Shawn Xia | Learning Portfolio

Intro To Management Final Project:

My team and I developed RU2GO, a business concept for a meal preparation and delivery service designed to provide Rutgers students with affordable, nutritious, and customizable meals. We created the company’s mission, vision, and strategic objectives while also analyzing operational processes, supply chains, and delivery logistics to ensure efficiency. In addition, we explored potential growth strategies such as franchising the model to other universities and expanding internationally. Through this project, I gained experience evaluating a business model, developing strategic recommendations, and collaborating with a team to design a scalable service that addresses real student needs

Glid Startup Investment Analysis:

This project involved analyzing Glid Technologies, a startup focused on transforming freight transportation through autonomous road-to-rail logistics systems. My team evaluated the company’s business model, technology, founder background, and market opportunity to determine whether it represented a strong investment opportunity. We examined the challenges in freight logistics, particularly inefficiencies in the “first-mile” transfer between trucks and rail systems, and assessed how Glid’s dual-mode vehicles and AI-driven logistics platform could reduce transfer costs and improve supply chain efficiency. We also analyzed the company’s potential valuation, market size, and investment risks before developing an investment recommendation for a potential Series A round. Through this project, I strengthened my ability to evaluate startups, analyze emerging technologies, and assess investment opportunities in large and evolving markets.

Amazon Ethical Supply Chain Strategy:

This project examined how Amazon could strengthen its ethical supply chain practices in response to new European Union regulations requiring greater transparency and accountability in corporate sustainability and labor standards. I analyzed the impact of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive on Amazon’s operations, particularly given the importance of the European market to the company’s global revenue. The project evaluated different approaches to ensuring compliance across Amazon’s third-party seller ecosystem and ultimately proposed a tiered ethical certification program that incentivizes sellers to meet higher sustainability and labor standards through benefits such as reduced fees and increased product visibility. Through this analysis, I developed a deeper understanding of global regulatory environments, stakeholder considerations, and how large companies can balance ethical responsibility with long-term competitive advantage.