Mercedes Almirón: Building New Skills Through Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Mercedes Almirón came to Villanova’s Lean Six Sigma program looking to broaden her professional skills beyond her existing field. As an environmental engineer, she was interested in learning a more structured approach to process improvement and understanding how Lean Six Sigma could apply across industries.

What led you to pursue Lean Six Sigma Green Belt education at Villanova?

I wanted to learn something completely new to me and expand my professional skills. I was interested in understanding how to identify inefficiencies, improve processes and use data to find the root causes of problems.

I also saw Lean Six Sigma as knowledge that could create future opportunities in areas such as continuous improvement, process optimization and quality management.

What was the most valuable thing you learned, and how were you able to apply it?

The most valuable thing I learned was how to approach problems in a more structured and systematic way. Using the DMAIC framework, I was able to analyze a real-world process step by step, identify sources of inefficiency and focus on root causes rather than symptoms.

The experience helped me develop a more analytical mindset and showed me how Lean Six Sigma tools can be applied across different processes, industries and workplace situations.

How did the program fit into your life?

The program was very well organized and fit well with my personal commitments. I was able to read the course material, complete assignments and watch recorded sessions at my own pace.

The live sessions were also scheduled at convenient times and gave me an opportunity to reinforce what I had learned. The structure and flexibility made it possible to keep up with the course while balancing my other commitments.

What would you tell another professional considering Lean Six Sigma training at Villanova?

I would recommend Lean Six Sigma education at Villanova to professionals looking to expand their knowledge and develop new skills. The methodology can be applied across many different industries and professional fields.

As an international student, I was initially a little concerned about taking the course in English, but I never had any problems understanding the material or following the sessions. The instructors were brilliant, and Ed [Hayes], in particular, was remarkable as a professional and as a person. He was knowledgeable, approachable and kind and always tried to make the most of every live session.

How has the experience influenced what you want to do next?

 As an environmental engineer, I found it especially valuable to step outside my usual field and gain knowledge that I can apply in different areas of my career.

The course also gave me a new way of thinking about problems and encouraged me to keep learning and looking for opportunities to improve. I’m excited to continue developing my skills in Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement.