Griffin Jackson Speaks on Childhood in Hershey, Supply Chain Management & Life in Chicago | Pro Network
Chicago, IL -- Griffin Jackson is an American supply chain manager and businessman from Hershey, Pennsylvania. He's currently a marketing equipment management supervisor at PepsiCo, which is a global giant in the food and beverage industry with over 23 brands generating more than $1 billion each in annual sales. Jackson graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 2023, where he majored in Supply Chain Management and Information Systems with a minor in Legal Environment of Business. Jackson additionally is an alumni of Penn State's Schreyer Honors College (SHC), a top undergraduate program in the nation.
Griffin Jackson:
Reese, it isn’t often that a young but aging boring professional is asked to be interviewed about their day-to-day.
I appreciate you asking me and thinking I have valuable insights for your audience.
My guess is that most of your following stems from the sports world.
Although, I’m not shooting three pointers, fielding ground balls, or really able to even jump anymore, the lessons that I learned through sports, and the people I met are along the way helped me achieve the goals that I have since set out for myself.
What I thought then was, ‘If I don’t play in college, all this time traveling for AAU and spending early mornings in the gym, it is all going to be a waste.’ That’s false. I was too young and naïve at the time, but it is extremely likely that the lessons you learn through sports will last longer in life than your athletic ability.
Me and you go way back.
Seventh grade playing AAU ball would be my guess?
You were the typical, ‘I loved being on the same team as you, but hated going against you.’
Our senior year in 2019, I scored 25 at Hanna, but I believe you were hurt. The next game at Hershey you were back healthy, and I had 0.
Both my aunts attended that game, so thanks for nothing.
Not sure if it was your defense or your dad yelling “shooter” in the stands every time I touched the ball or a mixture of both.
You certainly figure people out and the way they play after all that time.
It still holds weight as of today.
Griffin, welcome to the show. Hope this session suits you to your needs, even if it doesn't smell like chocolate in the environment. Let's jump into conversation. How did you get your start in your industry? Take us down the rabbit hole.
“I’ve always loved a healthy little competition, so I knew early on that business was probably the right space for me. That mindset led me to the Smeal College of Business at Penn State. I had no idea what major I wanted to declare when I first arrived. I gave everything a fair shot. Accounting, marketing, finance, but then came my first supply chain class, and everything just clicked.
That class was taught by the legendary Dr. Bob Novack, who spent 37 years at Penn State and helped launch the careers of over 25,000 students. I was lucky enough to be in his class during his final year, and on day one, he said something that completely sold me,
‘You are the electricians of business. When the lights are on and everything is working, no one notices. But when things break, all eyes are on you.’
That kind of pressure might sound intimidating, but to me it sounded exciting. In sports or business, when people depend on you, that’s when you get the minutes that matter.
As for how I got started at PepsiCo, it’s a bit of a funny story. I was attending a virtual ‘bonus class’ about corporate culture for some extra credit. I’ll admit, my camera was off, I was half-listening on my phone at the gym, just waiting for the QR code at the end, but then a PepsiCo executive with a British accent said something that made me pay attention. ‘Being included is getting asked to the dance. Belonging is asking someone else to dance.’
That line stuck with me. It still does. I knew I wanted to be part of a company that thinks about culture in that way.
A few months later, I walked into the massive supply chain career fair at Penn State. One of those events where you're sweating in your suit after walking up Shortlidge Avenue, and working up the nerve to talk to recruiters. PepsiCo was at the top of my list, partly because I was dreaming of moving to Chicago, and Gatorade, which is a PepsiCo brand, is headquartered there.
I made it clear what I was looking for and why I was passionate about them. Of course I even quoted that same executive from the bonus class in my interview, and after a few rounds, they offered me a 10-week internship in Chicago. On day one of that internship, I opened my laptop to find a welcome email from that same PepsiCo executive I had quoted, welcoming me to the company.
Now I’m in my third year with the company, and every step of the way, I’ve felt like I belong, thanks to the people, the culture, and the leaders who’ve believed in me.”
