(Editor’s note: This interview is part of a series of Q&A profiles on Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology alumni who are using their degrees to make an impact in a wide range of industries and companies around the world. A compilation of their stories was published in the Summer 2022 issue of iConnect magazine.)
Have you ever grabbed a cold Pepsi from a cooler near a store’s checkout? If you have, you can thank, in part, IST alumna Heather VanGorder.
VanGorder, who earned a bachelor’s degree in information sciences and technology in 2020, currently works as an IT analyst at PepsiCo Inc. She is part of the PepsiCo North America Commercial Team, on which she works in electronic data interchange (EDI) — the concept of businesses electronically communicating information such as purchase orders and invoices. Her team is responsible for setting up the mapping that gets PepsiCo products to their final destinations.
“At IST, I fell in love with project management,” she said. “Through my education at Penn State, I was able to apply myself and take on more responsibility quickly at PepsiCo. I had only been with the company for three months when my manager asked me to take on the project manager role for our team. I keep track of our projects’ progress, the status of my teammates’ implementing customer requests, and any specific documentation that needs to be filed for our project.”
What are the top current information technology trends in your industry? What are the primary needs and concerns?
VanGorder: A few of the technology trends PepsiCo has become involved with are bots, microservices, communication and using the cloud. Divisions of Pepsi are creating multiple automation processes to optimize workload and allow employees the ability to work on other projects. Another trend we hopped on is microservices, which are easily scalable and only run for a small duration versus constantly running. It is an on-demand application programming interface and is only meant to do one specific task for a web service. PepsiCo is also moving in the direction of using the cloud. Instead of needing our own physical or virtual server farm on site, we can use this third-party system to hold all our information in a private network. This will allow the company to grow easier and advance faster, aligning with one of PepsiCo’s most important and well-known slogans is for employees to be "Faster, Better, and Stronger."
Through your role, how are you working to advance these trends and/or address these needs and concerns?
VanGorder: My role consists of observing the current trends and technological advances being made by divisions within Pepsi. For a specific bot being created, I was responsible for making sure the project status stayed on task and on time. Keeping updates on the project's accomplishments, risks and impacts, issues and upcoming activities.
Why did you decide to apply your degree in the food and beverage industry?
VanGorder: I had no idea where I planned to take my degree after college, but I never imagined it would take me to PepsiCo. During one of the IST career fairs, I visited the PepsiCo booth because why not? It's a big-name brand! The recruiter took a picture of my resume and the next day I received an email asking me to apply for their internship. At that point, I had already applied to many companies and received several rejection letters. I took the opportunity to apply to Pepsi with no real expectations. When the interview came, I had one of the most personable and exciting conversations yet. I ended up being the only IST student from Penn State to join Pepsi’s internship program that year. During my internship, I was paired with a great manager and grew to love the company. At that point, I knew Pepsi was the only place at which I wanted to work, and, luckily for me, they felt I would be a great fit.
What motivates you in your work?
VanGorder: My team provides plenty of motivation. I started working at PepsiCo right after I graduated college. I interned the year prior and had an idea of the culture and work/life balance. We are all unique and only want the best for one another. I know when I complete a customer implementation or milestone it will be celebrated. No matter how big or small someone's success is, it is recognized and acknowledged.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
VanGorder: Seeing the financial benefits my team brings to PepsiCo at the end of each year. Not only do I help with the back end of the company, but I also work on the front end. Everyone’s work makes a difference in the company, but I get to see my work alone economically benefit PepsiCo.
What information technology changes, advances or needs do you envision in your industry in the next 5-10 years?
VanGorder: I see PepsiCo dabbling in all the new and upcoming trends. When they see one exceeding the others they will shift gears towards that vision and make it a reality. PepsiCo is always finding the best way to advance the company. Red Bull used to be the only energy drink and now many companies have created their own version. PepsiCo has RockStar, Kickstart, Mountain Dew Rise and others. Recently, PepsiCo has joined the alcohol industry and created a whole line of Hard Mountain Dew Seltzers.
I see us leveraging the cloud more — it is becoming popular among many companies. It helps reduce costs, increases efficiency and allows data and systems to be available anywhere for workers.
How does the College of IST prepare its graduates for professional success in a broad range of industries?
VanGorder: I think the wide range of classes offered in the IST program greatly benefits students, allowing them to expand their knowledge and narrow in on their ideal IT career path. Not only does the College of IST prepare graduates for professional success, but Penn State's alumni program itself offers students plenty of successful career networking opportunities. The College of IST has its own career fair because companies know Penn State prepares its students well for the real world. PepsiCo only recruits from a handful of schools, and I think that says a lot for Penn State to be at the top of their list.