Ian Olson

Ian Olson has recently been appointed Executive in Residence of Supply Chain Resiliency at Michigan State University. In this new role at MSU, Ian will be focusing on developing innovative and actionable frameworks and models for practitioners, policymakers and producers while also building external partnerships and facilitating collaborations. Additionally, Ian is leading efforts to bridge the gap between research results and business strategies, as well as developing a supply chain resilience curriculum. He also serves on the leadership team for MSU’s Landscape Intelligence Network.

Over his more-than-two-decade career, Ian has led sustainability and supply chain resiliency teams at three Fortune 200 companies: McDonald’s Corporation, Darden Restaurants and Ford Motor Company.

Prior to joining Michigan State University, Ian was an adjunct associate professor at Northwestern University, teaching a graduate level supply chain sustainability course for the past five years.

He has been featured in Fast Company as an innovative business leader, recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative, member of a two-time world championship barbeque team and minority investor in a craft brewery.

Ian holds a BA in Economic Policy and an MBA in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University.