Olia Javidi (2021)

Olia Javidi graduated in 2021 with a major in Operations Research Engineering in the College of Engineering. Currently, Olia is a Global Procurement Associate Analyst at PepsiCo, where she works on global sourcing strategies for flexible packaging.

Following the fundamental leadership principles of being a Meinig scholar, Olia continuously takes initiatives to incorporate new opportunities into her role.  Being a Meinig scholar allowed her to understand how “leadership is not about title, it is about the way you carry yourself in groups” to create a supportive environment in group settings. Whether it be being the leader of clubs or launching organizations, being a Meinig scholar gave her the confidence to open herself up to extracurricular opportunities that would allow her to exercise her leadership abilities. In particular, Olia recognizes how the topic on Diversity and Inclusion discussed during the Freshman Forum has even been applicable to her current role: choosing suppliers with similar values of diversity and inclusion. Furthermore, she attributes the Meinig program as a catalyst to pursuing new interests in specifically food science and data. This discovery of new interests led her to interning under the Potato Team at PepsiCo during her undergraduate years, where she dealt with data metrics for potato growing. 

Olia’s favorite resource was the networking dinners, marked by a memorable speech by Dr. Lombardi, where she was able to meet fellow Meinig scholars and develop friendships. For current Meinig scholars, Olia advises to not “put too much pressure on yourself to get involved, use the organization as a family you can turn to for advice, and take time to explore other opportunities on campus. Stay in touch and keep involved because the people are amazing.”