Fast 15: Joseph Leidy

Joseph Leidy was 19 when he joined water technology company Xylem. He’s worked his way up through six positions, gaining experience in the water and wastewater industry.

He was named to his existing role in August and covers all of North America, leading efforts to drive innovation and strategic growth in sustainable water management. As part of the global team, he contributes to international projects and addresses water challenges worldwide. He’s one of seven employees on the global project management team.

“They do treatment and emergency treatment … for spills and anything,” Leidy said. “They do lift station, which is like a wastewater treatment plant. They’ll do permanent installs — the Walmart campus is run by my pumps. They do underground mining, which is what I focus on.”

The pumps remove water from mines to allow machinery to operate. He recently went 1,500 feet underground to see a pump he’ll launch for a zinc mine in May. Along with mining, he’s also focused on construction. The company’s pumps comprise wastewater pumps across Arkansas and major U.S. cities. Xylem also works with organizations and communities to build filtered water systems worldwide.

A family friend referred him to join Xylem after struggling to afford college. As the youngest of four boys, he’s the first college graduate in his family.

He attended college while working full time at Xylem and graduated from Drexel University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree. He’s still attending the university seeking a Master of Business Administration, which he plans to earn in 2027.

He’s juggled work with college by taking classes in the morning and working in the evenings or vice versa. He even took separate courses at a college and a university to reduce class time. He mentors young professionals on his unconventional path.

The Philadelphia native moved to Northwest Arkansas during the COVID-19 pandemic. His fiancée attended the University of Arkansas, and he became a remote worker here. She later joined Walmart.

“I fell in love with everything about Arkansas,” Leidy said. “She took me to Devil’s Den, we did a drive-thru safari, we did an outdoor movie theater. It was completely different than the big city of Philly.”

He’s involved in multiple volunteer projects, including plogging and cycling events, and supports Dress for Success. He enjoys bike riding, hiking, camping, and traveling to try new foods.