Ready on day one

When Francis Serazio III graduated in 2024 with a double major in Purchasing and Supply Management and Logistics Management—and a minor in information systems—he didn’t step into the workforce uncertain.

He stepped into Amazon ready.

Now an operations leader, Serazio helps oversee a Sub Same-Day facility — meaning orders placed that day arrive that same day. The pace is fast. The decisions are immediate. The impact is visible.

And yet, he says the transition from CMU to Amazon felt natural.

“Through case competitions, internships, and student organizations, CMU really emphasized real-world application,” he said. “Seeing how teams work cross-functionally to tackle problems—that helped me transition right away.”

From case competitions to Amazon operations

During his time at CMU, Serazio completed two internships and a co-op. His experience at KBX Logistics and Stellantis helped him clarify what he wanted—and what he didn’t.

“Internships are just as important for figuring out what you don’t like as what you do,” he said.

While he enjoyed data analysis, he found himself drawn to operational roles with immediate, tangible impact. A business conference through CMU introduced him to Amazon leaders who encouraged him to apply.

“I competed in a lot of school-funded case competitions and was the data analysis lead for the General Motors competition,” he said. “It really helped me see how decisions connect across departments. That’s exactly how the real-world works.”

That exposure to cross-functional thinking—finance, logistics, operations, analytics—mirrored the complexity he now manages every day.

Choosing two-way doors

At Amazon, Serazio encountered a framework that reshaped how he thinks about career decisions.

“There are one-way doors and two-way doors,” he said. “A one-way door is a decision you can’t come back from. A two-way door is one you can walk back through.”

For students, he believes most early-career decisions are two-way doors.

“When you’re young, you have a lot more two-way doors than you realize,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to take the leap. If it doesn’t work out, you have 50, 60, 70 years to figure it out.”

That mindset reframed risk for him. His sophomore internship required moving away from home—something that once felt daunting.

“But it ended up being one of the most impactful experiences,” he said. “You learn independence. You learn who you are.”

Built in community, practiced in leadership

Serazio credits much of his preparation to mentors at CMU, including faculty members like Fred Lawrence and Evelyn Smith, whose passion for the field stood out immediately.

“You could tell they genuinely care about what they teach and about students learning,” he said. “Not just going through the material.”

That foundation carried into his leadership roles. In addition to serving as a student, executive board member, and advisory council participant in the Business Residential College, Serazio stepped into major leadership positions within both of his programs—serving as President of the Supply Chain Management Association and Vice President of the Logistics Management Council Honor Society.

Leading those organizations meant more than planning events. It meant learning how to influence peers, guide teams, and set expectations without authority.

“Being able to connect with people at my same level and have that respect, knowing my voice is heard, and they’re listening to what I’m having to say,” he said. “That’s probably the most impactful thing to my development.”

Through case competitions, conferences, and student-led initiatives, he saw how strong teams operate—and how details drive outcomes.

“The smallest things that we decide to focus on every single day have a bigger impact than just that small thing,” he said. “If you care about the little things, the big things will come easy.”

The community he built along the way continues to shape his life today.

“I have people from the BRC who are going to be in my wedding,” he said. “Those relationships don’t just stop at graduation.”

Leading at launch speed

At Amazon, Serazio operates in what he calls “the world’s largest startup”—a place constantly launching and refining new systems.

Some days are long. Others require stepping back and trusting his team.

“We call it work-life harmony,” he said. “There are days when I’m completely in it—launches, new delivery systems, scaling operations. And there are days where it’s a test of how well I’ve set my team up to run.”

Maintaining that harmony means staying grounded—through mentorship, golf, disconnecting from social media, and support from his fiancée, Abby Kuczmarski, and their tuxedo cat, Leo.

“Don’t try to be something you’re not,” he said. “Know your strengths. Approach problems in a way that’s genuine to you.

Ready—and still evolving

Looking back, Serazio says the only thing he might change is switching into supply chain and logistics one year earlier. He began as a finance major before discovering where his curiosity truly lived.

That discovery came from showing up—attending events, asking questions, exploring majors, and listening to faculty.

“You don’t have to have it all figured out,” he said. “Most decisions at that age are two-way doors.”

For students wondering whether the internships, case competitions, and late nights matter, his answer is simple.

“They absolutely do,” he said. “CMU gave me the tools. When I walked into Amazon, I felt ready.”