Problem Solved: The IISE Podcast

This episode of Problem Solved
is sponsored by the University of

Houston's Cullen College of Engineering.

At the University of Houston's Cullen
College of Engineering, the Industrial

and Systems Engineering Department
prepares students not just to be team

players, but to become dynamic leaders.

Ranked among the top 50 public
universities by US News and World

Report, both the college and
department are recognized for

academic excellence and innovation.

With flexible programs like
professional project management and

industry relevant certifications such
as their Lean Six Sigma program at

lss.uh.edu, the University of Houston
equips learners at every level to

break through outdated systems and
lead meaningful transformation.

Discover more at ie.uh.edu.

At IISE Annual 2026, you'll find students
attending their very first conference,

professionals reconnecting with colleagues
and mentors, and leaders who have spent

decades helping shape the future of
industrial and systems engineering.

In this special bonus episode of Problem
Solved: Live from Annual, we hear

from two recent graduates discovering
what it really means to step into

the profession, and from one longtime
IISE leader whose nearly 50-year

journey reflects the lasting impact of
this community and the field itself.

From first steps to legacy
careers, one thing becomes clear:

industrial and systems engineering
is more essential than ever.

Hi, I'm Geisna.

I'm from Arizona State University,
and I just graduated with a

master's in industrial engineering

Hello, I'm Fatima.

I'm also for Arizona State University.

I just graduated from my bachelor's in
industrial engineering and data science.

And you were also student volunteers for
IISE, so we love our student volunteers.

What is something that really stood
out to you today that really made

an impact on you, something that you
learned today that really stood out

that you're gonna take home with you?

Well, this was the very first conference
I've attended, and I would like to

say that the experience was amazing.

And something that I would say that
I actually learned is that, even the

smallest thing, like, you know, the
way you pitch a person, the way you

talk to a person, that really matters.

And the way you portray it, it's
just not about, like, how much

educational knowledge you have.

It's way beyond that.

It's how much, like, you can meet and
greet and make pe- you know, make a

lot of pe-people feel comfortable.

That's- that's pretty much
something that matters, and the

charm that you bring in the room.

At least for me, I feel like so far, one
of the best, experiences was today when

I went to one of the speakers, Mindy.

She was mainly talking about networking,
and I feel like that's something essential

that they don't tell you in college.

That's something that I never got
to do, and I just graduated, so it's

insane to me that I had to graduate to
finally realize that networking is a

huge part of being industrial engineer.

And coming here, getting to see a lot of
people, knowing more about my own major.

I just graduated, and I barely
feel like I know anything about

industrial engineering, so it's
just amazing coming here and seeing

different perspectives that everyone
can have about the same topic.

I'm just grateful that I
got the opportunity to come.

Thank you.

For students attending Annual
for the first time, the

conference can feel eye-opening.

Beyond the technical sessions and
presentations, many are discovering

something bigger, the importance of the
community surrounding the profession.

But while these students are just
beginning their journey, others at

Annual represent decades of leadership,
service, and impact within IISE and the

broader engineering world Jamie Rogers
is the recipient of the Medallion Award,

which recognizes individuals who've
made a notable impact on the industrial

engineering profession through exceptional
leadership and professional achievement.

Welcome

to Problem Solved.

Can you introduce yourself?

I'm Jamie Rogers, and I'm currently at
the University of Texas at Arlington.

Oh, great.

Right here.

So, you're an award winner.

You've just won the IISE Medallion Award.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

And can you tell us what does that award,
what does winning that award mean to you?

Wow.

It's, it's such an honor
to win an award, from IISE.

It's an honor to be
part of the IISE family.

Yeah, because you've been part of
the IISE family for how, how long?

It's a long time.

I- From the time I was a student, 1976.

Yeah.

So this is going on, like, 50 years.

And served in, in many capacities-
... different roles over the years.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I was even president.

What stands out?

Is that the role that stands
out most to you, would you say?

Well, perhaps, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And so, being at the conference,
I would imagine that that's

probably your highlight so far.

Is there something else that's made
an impact, maybe a session that

you've been to that has stood out?

Well, all the

sessions have been wonderful.

We've got, from UT Arlington, since we're
local, we've got five faculty members

and 42 students making presentations.

Wow.

After, you know, being in the field
for a while now, what do you see

the future looking like compared to
how it's been to where it's going?

What does that look like to you?

I think the future is very, very
bright for ISE professionals.

Mm-hmm.

It couldn't be better.

Mm-hmm.

It doesn't matter whether there's a, a
problem in healthcare, manufacturing,

logistics, supply chain, the ability
to solve the United Nations Sustainable

Development Goals, or just you name

it.

Mm-hmm.

IE professionals have the toolkit
diversity and the creative leadership

capability to make it, things better
no matter, no matter where we go.

Do you think there's any challenges coming
up for students coming into the field?

I think it's, there's always a
challenge, but I think when you

think of it being a challenge,
it's also an opportunity- Mm-hmm

for solutions.

And I think that, it's never been
a, a more opportune time to be an

IE as a systems thinker because
we have so many problems in the

world today that we can help with.

In every field.

Every field.

Every industry.

Every industry.

Any words of wisdom that you
wanna leave the listeners with?

Well, I think we need to, What we're
doing now with, Laura at University of

Wisconsin-Madison, we have ISE Day- Mm-hmm
... in September, September 14th, and I think

we all need to get involved and make
sure that people know that industrial

systems engineers have solutions.

We can help.

Great.

Thank you for talking with us.

Okey-doke.

Thanks.

As Annual 2026 comes to a close, one
thing is clear, the future of ISE is

being shaped by students eager to learn,
professionals ready to lead, and a

community committed to solving problems
across every industry imaginable.

Thanks for joining us on this special
episode of Problem Solved: Live

from Annual, and remember to follow
Problem Solved for more important

conversations shaping the future.