Problem Solved: The IISE Podcast | From Classroom to Career: Young Professional Lessons from the First 5 years

From Classroom to Career: Young Professional Lessons from the First 5 years

January 13, 2026 / 38:32/S6 E9 Download MP3

Achieve Excellence with the Experts at IISE
https://iise.org/trainingcenter/

The IISE Training Center is unsurpassed in meeting the educational goals of professionals in myriad industries. IISE is an IACET Authorized Provider and “has complied with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices and is authorized to issue the IACET CEU.” Our instructors are experts in essential topics including Lean and Six Sigma, concepts based on long-standing industrial engineering principles. We ensure that our students attain in-depth levels of understanding and practical knowledge of how to apply strategies to achieve business and professional excellence. Students earn digital badges and certificates to share on social media, email signatures, certificates, wherever employers are looking. The world is online - that's where your credentials should reside.

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.

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

Achieve Excellence with the Experts at IISE
https://iise.org/trainingcenter/

From Classroom to Career: Young Professional Lessons from the First 5 years

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