From Classroom to Career: Young Professional Lessons from the First Five Years

The first five years of your career can feel like a crash course in the real world. One moment you’re confident in your coursework, and the next you’re navigating ambiguity, imposter syndrome, and expectations no syllabus ever prepared you for.

In this episode of Problem Solved, we sit down with three IISE Young Professionals — Helen Siegrist, President of IISE Young Professionals, Jessica Aujla, and Gordon Quach — for an honest, roundtable conversation about what it actually looks like to transition from the classroom to the workforce.

Together, they reflect on:

• The transition and shock of the first year out of school
• Finding your footing and earning trust in years two and three
• Growing confidence, leadership, and career direction in years four and five
• Navigating imposter syndrome, mentorship, and professional identity
• How IISE and the Young Professionals community can support growth along the way

This episode isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about learning through experience, community, and reflection. Whether you’re a student, a recent graduate, or early in your professional journey, this conversation offers perspective, reassurance, and practical insight from those who’ve been there.

🎙️ Problem Solved — real conversations about industrial & systems engineering in practice.

Learn more about IISE Young Professionals here and on LinkedIn.

Learn more about The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
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Problem Solved Executive Producer: Elizabeth Grimes
Interested in contributing to the podcast or sponsoring an episode? Email egrimes@iise.org

The first five years of your career can feel confusing, unstructured, and overwhelming — even for high-performing industrial and systems engineers.

In this trailer for an upcoming episode of Problem Solved, IISE Young Professionals Jess Aujla, Helen Siegrist, and Gordon Quach share candid reflections on what it really feels like to move from the classroom into the workforce — from losing the structure of school, to finding confidence, setting boundaries, and learning how to grow without burning out.

If you’re early in your career — or mentoring someone who is — this conversation will feel familiar.

🎙️ Full episode drops next week.
Subscribe now so you don’t miss it.

Learn more about IISE Young Professionals here and on LinkedIn.

Learn more about The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
Problem Solved on LinkedIn
Problem Solved on YouTube
Problem Solved on Instagram
Problem Solved on TikTok

Problem Solved Executive Producer: Elizabeth Grimes
Interested in contributing to the podcast or sponsoring an episode? Email egrimes@iise.org

🎅✨ Here’s the problem: Santa’s operation defies all logic. One night. Billions of deliveries. Zero defects. A global supply chain that never misses a deadline.

So…what if Santa is an industrial and systems engineer?

In this festive special of Problem Solved, IISE members and volunteers share short, creative voice memos imagining how Santa’s North Pole operation uses IE/ISE tools—from logistics optimization to quality management, ergonomics, capacity planning, predictive analytics, Just-In-Time systems, continuous improvement, facility layout, human factors, and more.

You’ll hear six fun, clever, and surprisingly insightful takes on Santa’s world-class system—including:
🎁 Why Santa’s naughty-or-nice list is really a data governance process
🎁 How his workshop rivals Amazon
🎁 How ergonomics keeps the elves injury-free for 500+ years
🎁 Why Santa’s sleigh route is the ultimate Traveling Salesman Problem
🎁 Lean Six Sigma at the North Pole
🎁 And—what the Grinch, Jack Skellington, and Santa can teach us about operations

Then we wrap it all up with a special story from IISE CEO Don Greene, who shares the tale of the Christmas Eve when Santa called IISE for help…and how industrial engineers saved the holiday.

Whether you’re an ISE, a student, a Santa enthusiast, or someone who loves a good systems-thinking twist, this episode is full of joy, clever insights, and holiday magic—the ISE way.

🎄 Happy Holidays from all of us at IISE and Problem Solved!

Thank you to our guests who shared their creativity with us! Ali Anderson, Gordon Quach, Kristine Dungo, Madeline Shoot, Laura Albert, Ashley Benedict, and Don Greene!

🎧 Listen now, share with a colleague, and spread some IE cheer.

Learn more about The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
Problem Solved on LinkedIn
Problem Solved on YouTube
Problem Solved on Instagram
Problem Solved on TikTok

Problem Solved Executive Producer: Elizabeth Grimes
Interested in contributing to the podcast or sponsoring an episode? Email egrimes@iise.org