Growing up in Burlingame, California, a small suburb south of San Francisco, Xavier Bruening never expected that his college journey would lead him to the wrestling room at Iowa State University. His story is defined by taking chances, trusting his instincts, and committing fully to the opportunities in front of him.
Bruening, now a senior, first applied to Iowa State on a whim, not anticipating that it would become the place where he would spend the next four years. He visited Ames in January 2022, and the moment he stepped on campus, he felt an immediate connection. He committed on the spot and never looked back.
Bruening arrived that fall as a freshman and walk‑on for the Iowa State wrestling team, a position he earned only weeks before moving in. Joining the team added structure and intensity to his college experience, becoming a defining part of his routine and personal development. At the same time, he declared a major in supply chain management (SCM). With global supply chains facing widespread disruption in 2022, the field captured his interest. He had always been drawn to logistics, planning, and efficiency, so the major aligned naturally with his way of thinking and the problems he enjoys solving.
Despite the demands of being a Division I student-athlete, Bruening makes it a priority to stay engaged across campus. He is a member of the Supply Chain Club, although Tuesday practices often prevent him from attending meetings. He participates in Ivy events whenever possible, including the college’s Meals from the Heartland volunteer event during Business Week. He also serves as the treasurer for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. This role allows him to apply skills from his business coursework in a real leadership setting, something he values deeply.
“Everyone truly pushes you to be the best version of yourself.”
— Xavier Bruening
Bruening finds it difficult to choose only one person who has influenced him most during his time at Iowa State. If he had to pick, he credits Stephanie Larson, assistant director of undergraduate student services for being a constant source of support over the last four years.
He also highlights several Ivy faculty members who have shaped his academic journey:
- Anne Clem, Elaine R. Everson Teaching Fellow of accounting, who inspired him to pursue an accounting minor.
- Haozhe Chen, professor and chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management, who has been a reliable sounding board for all things supply chain.
- Frank Montabon, Morrill Professor of supply chain management, who helped him realize that supply chain management was the right major for him.
Bruening believes this collective support is what makes Ivy special. “Everyone truly pushes you to be the best version of yourself,” he said.
Ivy’s events have played a significant role in Bruening’s development, offering experiences that extend far beyond traditional coursework. Among these, the Voorhees Supply Chain Conference stands out as the most impactful. He first attended the college’s annual event because his coach, Kevin Dresser, was speaking. He was curious to see how his coach approached team- and supply-chain-related topics in a professional setting. Once there, he discovered how valuable the conference was as a whole, which led him to return twice more.
“From the very beginning, Xavier stood out because he was fully engaged in class and always asked thoughtful questions,” said Frank Montabon, Morrill Professor of supply chain management.
“What impressed me most wasn’t a single moment, but his consistency. He showed up prepared every day and produced strong work time after time,” Montabon said. “He’s taken full advantage of the opportunities in our supply chain program and manages his schedule well, which is why he’s able to participate in events like the Voorhees Supply Chain Conference. Xavier isn’t afraid of hard work, or of asking questions when others might hold back, and with his competitive streak from wrestling, he has all the tools to thrive in his career.”
The Voorhees Supply Chain Conference provided Bruening with a deeper understanding of the industry, meaningful networking opportunities, and exposure to tools used in real supply chains. One session that stood out featured Best Buy’s use of artificial intelligence to clean unstructured data sets to improve efficiency in its reverse supply chain.
Bruening also gained a new appreciation for faculty research after hearing presentations from professors, including Montabon, on his work developing tools to bring transparency to forced labor in global supply chains. These experiences helped him see both the academic and real‑world sides of supply chain management.
Bruening also values Ivy’s career-focused events, including the career fair and SCM Night, which have helped him explore opportunities and connect with professionals in the field.
“From the very beginning, Xavier stood out because he was fully engaged in class and always asked thoughtful questions. What impressed me most wasn’t a single moment, but his consistency.”
— Frank Montabon
Over the course of his four years at Iowa State, Bruening has seen a clear transformation in how he approaches academics, athletics, and personal development. He arrived on campus as a student who did well enough in high school but had not yet learned to apply himself fully. Through the structure of college life, the rigor of Division I athletics, and the expectations within the Ivy College of Business, he discovered how capable he truly is when he commits fully to his goals.
He has developed a strong sense of resourcefulness and problem‑solving, along with the intangible skills that come from balancing demanding schedules and high standards. His degree represents more than academic achievement. It demonstrates his ability to work in teams, manage long‑term commitments, and meet challenges with consistency and discipline. He also values the professional network he is joining through Ivy, which he sees as a powerful resource as he prepares for the next stage of his career.
One of the biggest lessons Bruening has learned from the supply chain management program is that there is no single path forward. The curriculum exposes students to every aspect of the supply chain. He knows he will learn the specifics on the job, but Ivy has given him a strong overview that keeps his options open. As a student-athlete, structure is essential. Bruening often shares this with younger athletes and incoming students.
“My routine is what allows me to succeed,” he said. On days with both morning and afternoon workouts, his schedule is nearly identical. He does his homework and works out at the same time every day, and keeps his classes as consistent as possible. He believes that consistency creates excellence.
His daily routine typically looks like this:
6:15 a.m. — Wake up
7:00 a.m. — Lift
9:00 a.m. — Breakfast
9:55 a.m. — Class
11:00 a.m. — Snack
11:45 a.m. — Quick nap
1:00 to 2:30 p.m. — School time
2:45 p.m. — Treatment
3:45 p.m. — Workout
6:00 p.m. — Dinner
Evening — Free time
“Boring is good,” Bruening said. “Boring is what gets you ahead. Having a set school time helps me do my best work. If I rush, I do not get to stop early. I use that time to revise or study. It keeps me accountable and balanced.”
Outside of academics and athletics, Bruening finds purpose in serving others. He works as a youth wrestling official, giving back to the sport that shaped him. Since July 1, he has completed 50 hours of volunteer work.
He is also a member of multiple organizations, including Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma, and Alpha Lambda Delta, and serves as one of Iowa State’s representatives to the Big 12 Beyond Borders program. Since 2025, he has worked as a teaching assistant for Amber Bellville, associate teaching professor in supply chain management.
To follow Xavier Bruening’s collegiate and professional career, connect with him on LinkedIn.
