JEFFERY LARSON ‘18
INDUSTRY: Freelance consulting in operations, analytics and manufacturing for startups and Fortune 500 companies.
DEGREE: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology, minor in Engineering Management
Jeffery Larson ’18 has built a career on his own terms by combining his military experience, engineering technology training, manufacturing leadership, and business expertise.
As a freelance consultant, Larson works with startups and Fortune 500 companies to improve operations, analytics and manufacturing systems. Consulting gives him the flexibility to focus on what matters most. “I pick my own projects, charge my own rates, and choose when or where I want to work,” he said. “It allows me to have a rewarding career and provide for, and be present for, my wife and daughter.”
Larson’s professional journey began in the military, where he learned to repair equipment, lead teams and mentor junior service members. That experience shaped his approach to accountability, continuous improvement and service to others. “I’ve always had a strong desire to make things better,” he said.
That mindset naturally led him to pursue engineering at Old Dominion University, where he focused on creating solutions to real-world problems rather than simply fixing them.
“Studying Mechanical Engineering Technology gave me a broad foundation across disciplines and the ability to connect ideas and build teams to solve complex problems,” Larson said. “I like to joke that while Virginia Tech makes great engineers, Old Dominion makes their bosses.”
After graduating, Larson joined Unilever, a global Fortune 500 company, as an engineering manager. There he led cross-functional teams in a regulated manufacturing environment, driving improvements in reliability, efficiency and safety.
Over time, he realized that many of the toughest challenges businesses face aren’t mechanical at all. “Often, the root cause wasn’t a broken machine, but a misalignment of people, data and processes,” he said.
That insight led him to pursue an MBA at Columbia University, equipping him to help organizations improve holistically through smarter systems, better leadership, and more efficient use of information – often without added cost.
Today, Larson finds real satisfaction in helping others solve problems. “Often, the best solutions are already within reach, and we just haven’t seen them yet,” he said. “Even a 1% improvement can save a company millions.”