You grew up in Chocolatetown that’s widely known for its history. Additionally, this isn’t your first rodeo as you were a guest star on Sammsy. How was life growing up in Hershey?
“I couldn’t imagine growing up anywhere else.
Hershey is one of those rare places where you can walk to school with your best friends, smell chocolate in the air while playing shortstop, and hear a major concert echoing through town while eating dinner on your back porch. The list of towns where that’s normal? Just one.
Growing up in a tourist town like Hershey, you get used to people thinking it’s all roller coasters and chocolate bars. Don’t get me wrong, that’s part of the charm. But, behind all that is a tight-knit, hardworking community that’s incredibly proud of where they’re from.
What makes Hershey truly special, at least to me, is the strength of the friendships it creates. A lot of people drift from their high school circles, but in Hershey, those bonds tend to last. On a recent bike ride with my friend Luke (Hedrick), you know him well, we started talking about why that is and we both agreed on one thing: The families who live in Hershey really choose to be there. They work hard, they plant roots, and they see it as a great place to raise a family. Due to their decision, we got to grow up alongside one another.
The legacy of Milton Hershey is also a huge part of what gives the town its heart. His mission was always about creating opportunities for others, not just through the company or the town, but through the Milton Hershey School, which continues to change lives. I’ve seen that firsthand through Luke’s work there, and it’s something I always talk about when people in Chicago ask what makes Hershey different. Most people can’t believe it’s real, and honestly, sometimes neither can I.
Of course, it wasn’t all bike rides and candy bars. A huge part of growing up was school, and we were lucky to have teachers who poured so much into us. Names like Coach Bean, Coach Schuyler, Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Ives, Mr. Gustantino, Mrs. Shirk, Mr. Rogers. These people made a lasting impact, whether they realize it or not.
I also can’t talk about Hershey without talking about Hershey Basketball. Coach (Paul) Blackburn is someone who means a lot to me. Not just for what he taught on the court, but for who he is off of it. Watching him lead the team back to the 5A State Championship last year was incredible, especially knowing he hadn’t been there since his playing days at Carlisle back in the ‘80s. There’s actually a mural of his team in the Carlisle gym, and he’s the only one in it without a basketball in his hands. That’s Coach. He always says, ‘You don’t need the ball to make an impact.’
As for the current squad, seeing Cam Sweeney lead the team to a State Championship in the Giant Center was no surprise to me. I grew up two blocks from the Sweeneys, with St. Joan of Arc’s outdoor court in between us. Cam was always out there. Cold, dark, it didn’t matter. My mom used to worry if he was ever going to go home. He earned every bit of that success, and I’ll definitely be cheering on him, Coach Blackburn, and the whole team this season.”
You most recently graduated from Penn State two years ago. Being in the Schreyer Honors College, while obtaining a Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management and having involvement in THON. How was your collegiate experience?
“Just like the way I carry so much Hershey pride, I carry a lot of pride being a Penn State alum too. It’s no secret that Penn State is one of those Big10 State schools. It comes with partying, greek life, ‘sub-par’ football, and so many opportunities for fun. There are many opportunities to get distracted from the reason why you are there in the first place. To get a degree and to do well.
I think I did a pretty good job in realizing that was my ultimate north star in State College. I remember more than anything spending a ton of time in the business building, late at night in an empty class room reviewing my notes from class, studying for the next test, or working on a project.
Schreyer Honors College made that Penn State community feel a little less overwhelming with smaller class sizes, a more personal connection with professors, and a group of students in your major that you stuck with until you graduated.
For example, those intro business classes could sometimes be held in an auditorium with 300 plus students. Schreyer class sizes were never any larger than 30 students.
Schreyer also got you out of the textbook and scantrons more than a typical class. I worked on real world projects immediately in partnership with companies including Unilever, Hershey’s, Rockwell Automation, Barilla, Bose just to name a few off the top of my head. Having that experience to talk to when it came time to interview with companies at the career fair was an advantage.
