Aaron Dorval Composes a Life of Systems, Curiosity, & Consulting, From Call Centers to Save Me CJ

Aaron Dorval joins The Fargo Five to unpack a career that spans from a 17-year-old call center agent in Dickinson, North Dakota to a global business analyst consulting for companies around the world through Humana. What starts as a conversation about honesty and transparency quickly turns into a deep exploration of how systems thinking, curiosity, and problem-solving can reshape entire organizations. Aaron shares how he optimized airline ticketing workflows using early automation tricks, got written up for “not working” because he was too efficient, and ultimately turned that into a 25-year career building processes, leading analytics teams, and consulting across Fortune-level operations.The discussion moves through his unconventional path with no formal college education, instead relying on certifications like Six Sigma, Lean, and Agile, along with relentless self-teaching. From working in corporate travel for companies like Oracle and McDonald’s to inventing patented workflow systems at UnitedHealthcare, Aaron breaks down how identifying problems first, rather than applying pre-defined skills, became the core driver of his success.The episode also explores Fargo connections, including his music career with bands like Chaos And Question and Save Me CJ, and collaborations with local figures like Danny Vyechow (Cow). Aaron reflects on touring, recording, and playing alongside acts like Buckcherry and Smash Mouth, while also promoting upcoming shows at Unhinged in West Fargo and appearances at the Red River Valley Fair alongside Stone Temple Pilots, Candlebox, and Pop Evil.At its core, this episode is about mindset; how curiosity, systems thinking, and a willingness to explore the unknown can create opportunities that don’t follow a traditional path, all while balancing creativity through music and a global consulting career.