A Day In the Life: Lydia Derks, Axis Rotational Program
Oliver’s rotational leadership program, Axis, is designed for early-career professionals looking to build a strong foundation across manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, or quality. The program offers participants hands-on experience through six-month rotations in different functions, allowing them to explore different areas of business. Recently, I sat down with Axis member Lydia Derks, to learn more about her background and experience so far.
Hi Lydia, can you please share a little bit about yourself?
I went to Michigan Technological University, where I majored in engineering management. One of the main reasons I chose that major was its versatility. It’s a really unique blend of business and engineering, and it allows you to work in so many different industries and departments. I like to think of it as learning how to operate in the “gray area”—being able to understand technical concepts while also speaking the language of business and helping bridge that gap. That flexibility was really appealing to me. Outside of work, I love spending time outdoors hiking, finding new places to watch the sunset, and staying active.
How did you hear about Oliver and the Axis rotational program?
I actually found Oliver on LinkedIn. I was specifically searching for a rotational program because I wanted the opportunity to learn multiple functions of the business and understand how everything works together. That aligns well with my major and my interest in versatility. Oliver stood out to me because of the variety of rotation options and the travel aspect of the program, which was really exciting. This is also my first job out of college. I graduated in April and started the program shortly after. I’m actually finishing up my first rotation this week.
Can you describe your current role and what your first rotation has been like?
I’m currently in my last week with the procurement team in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The role has been mostly project-based, which I really enjoyed. I worked on two larger projects throughout the six months, along with some day-to-day purchasing responsibilities and a few smaller projects. On the daily side, I was responsible for buying inks for the Grand Rapids site and purchasing vendor-managed inventory items.
What’s next for you in the program?
For my next rotation, I’ll be staying in Grand Rapids but moving into the planning department. One of the master planners from Grand Rapids will be assisting with a new system rollout at a different Oliver site for a while. I’ll be helping fill in and support the day-to-day planning work while that’s happening. This role will be more operational and day-to-day compared to my project-based procurement rotation, which is a change I’m looking forward to.
What are you most excited about as you head into your next rotation?
I’m excited about integrating everything I learned in procurement into planning. Understanding SAP, pulling reports, and learning the language used across teams will really carry over. I’m also looking forward to the day-to-day nature of the role—it’ll be a great opportunity to see how planning operates on a daily basis and build on my foundation.
What has been your biggest learning so far?
I think the biggest learning has been understanding Oliver’s systems and processes. They’re completely new to me and play a big part in how the business runs. Learning the business’s systems will be incredibly valuable as I move through future rotations. Another major learning has been getting exposure to the healthcare packaging industry. That was all brand new to me, and it’s been really interesting to learn about an industry I hadn’t previously worked in.