Schreyer was also difficult. Your golden ticket to graduating with honors was to write and present a thesis. My thesis, titled ‘Quality Produce, Quality Slotting’ was a 100 plus page plan for how a large grocery should design their warehouse placements depending on the seasonality of the items. In short, you want items that are in high demand at that time of the season to be closer together in the warehouse, so it takes less total time to ‘pick’ each selection. That thesis was my first published piece of work, I believe this interview would be my second.
All in all, I really enjoyed my time in Happy Valley and my diploma is one of the few decorated pieces that I have that I took the time to hang up on my wall. I make it a point to get back there at least once a year to see my college buddies, have a tailgate, and more important than anything, to remind myself what mountains look like. I miss mountains more than I thought I would, especially this time of year with all the leaves changing colors.”
Taking the next step in your young career, you went back to your roots as you moved to Chicago. Funny enough, I heard about the move while talking to big bro a couple of years ago but I was happy for you. Back in the midwest, how’s Chi-Town been treating you?
“I’ve gotta give all the credit to my roommates, Glen, Gordon, Zack, and Logan.
As crazy awesome as they are, I’ll never forget how easy they made the move half-way across the country.
Logan and Zack have been my best friends since before we could even reach the marble jar Logan’s mom kept for us. We’d earn marbles for doing good things with how much time we spent at the Weavers. Logan's mom probably just needed a way to keep us in line. Most of our days were spent running around Logan’s treehouse on Chocolate Avenue…, and now we live together. Not in a treehouse, but a real-life house in downtown Chicago. It's surreal.
Zack moved away in fourth grade, but came back to graduate with us. Logan went on to play soccer at Northwestern, where he met Glen and Gordon, my other two roommates. Now basically honorary childhood friends. The Northwestern crew has introduced me to a ton of people I genuinely hope stick around for a while as I'm with them every weekend.
I know any city can feel like home with the right people, but I’m not gonna lie, Chicago just hits different. The architecture, the food, the neighborhoods, the energy, the walkability, it has everything. Everyone I’ve convinced to visit ends up saying the same thing: ‘Wait… Chicago is actually amazing.’ Like, I’ve been trying to tell you.
Wrigley games in the summer, jumping in Lake Michigan, exploring new neighborhoods, there’s always something going on. Sure, the winters are long and other things, but the restaurants, bars, and Bulls games do a solid job of keeping morale high.
I did think about moving back to the East Coast, but then my sister and brother-in-law moved back here with my niece, Harper. My dad and aunt followed not long after. Most Sundays, I’m over at Harper’s, getting fake ice cream from her toy stand. Thanks to my brother Danny. The family’s still growing as niece number two is on the way due Christmas Day. Best Christmas present ever.”
Having experience with PepsiCo, you’ve used your SC credentials to the best of your ability. I’m more of a Vita Coco person to my liking, but you are taking on much responsibility to get your career started. How are you navigating the food and beverage industry?
“Working at a company like PepsiCo comes with a full plate, literally and figuratively. From day one, I’ve had to learn fast, deliver consistently, and look for ways to improve what’s already working. But, honestly, I’ve been grateful to feel truly depended on so early in my career.
My first year and a half was spent with an organization called the Customer Integration Center (CIC), which I like to describe as ‘the middle of it all.’ You’re the bridge between the sales team’s promises and the supply chain’s ability to deliver. Every day was a juggling act. Coordinating with demand planning, managing fire drills sometimes multiple at once, and learning how to separate emotion from execution.
That’s one of the biggest lessons I took away early on. Emotions are valuable, but they can cloud your problem-solving if you let them. In supply chain, the problems don’t stop, so you can’t let each one drain your battery.
Earlier this year, I transitioned into Pepsi Equipment Services, which is the behind-the-scenes team responsible for the coolers and fountain machines that keep PepsiCo beverages cold and flowing. The unofficial motto, ‘Cold is sold,’ as it’s true. We hustle to make sure the equipment is in the right place, at the right time, and always working.
