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.

Get ready for Season 6 of Problem Solved: The IISE Podcast! This season we're spotlighting human-centered solutions in areas like AI, leadership, and process improvement. You'll hear from TED Talk speaker and innovator, Tom Wujec, Chick-fil-A franchise leader Sam Hartman, young professionals at the start of their ISE journey, and more.

The season kicks of on #ISEDay, September 15 - a global celebration of Industrial & Systems Engineers. Join us to hear how every great solution is a story worth telling!

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A new season, a new direction. Problem Solved: The IISE Podcast is back!

New executive producer, Elizabeth Grimes, and the show’s creator, David Brandt take you behind the mic of Problem Solved. Hear how the podcast began and what’s coming in Season 6, with new episodes beginning on September 15, ISE Day!

Listen to this #IISEAnnual2025 podcast break with Valerie Maier-Speredelozzi from the University of Rhode Island, recorded live on the floor of the IISE Annual Conference & Expo 2025 in Atlanta. Hit play to relive the energy, steal an idea before your next coffee refill, and stay plugged into the #IISEAnnual2025 buzz — wherever you engineer impact.

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 U.S. News & World Report, both the College and department are recognized for academic excellence and innovation. With flexible programs and industry-relevant certifications, such as our Lean Six Sigma program at lss.uh.edu we equip learners at every level to break through outdated systems and lead meaningful transformation. Discover more at ie.uh.edu.

Listen to this #IISEAnnual2025 podcast break with Jingfei Chen, senior principle product manager at ServiceNow, recorded live on the floor of the IISE Annual Conference & Expo 2025 in Atlanta. Hit play to relive the energy, steal an idea before your next coffee refill, and stay plugged into the #IISEAnnual2025 buzz — wherever you engineer impact.

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 U.S. News & World Report, both the College and department are recognized for academic excellence and innovation. With flexible programs and industry-relevant certifications, such as our Lean Six Sigma program at lss.uh.edu we equip learners at every level to break through outdated systems and lead meaningful transformation. Discover more at ie.uh.edu.

Listen to this #IISEAnnual2025 podcast break with David Gray from Autodesk Inc., recorded live on the floor of the IISE Annual Conference & Expo 2025 in Atlanta. Hit play to relive the energy, steal an idea before your next coffee refill, and stay plugged into the #IISEAnnual2025 buzz — wherever you engineer impact.

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 U.S. News & World Report, both the College and department are recognized for academic excellence and innovation. With flexible programs and industry-relevant certifications, such as our Lean Six Sigma program at lss.uh.edu we equip learners at every level to break through outdated systems and lead meaningful transformation. Discover more at ie.uh.edu.