Jaclyn Ix

I attribute much of my success to being the first person in my family to attend college and the example my parents set. They held essential, blue-collar jobs and taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. It gave me the independence, grit, and curiosity to keep learning, find my own way forward, and continue growing even when the next step was not always clear.

A former manager and mentor taught me not to let my environment affect my sense of worth. A difficult workplace or a challenging season does not define your ability or value. You have to know what you bring to the table and carry yourself from that place. When things around you feel unsettled, you do not have to absorb that chaos.

Waste and recycling may be unglamorous, but being part of an essential industry that keeps businesses and communities running is incredibly meaningful. There are opportunities to contribute across technology, sustainability, operations, and customer experience.

Like many operational industries, it has traditionally been male-dominated, but there are many talented women shaping its future. At Sourgum, the women are especially close-knit and supportive. My advice is to build those relationships, learn from people who've been here, and remember that no one succeeds alone.

Waste and recycling has operated the same way for a long time. It's one of the last essential industries to be modernized. Haulers are often local, independent businesses with no universal standard for service, communication, or pricing. That can lead to inconsistent experiences, hidden fees, and limited visibility for customers.

There's also a significant education gap. Waste streams and recycling rules vary by municipality, and many businesses and residents are unsure what can be recycled, how materials should be separated, or where their waste ultimately goes. Closing that gap requires clearer communication, better data, and greater transparency.

At Sourgum, we are working to unify a fragmented network of haulers around shared standards for reliability, transparency, and control. It's a complex challenge, but creating a better system is possible.

Honesty and transparency are important to me, especially because it's rare. When you lead with those values, it gives others permission to be more open, direct, and straightforward as well. Difficult conversations are often the only way to truly understand one another, address what's not working, and move forward in a meaningful and productive way.