One of my first responsibilities was supporting the Gatorade Team Sports Managers (TSMs), which are four rockstars who maintain relationships with top-tier athletic programs across the country. I help make sure professional teams, major universities, high-profile high schools, and even events like the MLB and WNBA All-Star Games have the right gear to keep their Gatorade cold.
Whether it's a locker room fridge or a training room fountain machine, I do everything I can have those arrive early and stay running smoothly, so our teams and athletes never have to think twice about it. Athletes such as Josh Allen, Julio Rodríguez, Matthew Stafford, and Puka Nacua are a big part of the Gatorade brand. I take a lot of pride in being even a small part of delivering for them. The last thing a TSM should have to worry about is a fridge not working and my job is to make sure they don’t.
Once I found my rhythm there, I expanded my focus into areas like reducing wasteful spend, improving inventory tracking, and learning to support major national accounts like Papa John’s, Dunkin’, Subway, and Buffalo Wild Wings with their equipment installs.
More recently, I’ve been given the chance to step into a people leadership role. It’s something I’ve always looked forward to. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t come with its own challenges. When I first joined, I’d hop on calls and hear someone say, ‘Here’s our new boss,’ and I could see the surprise on some faces. I’m young, and that doesn’t always match what people picture when they hear ‘manager.’ That has been my fuel for these past 10 months.
I learned what I’ve learned from the coaches and managers I’ve had. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve carried with me came from Coach Blackburn, who used to say is, ‘Do what you do best.’ To me in high school that meant to never shoot layups and stick to shooting threes. In business, it means making sure people are spending their time on the things they naturally excel at. That was my starting point as a manager. To learn what my team members were working on, understand what they do best, and to make sure the two were aligned. It took months of observing, asking questions, and earning trust. Once I encouraged my team to be unapologetically confident in their strengths, and tried to align their work with those strengths, everything shifted. Morale went up, output improved, and our goals got sharper.
I’m a big believer that people shouldn’t always have to change who they are to fit a job. Sometimes the job should evolve to let that person shine. Of course, expectations are expectations, but especially in supply chain, where there’s rarely just one right answer, there’s room for personality and skill to lead the way.
I’m lucky to be part of a team and have a manager who supports that kind of growth, even in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment.”
I know you’re a diehard Chicago sports fan. The city has seen high’s, while there’s been insane low’s that would drive any human crazy. To run it by folks, who are your favorite teams and why?
“This interview was going so well, then you had to bring up my biggest insecurity.
Yes, I’m a proud and consistently heartbroken Bears, Cubs, and Bulls fan. Most days, I can’t explain why. I blame my parents. They grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, listening to Cubs games on the radio, watching MJ win six championships, and witnessing the ’85 Bears. The greatest NFL team of all time bring home a Super Bowl. So naturally, I inherited the optimism, but without all the winning.
One of my all-time favorite memories is watching the Cubs win the 2016 World Series in Game 7 with my dad. That was pure joy, and gave me enough emotional fuel to keep me believing for the next few decades. Outside of that moment, though, it’s been a little rough. But, I stay loyal, keep believing, and remain just slightly obnoxious to my friends about how this is the year things turn around.
You’re not a real sports fan unless you come with strong opinions, so I’ll spare the hot takes and just give you two facts. Michael Jordan clears LeBron and Caleb Williams is a franchise quarterback.”
Diving into information systems in the past, the rise of artificial intelligence tools is evident. I remember a professor at State warning our class to not cheat through ChatGPT, while I raised the question one lecture, “What’s AI?” It blew my mind on discovering where we are heading. How do you view intelligence? Can you predict its future?
“As much as AI is helpful, there is something to be said for having genuine intelligence and thinking through problems on your own. Why AI doesn’t keep me up at night is because it cannot take the place of your genuine relationships that we have with others. ‘People make the work, work.’ I feel fortunate that AI was not around during my high school days because I feel like it would’ve corrupted that learning experience. As much as AI is impressive, I believe most of the things I view AI doing is making memes and fake videos. Not taking over a whole company.
