roles here that keep us engaged and grounded in this community.”

Going into her fifth year living in Japan, Brent says she still uses what her Bauer background taught her in her nonprofit job.

“My education in supply chain management at Bauer has been invaluable in my work at the USO,” she said. “It’s helped me identify inefficiencies in operations, streamline processes and manage inventory effectively. Applying these principles ensures the center runs smoothly and allows me to deliver the best support to the military community.”

Reflecting on her journey to this point, Brent encourages others to keep going. While people may not understand why they are going through a difficult time, she says it eventually leads to personal growth.

“It’s in the hardest moments that we grow,” Brent said. “Sometimes it looks like stillness or loss, but if we push through, outlast the doubt, outwork the silence and persevere, the greatest victory is arriving at our yes.”