Business and engineering: a perfect match for WMU student

By combining her engineering and business interests, Western Michigan University student Amanda Kosasih found an internship opportunity that perfectly fits her goals. Majoring in industrial and entrepreneurial engineering and minoring in leadership and business strategy (LBS), she has built her skill set and landed an internship with IDEX Corporation.

“I have always wanted to pursue a STEM-related field and transferred to WMU for the industrial engineering program,” says Amanda. “As time goes on, and I take more classes related to my major, I am increasingly convinced that it is a great fit for me. This major, combined with my LBS minor, provide me with the best of both worlds.”

Amanda’s LBS minor is fueling her interest in business and offering experiences she can directly use in her career. “The most interesting course I have taken so far is Experiential Leadership and Strategy I. The six-credit class was unlike anything I have taken so far. There were no readings, quizzes, exams or traditional lectures, but I experienced what it is like to work in a consulting firm with real-life challenges,” she says. “My group and I worked together to research a specific industry, identify an investment opportunity within that industry, develop a strategy and present it to an investment committee. There were no correct answers; we had to research everything on our own and ask for feedback. It was an intense class but working through real-world problems has helped me grow.”

Amanda will be joining Pulsafeeder, Inc., a unit of IDEX Corporation, as an engineering operations intern. Her responsibilities during her internship will be tailored to her experiences and interests. “One thing about being an industrial engineer that stood out the most for me is its versatility. Industrial engineers are not as specialized as other engineering fields, and our expertise can be applied in many industries.”

Career fairs hosted by the Haworth College of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences helped Amanda secure her opportunity with IDEX. She first connected with the company in the fall 2021 semester, and again in spring 2022. Her mastery of interview etiquette and the communication skills that she picked up during her time at WMU Haworth ultimately helped her stand out when reconnecting with IDEX in the spring.

As Amanda looks forward to the future and reflects on the most important lessons she has learned as a Business Bronco, she notes that communication is one of the keys to success. Confidence in herself, collaborating in a team, and applying feedback all aided in her career advancement. “Don’t be afraid to actively step forward and voice your opinion. Contribute to the team. Initiate and get the work done.”