From the moment Samantha “Sam” Hockenberry stepped onto the vast University of Florida campus — abuzz with an endless sea of students and studies — she felt part of a close-knit family.
For one, she embraced all things UF and dove into activities. She joined clubs. She struck up conversations with strangers. She was the 2012 Gator Growl executive producer.
That “Yes” attitude still propels this proud Gator graduate through life. Success greeted her right out of the gate.
While a student at UF, she interned at Amazon, and upon graduation in 2012 with her bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering, Amazon offered her a job. Instead, she accepted a position at IT consulting firm Tribridge, where she found herself working in the oil and gas industry as an IT business solutions consultant.
In 2015, she joined Amazon, where she stayed for 10 years working her way up in operations. She began as an area manager but wound up leading central operations. This entailed automating and scaling delivery for Amazon’s specialty businesses, including Whole Foods.
“I then went on to lead Sub-Same Day operations, which involved shipping items to customers in five hours or less. This was Amazon’s fastest, most sustainable and profitable business. During my time there, I grew the business four times its size over four years to over 60 buildings and led 27,000 people,” she said.
In September 2024, she started her own company, INDesign Innovations.
“We are an industrial design company powered by AI and machine learning that is disrupting the industry by producing code-compliant designs in less than 48 hours,” she explained.
Hockenberry credits her time at UF, and specifically ISE, for her career success. ISE’s Serdar Kirli, Ph.D., was particularly impactful, she said, noting she still applies his lessons in her career.
She also was active in the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and Florida Blue Key.
“As a Gator, you will naturally be offered opportunities to work at the best companies globally. I took a ‘non-traditional’ ISE path where I didn’t work in strictly engineering roles right away, but I have come full circle, now leading INDesign Innovations, which focuses directly on core ISE principles,” she said.
She calls ISE a “secret weapon” in her problem-solving portfolio.
“It taught me how to approach cost-cutting, prioritization and how to roll up my sleeves and dabble in coding to remove small rocks before they become boulders. Engineers approach problems with a unique lens, and that perspective is invaluable in any industry,” she added.
In 2022, Hockenberry was named as one of the 40 Under 40 Gators and she is currently organizing an upcoming spring hackathon.
As an in-demand UF Engineering graduate, Hockenberry has some thoughts on success, studies and life at — and beyond — Gator Nation.
How did your UF experience impact your life?
UF gave me everything. Professionally, it opened doors to internships and eventually a full-time career at major companies like Amazon. It taught me the value of leadership and how to influence through data (shoutout to ISE). Personally, it gave me a lifelong group of best friends who continue to wow me every day.
I still keep in touch with many faculty members who have transitioned from mentors to dear friends. They care about your success and stay invested in you long after graduation. They provided me with encouragement, confidence and grit to stick it out when things got tough.
What do you do when you are not working?
I’m an avid creator and entrepreneur at heart. I’ve launched a few lifestyle brands and apps just for the fun of building something new. My friends know how much I love to travel and experience new cultures; on my last big trip, my friend and I even spun up a podcast to document it all.
I am also passionate about giving back, so I am the president of the Pryor Family Foundation, which helps children experiencing unexpected adversity stay in uninterrupted education. On the side, I also serve on the University of Florida Alumni Association Board of Directors and am on the ISE Advisory Board.
What are the most valuable takeaways you’ve learned since graduating?
The Gator Nation is truly global. If you ever feel lost, I would bet there is a Gator down the street (or at a local Gator Club) ready to lend a helping hand. When you graduate, you remain a part of this nation, and that work continues — whether it be through your local club or rooting for a National Championship. Beyond that, stay curious and keep learning, because you never know where life will lead you. Go Gators!