Thought Leadership Roundtable

Welcome to IBJ's Thought Leadership series. We're talking with experts across all business sectors who want to engage with the Indianapolis business community about industry trends and to share advice and experiences. We are excited to bring their expertise to our readers.

Roger Engelau Founder & CEO Inspire Results
Dan Griffith Senior Vice President & Director of Wealth Strategy Huntington Private Bank
Andrew Williams Managing Director Calder Capital

Content sponsored by Calder Capital, Huntington Private Bank, and Inspire Results Business Coaching

Succession Planning

It’s never too soon to think about succession

In this week’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, executives at Calder Capital, Huntington Private Bank, and Inspire Results Business Coaching take business owners through the challenges and payoffs of succession planning.
Doneisha Posey Vice President & General Counsel Black Onyx Management
Dr. Shawn A. Smith Superintendent of Schools Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township

Content sponsored by Black Onyx Management and Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

DEI requires top-down commitment

In this week’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, leaders at Black Onyx Management and the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township identify two precursors to DEI success at any organization: tangible support from leadership and making DEI a formal policy, not just a promise.
Brandon Collins Consultant NFP
Brian Tabor President Indiana Hospital Association

Content sponsored by Indiana Hospital Association and NFP

Health Care & Benefits

Transparency leads to market solutions

In this week’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, the president of the Indiana Hospital Association and a benefits consultant from the NFP insurance brokerage discuss a variety of topics, including recent movement toward price transparency and the need for more transparency throughout the health care system.  
Dr. Jeff Butts Superintendent Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township
Dr. Terry Daugherty Dean Scott College of Business at Indiana State University
Dr. David Dimmett President and CEO Project Lead The Way

Content sponsored by Indiana State University, Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, and Project Lead The Way

Education & Workforce Development

Support teachers for student success

In our first Thought Leadership Roundtable of 2023, educators and administrators at Indiana State University, the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, and Project Lead The Way discuss what can be done to create success for students and teachers in a constantly changing educational environment.
Christopher Habig CEO and Co-Founder Freedom Healthworks and FreedomDoc
Jeff Wells, MD CEO and Co-Founder Marathon Health

Content sponsored by Freedom Healthworks and Marathon Health

Health Care & Benefits

Health care needs an overhaul

In IBJ’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, executives at Freedom Healthworks and Marathon Health say investing in independent primary care is key to healing our health care system.
Andy Miller, Ph.D. VP for Innovation & Partnerships Indiana Wesleyan University
Dr. Shawn A. Smith Superintendent of Schools Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township

Content sponsored by Indiana Wesleyan University and Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township

Education & Workforce Development

Workforce development never stops

In IBJ’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, executives at Indiana Wesleyan University and the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township say that in spite of Indiana’s robust workforce development efforts, still more must be done.
Jennifer Rumsey President and Chief Executive Officer Cummins Inc.
Amy Davis Vice President and President—New Power Cummins Inc.
Gabe Filippelli Executive Director, Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute Chancellor’s Professor, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Andrés Gluski President and CEO The AES Corporation

Content sponsored by Cummins

Climate Change

The stars are aligning in climate-change fight

In this week’s Thought Leadership roundtable, executives from Cummins, The AES Corporation, and Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute weigh in on the progress being made in the war on climate change and how federal legislation is aiding the fight.
Stephen Daugherty Director of Technology Sondhi Solutions
Andy Miller, Ph.D. VP for Innovation & Partnerships Indiana Wesleyan University
Ivan Shefrin Executive Director Managed Security Services Comcast Business

Content sponsored by Comcast Business, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Sondhi Solutions

Technology & Cybersecurity

Tech success requires playing offense and defense

In our Thought Leadership Roundtable, leaders at Comcast Business, Indiana Wesleyan University and Sondhi Solutions cover the waterfront, from protecting your business from cybercriminals to making sure you’re taking advantage of the latest technology.
Spencer Gray President Gray Capital
Chris Hall Vice President of Sales Renovia

