Jordan Lenway

“Data-driven and people leader, relentless about helping others succeed, excited by complex problems and impact”

Hometown: Austin, MN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve hiked to and caught trout in a lake at the top of a 10,000 ft mountain!

Undergraduate School and Major: Iowa State University, Industrial Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Operations Manager, Amazon

What has been your favorite part of the Twin Cities so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA?

Born and raised in Minnesota, the Twin Cities holds a special place in my heart. The summers on the lakes and the river, fall bonfires with friends, and winter skiing—it provides the best of all outdoor activities year-round. Professionally, the Twin Cities has numerous Fortune 500 companies and other major businesses locally providing amazing networking and educational opportunities and exposures through the Carlson MBA program.

Carlson MBAs spend a year in hands-on Enterprise programs for Consulting, Branding, Ventures, and Funds. Which program do you intend to enroll in? What excites most about your Enterprise program?

I have enrolled into the Carlson Consulting Enterprise. I am excited about the Enterprise experience as it is a unique opportunity to work with real-world companies on tangible projects. It also provides a hands-on approach that applies theoretical knowledge in practical settings. I believe through the Enterprise experience I will gain access to valuable insights and skills crucial for today’s competitive landscape.

Aside from your classmates, experiential learning, and location, what was the key part of the Carlson MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

A key part for me was the large veteran population and dedicated resources for veterans. I had a positive experience at a recent veterans’ mixer, which highlighted camaraderie and support. This culture and climate align with my personal values during my MBA pursuit.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

My biggest accomplishment was being selected to step in as the acting site lead at Amazon during peak holiday season, leading fulfillment centers in our network of about 500 employees that supported the entire Dallas region and often customers nationwide. It was an intense period with no margin for error, and my role was to stabilize operations, keep people safe, and deliver for customers.

I focused on setting clear priorities, being present on the floor, and building trust with leaders and associates. By the end of peak, our site delivered its strongest peak performance on record while also achieving our best safety results and highest leadership engagement scores. I was proud of the numbers, but even more proud that our team felt supported during the most demanding time of the year.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:

During the first semester, my team finished in second place out of 75 teams at the AstraZeneca National Healthcare Case Competition hosted by Johns Hopkins. This experience pushed all of us to think boldly about how innovation can transform patient care—especially in oncology, where every additional month of quality life matters. Tackling a real-world strategic challenge centered on cancer treatment and earlier intervention was both humbling and energizing.

I couldn’t have asked for a better, more competent and inquisitive team. We spent long nights dissecting the problem, pressure-testing assumptions, and building a strategy that not only made sense on paper, but could realistically shift behavior, integrate into complex systems, and improve outcomes for patients and providers. Winning was the outcome but the process and team I worked with are what I’m most proud of.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far?

It may seem miniscule, but many of my favorite memories go back to the long hours of studying, project work, and joking about the stresses of first year MBA problems with my fellow classmates. There is something special about misery with good company!

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