At Pepsi, a lot of our information systems are ‘legacy systems,’ meaning they have been in place for decades. While there is a push to make updates here and there to these systems, complete overhauls are time consuming and costly and never seem to go as planned.
I’m not the one in the room making those decisions, but here’s how I think about it: Whether you’re a system or a person, you don’t leave a legacy unless you work. AI might bring speed, but there’s a deep, human understanding of how our business runs. Little details, relationships, and judgment calls that AI can’t fully replicate. At least not yet.
So, while I’m all for exploring AI’s potential, I still believe intelligence isn’t just about how fast you can process information. It’s about knowing what matters, why it matters, and how to act on it, especially when people are involved. That part, I don’t see changing anytime soon.”
How do you interpret the word, investment?
“Investment to me is to keep things in perspective. Letting myself grow in wisdom. Time lets that happen. Listen more than talk. Making money matters, giving matters more. Success matters, character matters more. Seeking and getting opportunities matters, creating them for others matters more. Build others’ capacity. Give back to the community. Keep moving the needle each day in everything I do. Take care and love my family. Learn more from my mistakes than wins. Enjoy the awesomeness and beauty in life and what it has to offer. Take time to stop and smell the petunias as I’ve I planted some this year. Try not to waste time on the things that don’t really matter as sometimes you don’t always know that in the moment. The days, even though it has only been a few years in a hopefully long journey, have gone quickly, but if I keep those things above in perspective, it will be a safe investment. No matter how big or small the return may be.”
What have you learned about yourself in the last couple of years? Do you have trouble acknowledging how far you’ve come?
“Honestly, I don’t spend a lot of time looking back on myself. Maybe I’ll do that when I’m retired, sitting on a golf course, patting myself on the back and treating myself to an extra hot dog at the turn. But, for now, I still feel pretty young in my career to be doing a congratulations.”
“That said, I do have a bit of paranoia and I think that’s actually a good thing.” He continued. “Walking to and from work every day, I remind myself just how lucky I am. This job, my roommates, living in this city, the support from my family and colleagues. I always tell myself, ‘Okay Griffin, don’t mess this up.’ Beyond that, I’m pretty fortunate not to have many regrets or things keeping me up at night, except maybe that never-ending to-do list for the next day. Honestly, as long as my mom keeps having her signature cinnamon bread waiting for me whenever I come home, I figure I’m doing a good enough job.”
Health is a nuanced topic as a lot tend to overlook the subject. As we’re getting older, we have to be more alert of what we put in our system, the mental side, dieting and what’s in our environment. What does health mean to you in order to operate as an individual?
“For me, the habits that stick are the ones you actually enjoy doing. I look forward to Tuesday morning runs at 7 a.m. with a group of coworkers. We run at sunrise with the Sears Tower watching over us, and Lake Michigan stretching out in the distance. Honestly, there’s no better way to start the day.
Because of the wind, and probably my lack of reps, I’ve moved from being more of a shooter to playing post and mid-range passing. No offense, but watching 50-year-old dads hit threes in the early morning makes me really happy. People say golf is the ultimate work networking game, but I think basketball might be even better. Beyond hoops, I like breaking a sweat with runs along the river, steady incline walks at the gym, and sticking to a lifting routine that’s been saved in my notes app for over five years now.
That said, what I find tougher than staying physically active is handling burnout. Luckily, my one manager sets the tone well, ‘If you feel burnt out, you’re worthless to me.’ Maybe dramatic, but there’s truth there. Life is so much bigger than the screen we stare at all day. If we want to perform at our best, we have to listen to our bodies and minds when they’re tired or aching. The work will wait. Take care of yourself and come back recharged because our energy doesn’t always align with the clock.”
What are the most important factors with establishing relationships?