Content sponsored by Gray Capital and Renovia

Commercial Real Estate

Real estate, construction industries adapt to market challenges

In IBJ’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, executives at Gray Capital and Renovia discuss market headwinds, Indy’s resilience and how technology is improving everything from project management to rental rates.
Bryan Bedford President and Chief Executive Officer Republic Airways
Andy Miller, Ph.D. VP for Innovation & Partnerships Indiana Wesleyan University
Quinn Ricker CEO Jet Access

Content sponsored by Republic Airways, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Jet Access

Aviation & Aerospace

Flight challenges are far from insurmountable

In IBJ’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, executives from Republic Airways, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Jet Access, tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the airline industry.
Andrew Elsener Co-founder Spot
Matt Kuper Vice President, Global Sales and Applications Bastian Solutions

Content sponsored by Bastian Solutions and Spot

Manufacturing & Logistics

Today’s solutions combine automation, talent

In our Thought Leadership Roundtable, executives at Bastian Solutions and Spot discuss recent manufacturing and logistics challenges and how automation is a solution to many—but not all—of those problems.
Katie Blair Director of Advocacy and Public Policy ACLU of Indiana
Kim Thomas Chief Diversity Officer OneAmerica
Shara Wesley Vice President, Chief Health Equity and Diversity Officer Managed Health Services (MHS)
Marshawn Wolley President and CEO Black Onyx Management Inc.

Content sponsored by ACLU of Indiana, Black Onyx Management, Managed Health Services (MHS), and OneAmerica

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

DEI progress is good for the entire community

In IBJ’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, leaders from ACLU of Indiana, Black Onyx Management, Managed Health Services (MHS), and OneAmerica discuss why organizations that are more diverse and equitable benefit the entire city of Indianapolis.
Kiamesha-Sylvia Colom Partner Taft Law
Ashley Gurvitz CEO United Northeast Community Development Corporation

Content sponsored by Taft Law and Cook Medical

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity efforts require sincerity, patience

In IBJ’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, Kiamesha-Sylvia Colom of Taft Law and Ashley Gurvitz of United Northeast Community Development Corp. discuss what it takes to build a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that is sustainable and brings real value to an organization and community.
Scott Jones President and Founder Eleven Fifty Academy
Eric Marshall CEO Level Up Development

Content sponsored by Eleven Fifty Academy and Level Up Development

Innovation

Innovation isn’t a luxury, it’s essential

In IBJ’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, top executives at Eleven Fifty Academy and Level Up Development talk about how business leaders can foster an innovative culture and why innovation is essential to business success.
Christopher Habig CEO and Cofounder Freedom Healthworks | FreedomDoc
Jason Sondhi CEO and Founder Sondhi Solutions

Content sponsored by Freedom Healthworks and Sondhi Solutions

Entrepreneurship

Advice from entrepreneurs who’ve been there

In IBJ’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, the founders of Freedom Healthworks and Sondhi Solutions draw on their own startup experiences to offer tips on everything from tolerating uncertainty, to offering health benefits and hiring your first team.
Spencer Gray President & CEO Gray Capital
Stephen Lindley Vice President of Development, Market Officer Ambrose Property Group
Tim Michel Managing Principal, Indianapolis Cushman & Wakefield
Mary Beth Oakes CEO & Owner Business Furniture + Co.

Content sponsored by Ambrose Property Group, Business Furniture + Co., Cushman & Wakefield, and Gray Capital

Commercial Real Estate

Office sector reinventing itself; multifamily and industrial sectors thrive

In IBJ’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, executives from Ambrose Property Group, Business Furniture + Co., Cushman & Wakefield and Gray Capital cover a wide range of commercial real estate topics—from the importance of quality, in-person office experiences to the robustness of the Indianapolis industrial market.
Jason Johns President Sondhi Solutions
Scott Jones President and Founder Eleven Fifty Academy

Content sponsored by Eleven Fifty Academy and Sondhi Solutions

Technology

Fixing leaks in our talent and information pipelines

In IBJ’s Thought Leadership Roundtable, Scott Jones of Eleven Fifty Academy and Jason Johns of Sondhi Solutions tackle the problem of recruiting and retaining top tech talent and discuss the advantages of being a technology company in Indiana.