Many students have never heard of Industrial & Systems Engineering — and even fewer understand the incredible impact it has on the world. This episode of Problem Solved: The IISE Podcast explores a creative solution to that challenge: the ISE Impact Short Video Contest, which invites students and professionals to explain ISE’s value in just 60 seconds.

You'll hear from:

• Dr. Ana Muriel, associate professor at UMass Amherst and co-creator of the contest
• Hannah Brooks, a nursing student who used stop-motion animation to tackle global food security
• Anwaar Zyoud, an industrial engineer who used ISE methods to transform her Taekwondo performance

Together, they show how creativity, storytelling, and problem-solving can inspire the next generation of engineers.

What if the way we think about problems is holding us back from solving them?
Tom Wujec — designer, technologist, and multiple-time TED speaker — joins Problem Solved to explore how visual problem solving can help industrial and systems engineers tackle challenges of every size, from simple process fixes to wicked problems like climate change and AI disruption.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why traditional problem-solving methods often fail
• The four types of problems — simple, complicated, complex, and wicked — and why they need different approaches
• The power of “plays” — structured, visual activities that align teams and unlock solutions
• How visualization frees up mental bandwidth, builds shared understanding, and drives better decisions
• Five key shifts engineers can make to become better collaborative problem-solvers

Whether you work in manufacturing, healthcare, tech, or supply chain, Tom’s approach will expand your toolkit and transform the way you lead teams through today’s most complex challenges.

Watch this episode on YouTube to see Tom's method's in action!

tomwujec.com

Ted Talks
Build a Tower, Build a Team
Got a Wicked Problem? First, Tell me how you make Toast
Making Ideas Visible
3 Ways the brain creates meaning

"Art Before Breakfast" by Danny Gregory

Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by IISE’s Performance Excellence Webinars.
Learn from global thought leaders on operational excellence, data analytics, leadership, and more.

Executive Producer: Elizabeth Grimes

Join us for our conversation with Tom Wujec - designer, technologist and multiple TED speaker known for his work in visual collaboration and wicked problem solving.
-Why do traditional approaches often fail when problems get more complex?
-Tom has shared his visual framework with Fortune 500 companies around the world, and now he shares it with us.

See his visual work unfold in action by watching this episode on YouTube! Or catch it wherever you normally listen to your podcasts.
Episode available on September 15, ISE Day!

Special "thank you" to this episode's sponsor, IISE Performance Excellence Webinars - your chance to boost your career and expand your ISE toolkit. From leadership development, to supply chain resilience, to operational analytics, and more — these sessions help you sharpen your skills and improve your organization. Join thought leaders and practitioners from around the world. Learn more at iise.org/performance-excellence.