Best Leadership – Inside Indiana Business

Who do you think is the leader? In our society, managers, government officials, and coaches are often referred to as leaders. And they can. Central Indiana has examples of outstanding leaders in all of these areas. But name recognition, status, and title alone do not make someone a leader.

It is important to give the word leader a broader perspective. They are also people who raise their hands at neighborhood gatherings or work for their communities without expecting recognition. Older people who have grown up and young people who don’t have their own front porch yet.

LEADERSHIP Indianapolis is at a polarizing and conflicting time in much of its history, but it is driven by the belief that community leadership is at its best when it is multigenerational, multicultural, and collaborative. It is working. Leadership is at its best when empathetic. Leadership works best when you are curious. Leadership is at its best when it focuses on the greater good.

Just a few weeks ago, Leadership Indianapolis hosted its first board meeting of the year. We asked everyone what they liked most about Indy. The common opinion was that this is a place where those interested in participating can achieve something. This is where you can reach out to potential mentors and collaborators for a cup of coffee, and they are often happy to join the meeting.

He also praised his ability to pull off large-scale events such as the Super Bowl and the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. Incredible moments come true. (And we’re Hoosiers, so we’ll do it with a smile.)

In Indy, you should be proud that the doors seem easier to open than in other cities. But it should also be recognized that those doors still remain firmly shut for many who have been knocking for a long time. And those doors remain closed for many leaders in our community who have not even been given a map to knock on their doors.

At Leadership Indianapolis, we don’t just believe in this. We don’t just talk about it. we are working hard on that.

We have partnered with the Indianapolis Foundation to launch the Mosaic Fellowship in Fall 2021. The program identified her six women of color who already had the skills and ability to serve on nonprofit boards but had not received an invitation. serve. To ensure that fellows enter a welcoming environment dedicated to growth, we matched them with organizations already working to address equity issues at the board level. Through workshops, cohort experiences, and financial support to transform the culture of the nonprofit board, the Mosaic Fellowship supports these incredible leaders, both individual fellows and participating organizations, and community institutions. and assets are open to more people.

Not only do we need different generations of leaders to guide the future of our cities, but we also need different generations of leaders working together. Not only should space be reserved for decision makers with diverse backgrounds and real-world experience, but those leaders should truly respect and value that diverse background and real-world experience. also need to. Community leadership is at its best when it is multigenerational, multicultural and collaborative. And Indy deserves the best.

Rebecca Hutton is President and CEO and Program Director of Leadership Indianapolis’ Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series.