Finding the Right Path

Meet Claudiegh Decoline, a manufacturing specialist at Commonwealth Fusion Systems by day and a Northeastern graduate student by night pursuing a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering paired with a Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership from The Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership.

A Massachusetts native, Claudiegh studied mechanical engineering in her undergraduate career at UMass Lowell. She often found herself pondering the “why” behind processes and wondering how to best address pain points, streamline communication practices, and bridge the gap between design and execution. This led her to Northeastern’s Industrial Engineering program, with which she’s hoping to master new challenges and scale her career impact. Always a driven individual, she crossed paths with the Gordon Institute through an intern at Commonwealth Fusion Systems and was immediately intrigued by the practical application of the curriculum in day-to-day work.

“I wanted a toolkit I could use on a Monday morning to drive actual results.”

Turning Concepts into Action

On top of her daily workload, Claudiegh is making improvements to managing factory inventory and increasing flow in a work cell using a systemic approach for her Challenge Project. The Gordon program has changed her way of thinking from being a technical contributor under the direction of others to being a strategic partner, giving her confidence to lead these efforts.

 

A group of 2026 Gordon Fellow candidates at Camp Edwards for a leadership retreat.

 

 

 

Beyond how much clarity and direction the program has given her, she loves how the program has given her the opportunity to form deeper connections with her colleagues, meet leaders in the industry, and establish new connections with her classmates.

“The cohort is composed of students that come from different backgrounds…often facing similar leadership challenges. Discussing our challenge projects, daily struggles, and ambitions has provided me with a broader perspective on [the] industry that I couldn’t have gained in a traditional classroom setting.”

Looking Ahead

After graduating, Claudiegh is eager to establish a new rhythm in her career, applying all of the skills she’s gained through the Gordon Institute. She looks forward to continuing to grow in her field and embracing leadership opportunities within her company to make a meaningful impact in this next chapter.