Ernest Mattson: Outstanding senior in industrial engineering

Clubs and activities

I competed for the Iowa State cross country and track and field teams; served as treasurer and co-founded Strike Force for Alpha Pi Mu (the Industrial Engineering Honor Society); and within the department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, served as a student ambassador and undergraduate research assistant.

Valuable hands-on learning in class

Both my junior and senior design projects have been extremely valuable. During junior year, my team partnered with Collins Aerospace to reduce defects on radio circuit cards by leveraging quality best practices and root-cause analysis. For my senior capstone, my team worked with Winnebago to identify and mitigate missing part occurrences that delay production. These experiences taught me how to translate classroom concepts into real results, collaborate across fields, and approach problems both technically and creatively. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with incredible classmates and receive mentorship from outstanding professors and teaching assistants throughout these projects.

Valuable out-of-the-classroom experience

I was fortunate to have three internships during my time at Iowa State, where I applied the problem-solving skills I learned in the classroom to real-world challenges. My recent internships with Medtronic allowed me to combine industrial engineering and AI to drive meaningful global impact. I developed AI tools used by tens of thousands of employees, built dashboards that informed pivotal leadership decisions in the global technology and innovation space, and collaborated with engineers and operators to streamline complex manufacturing processes. Seeing operations from both the production floor and a global systems level in back-to-back summers grounded my understanding of the industry and shaped how I approach my full-time role moving forward.

Most influential mentor

Leslie Potter is the first person you meet when you step into industrial engineering, and she makes you feel like you belong right away. I took Leslie’s classes during my first years at Iowa State, and even as I’ve grown through the department, she’s continued to stay connected, inviting me to speak in her classes and work alongside her at recruitment events. She even came to my races to cheer me on. Leslie’s ability to build real relationships with her students and to keep learning from them is something I really admire, and it’s the kind of mentor and teammate I hope to be.

Best memory/greatest accomplishment

My greatest accomplishment at Iowa State was co-founding Strike Force (Strategic Kaizen Events for Community Excellence) within Alpha Pi Mu. The goal was to give engineering students a way to apply problem-solving and process improvement to help the community. Through Strike Force, teams of industrial engineering students have completed projects for local organizations, including schools where we improved parking lot layouts and student pick-up flow to make things safer and more efficient. The work not only makes a real difference in the community but also provides students with valuable hands-on experiences that they can bring to the career fair and into their future careers.

Plans after graduation

I will join Medtronic full-time as an artificial intelligence engineer. I also plan to pursue a part-time M.S. in artificial intelligence.

A memorable moment of kindness

I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of my peers and the faculty in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering and the College of Engineering. Balancing Division I athletics with engineering isn’t something you can do on your own. My classmates shared notes when I was away competing, and my professors, teaching assistants, advisors, and support staff went out of their way to reschedule labs, exams, and office hours to review material I missed. They didn’t have to do any of that, but they chose to, and it made a huge difference. Any success I’ve had belongs just as much to them.

Persevering through challenging times

There was a time when I wasn’t sure exactly which direction I wanted to take in engineering. I’ve always been very technically oriented, but I also wanted to work in a field that’s more focused on people. I wasn’t sure how to connect those two sides at first. Discovering industrial engineering helped me persevere because it showed me how technical problem-solving can directly improve the way people work and live.

Support from Engineering Career Services

The career fairs provided excellent practice for engaging with employers face-to-face and learning how to communicate my value effectively. I became significantly better at delivering an elevator pitch, asking meaningful questions, and maintaining conversations. I had many interviews and opportunities come from those events, which helped me land where I am now. These experiences taught me how to connect with people beyond the resume and made me feel far more confident representing myself and my experiences in a professional way.

Iowa State’s entrepreneurship resources

I participated in one pitch competition with a good friend of mine, and it was an awesome experience. We had to think creatively, problem-solve quickly, and pitch our idea in a clear and convincing way. I wish I had done more of them; it was a great mix of teamwork, innovation, and communication. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.

Making my mark on the world

Alpha Pi Mu says it best: “Humble service to humanity is the goal of the true engineer.” My goal is always to improve how we innovate by building systems that save time, reduce waste, and make safety and dignity non-negotiable. I want the tools I build to make life a little easier for both the people doing the work every day and the customers they serve – tools that feel intuitive, reliable, and respectful of their time and effort. If the people using my work feel supported and empowered to do their jobs better, and if customers can sense that same care in the results, that’s the legacy I want to leave.

Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer

At Iowa State, engineering is about learning by doing with purpose. I’ve seen how hands-on projects, close collaboration with companies, and student research turn ideas into tangible improvements that make a real difference. What stands out most to me is how much emphasis we place on solving problems that matter to people. From improving processes on the factory floor to making systems safer and more efficient in our communities, Cyclone Engineers don’t just design solutions; we build them to last and to serve.

What I’d tell my younger self about Iowa State

Opportunity, effort, and impact are built into everything at Iowa State. It’s a place that rewards you for putting yourself out there and surrounds you with support. I came here knowing I wanted to keep challenging myself in academics, athletics, and beyond, and I found a community that made that possible. It’s where I’ve met incredible people, learned from every experience, and continued to grow while doing what I love.

Most inspiring location on campus

The Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building inspires me because it embodies everything that makes our department special. It was designed and built by Cyclone Engineers, for Cyclone Engineers, with input from alumni, students, staff, and industry partners. Every detail reflects the pride, collaboration, and community that define our field. C.G. Therkildsen was an Iowa State IE, and so was Danelda Allen, the construction manager who led the project. Knowing that Cyclone Engineers built this space for future generations reminds me of the legacy we’re part of and the responsibility to carry that same spirit of innovation forward.