June 22, 2023 in What's Your StORy?
What's Your StORy? Carsten Jordan
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https://doi.org/10.1287/orms.2023.02.11
Name: Carsten Jordan
Employer: Kinaxis
Job Title: Product Owner, Supply Chain Solutions
INFORMS member for more than 30 years
How did you first become interested in operations research and analytics?
Prof. Domschke in Darmstadt introduced me to O.R., and to this day, I find it fascinating to make better decisions with models and algorithms.
Tell us about your career journey and what led you to Kinaxis.
I supported RapidResponse during my long tenure with Qualcomm and learned a lot about how a supply chain planning tool is used. However, in my current role in algorithms, I can influence the core product and help a larger customer base. I enjoy working with customers and in particular with the developers at Kinaxis.
Can you talk about how we could promote analytics careers to high school students, or younger?
We should focus on what problems OR/MS can solve and why, what that means (e.g., improve sustainability/reduce costs). Students (especially high school and younger) should be introduced to what the problem is, and maybe understand modeling. Algorithms can come later. An answer does not make sense if you do not have a question.
What is a recent project you’ve been involved in that you are particularly proud of?
I contributed to the Kinaxis Supply.AI solution where we integrated optimization algorithms into our supply chain planning product. This has just been released and will be an ongoing journey.
How did you discover INFORMS and what has been your favorite INFORMS experience thus far?
Prof. Drexl got me involved in INFORMS. I first presented at an ORSA/TIMS meeting in Boston in the 1990s during my Ph.D. thesis. More recently, I very much enjoyed the 2022 INFORMS Business Analytics Conference in Houston – everybody was just so happy to meet in person.
Having been to both an Analytics Conference and Annual Meeting, how would you describe each to new members?
The Analytics Conference is smaller with more business context, but the Annual Meeting may give attendees a chance to meet other (worldwide) attendees working on a similar project. Both conferences have gotten a lot more diverse over time. And, it is great to see that the conferences are now a lot more gender balanced (I know that, I attended them a long time ago).
Tell us more about you. Where are you from and where you do reside? What are your favorite things about those places?
I live in San Diego, and enjoy in particular being close to competitive sailing, which happens here.
Tell us something that not many people know about you.
I am still sailing my Laser, but I am a far cry from being the fastest.
What were you like in high school and what advice would you give to your younger self?
I had an easy high school time, but maybe I was not challenged enough. In hindsight, I find that not everything you learn makes sense (and is fun) the first time around. But when you put the puzzle together, it can be marvelous. Use all you learn to solve problems, that is still where I have the most fun.
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