Orion Kobayashi

Orion Kobayashi has a diverse work experience in various roles and industries.

Starting in 2015, Kobayashi worked as an English Teacher at Tecnológico de Monterrey, where they created curriculum, provided tutoring, and advised students on university applications.

In 2016, Kobayashi worked as a Summer Staff at USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, where they analyzed and translated market information to enhance trade between the U.S. and Peru. They also worked as a Teaching Assistant at Tufts University, supporting students in policy analysis and stakeholder engagement for the food and agriculture industry.

From 2015 to 2017, Kobayashi worked as an Independent Consultant, focusing on supply chain and business development consulting. During this time, they guided a $1.4M expansion and contributed to the growth of businesses.

In 2017 and 2018, Kobayashi worked as a Procurement - Value Chain Associate at sweetgreen, where they secured contracts, negotiated with suppliers, vendors, and distributors, and saved the company money through new vendor contracts.

From 2018 to 2019, Kobayashi worked as a Supply Chain Associate at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), leading fieldwork, managing programs, and providing technical supply chain support on research and grant funding.

In 2019, Kobayashi joined UrbanStems as a Senior Supply Chain Manager, where they played a crucial role in stabilizing costs of goods sold (COGS) during a period of rapid revenue growth. They also managed category inventory, built supply planning and forecasting strategies, and supported the transition to Netsuite ERP.

In 2022, Kobayashi took a sabbatical to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.

Kobayashi's most recent work experience includes being an Independent Consultant specializing in supply chain and operations consulting and currently serving as a Program Manager at EarthOptics. The specific responsibilities and achievements in these roles are not provided.

Orion Kobayashi has an extensive education history, spanning various fields of study. They began their educational journey at the University of Delaware, where they pursued a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in International Relations and Affairs. After completing their undergraduate studies, Orion went on to pursue a Master's Degree at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. During their time there from 2015 to 2017, they focused on the field of Food Policy and Agribusiness.

In addition to their studies at Tufts University, Orion also cross-registered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2016-2017 to gain knowledge in Humanitarian Logistics and Sustainable Supply Chain Management.

Orion's pursuit of knowledge did not stop there. In 2019, they completed online courses in Negotiation Mastery and Management Essentials at Harvard Business School.

Orion continued to enhance their professional development by obtaining additional certifications. They received the Google Project Management Certificate in 2023. In 2021, they completed the altMBA program and became part of the altMBA46 Ibex Cohort. Prior to this, in 2020, Orion obtained certifications in Foundations in Creative Leadership, Leading for Creativity, and Cultivating Creative Collaboration from IDEO U. They also received certification as an Operational Excellence Work-Out and Kaizen Facilitator, Six Sigma Foundations, Six Sigma: Green Belt, and Statistics Foundations: 2 and 3 from LinkedIn in 2019. Furthermore, in 2019, Orion completed the Operational Excellence Foundations course from LinkedIn. Lastly, in 2014, they obtained a Certified Teaching Business English certification and Teaching English as a Foreign Language certification from ITTT - International TEFL & TESOL training.

Throughout their education and certification pursuits, Orion has demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning and a diverse range of subjects.