“I think relationships really come down to two simple things: listening and winning. The first thing is listening. Honestly, the best way to connect with anyone whether it’s a coworker, friend, stranger on the train is just to listen. I’ve got a whole wall of sticky notes next to my desk filled with the most random details about people. Their dog’s name, favorite shows, vacation dreams, even their kid’s dentist appointment. I love finding little ways to bring those things up again later. Quoting their favorite show or just asking how their weekend went. It turns small talk into real connection. Communication is key, and it always starts with listening.
Next, would be winning in the everyday sense. Now, I don’t mean winning like taking home trophies or awards, those are nice too. I mean the kind of wins that happen when you show up, give your best, and support each other. Whether it’s finishing a project, nailing a tough practice, or just having a great day with your team or friends, those wins build trust and momentum. When people feel like they’re part of something positive, something that’s moving forward, relationships naturally get stronger. It becomes less about ‘me’ and more about ‘we.’
At the end of the day, life and relationships can be fragile. I try to protect them by showing up, listening, and celebrating every little win we can.”
What has been the driving force in leading you to become the person you always dreamed of becoming?
“Growing up as the youngest, I just wanted to be cool like my older siblings and honestly, they still are. We’ve been through some tough days together, and that bond means everything to me. I truly see myself as a reflection of my three older siblings. Taking the best qualities from each of them and making them my own.
Starting with the oldest, Katie as she’s currently deployed overseas as a Master Sergeant in the military. Katie has taught me the power of determination and the importance of running toward the unknown. That’s where you truly make your mark. Shoutout to my brother-in-law Josh. Katie wouldn’t be Katie without you.
Then there’s my sister Kelly, who I not only get my goofy smirk from, but also my drive and business mindset. Kelly is a Vice President at Ketchum, a marketing agency, and she’s shown me that no matter how tough things get. believing in yourself is all you need to rise above. Shoutout to my brother-in-law Alex because Kelly wouldn’t be Kelly without you, and honestly, I wouldn’t be me without you either. I’m lucky to have a matching tattoo with you.
Finally, my brother Danny. My sanity check on those long walks home. If you know Danny, you know he’s the kindest soul. He’s taught me that true courage is showing empathy and being a great teammate. He took a ton of charges back in high school. That’s how you know he’s a team player, and why he’s going to be such a superstar at his new company, The United Way.
Having reminders of determination, belief, and kindness on speed dial with these three is a treasure I don’t take for granted.”
Close to wrapping this up, but let’s think through this question. What do you see yourself accomplishing in the next five years? How do you visualize yourself?
“It’s a question work asks me all the time during year-end reviews, and honestly, I don’t always have a clear answer. So I flip it and ask myself the opposite: Where was I five years ago?
Five years ago, I was a freshman in college. Confused, distracted, unsteady, and pasting $1 tuna packets onto stale bread. I never would’ve imagined that I’d be living in my dream city with two of my childhood best friends, working for a Fortune 500 company, collaborating with sports teams, and leading a team at 25 years old. If someone had told me that five years ago, it would’ve sounded too good to be true.
To answer your question, I hope that in five years, I’ll continue to surprise myself and look back again saying, ‘I didn’t expect to be here, but I’m happy I am.’
I don’t have a concrete answer right now, and maybe I won’t until I get there. That’s part of the fun.”
Thank you Griffin for joining me in the network. Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation for people? Any last words?
“I have a full journal of inspiration quotes, and instead of listing them all, I’d rather share a story that sums all of them up. I can’t remember where I heard this but it’s the tale of the two mice. It goes something along the lines of this.
Two mice fell into a bucket of cream. The first mouse gave up and drowned in the cream. The second mouse though kept churning and churning those legs until eventually, the cream turned to butter and it was able to crawl out.
Whatever you’ve done, whatever you do, and whatever you have yet to accomplish, be the second mouse to turn the milk into butter. When you climb out, don’t forget to share that butter with others who believed in you along the way.
Thanks Reese, I had a lot of fun doing this and keep up the good work.”
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