IBJ‘s The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman

The Freedom Forum: Brian Richardson Jr., Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Indianapolis Colts

Brian Richardson Jr. is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the Indianapolis Colts. In this episode, Brian provides insight into his impressive career journey from sports and fitness through academia as well as his current dream job as the inaugural Director of DEI at the Indianapolis Colts. In making Black history with this position, Brian also helps us to understand how he prepared for this influential role and the impact he hopes to make at the Colts organization as well as in our beloved city of Indianapolis.

The Freedom Forum: Angela B Freeman with Guest Host Jimmie McMillian

Jimmie McMillian is Senior Corporate Counsel at Penske Entertainment and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On this “reverse podcast,” dubbed “Flip the Script,” Jimmie builds on his long-time mentoring relationship with our regular host, Angela B. Freeman, to serve as guest host and allow our audience an opportunity to get to know Angela better. Throughout the conversation, Angela transparently shares her career journey and life experiences, including successes, failures, and lessons learned. Angela also describes her transition from science to law, as well as her long-term advocacy for more diverse representation in STEM and law over more than two decades and her continued and future focus on the same.

The Freedom Forum: Leon A. Jackson, chancellor at Marian University’s Saint Joseph’s College

Leon Jackson is the chancellor at Marian University's Saint Joseph's College, a two-year associate degree college based at the Indianapolis campus. In this episode, Leon discusses his personal path to and through academia, how he became chancellor of Saint Joseph’s College, and his impact in that role to prepare diverse talent for success in higher education. Leon also discusses the importance of the Diversity in Leadership program that he founded to prepare diverse leaders for executive roles in our Indiana corporations and businesses.

 

The Freedom Forum: Lucia Mar, Vice President at Bank of America

Lucia Mar is the Vice President, Market Executive at Bank of America in Indianapolis. In this episode, Lucia discussed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from the lens of an Asian American woman in the financial industry. Lucia was very transparent in discussing her experiences as well as her elevation to leadership in banking, her quick integration into the Indianapolis business community, and her advice for the younger generation. 

The Freedom Forum: Pete Yonkman, President at Cook Group Incorporated

Pete Yonkman is the President of Cook Medical and Cook Group. In this episode, although Pete acknowledges that Cook hasn’t yet cracked the code on DEI, he engages in a very transparent conversation about how he and Cook have approached diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts that have had a significant impact on the members of his organization, their families, as well as members of our Indiana communities. 

The Freedom Forum: Jeffrey A. Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Energy Group

Jeffrey A. Harrison is the president and chief executive officer of Citizens Energy Group, where he is responsible for establishing and maintaining the vision and strategic direction of the organization. In this episode host, Angela B. Freeman talks with Jeffrey about the criticality of authenticity and community impact for any corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative, with respect to his unique vantage point as a long-term utilities executive. Jeff also dives into the data and resources provided by Business Equity for Indy to better implement DEI in the Central Indianapolis and statewide corporate community. 

The Freedom Forum: Rafael Sanchez, Executive Vice President, Chief Impact Officer & Indianapolis Market President at Old National Bank

Rafael Sanchez is Executive Vice President, Chief Impact Officer & Indianapolis Market President at Old National Bank. In this episode host, Angela B. Freeman talks with Rafael about diversity, equity, and inclusion from a unique and authentic vantage point as a LatinX male executive in the banking and lending industry, and all the creative ways he and Old National Bank are trying to address so many historical challenges to achieve equitable lending and other inclusive workplace practices.

 

The Freedom Forum: Angela Smith Jones, Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion, Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County

Angela Smith Jones serves as the vice president of diversity and inclusion at Health & Hospital Corp. In her role, she oversees the strategic implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion across all entities of Health & Hospital, including Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, and Marion County Public Health Department, ensuring that all employees, patients, clients and vendors feel welcome and valued.   

Host Angela B. Freeman talks with Angela Smith Jones about how she has incorporated learnings from her previous role as deputy mayor of economic development for the city of Indianapolis into her new role focusing on DEI in the health care sector

 

 

The Freedom Forum: Holli Harrington, Indianapolis Airport Authority diversity officer

Holli Harrington is the diversity officer and senior director of supplier diversity for the Indianapolis Airport Authority. She joined the airport in 2013, became the organization's first diversity officer in 2018 and joined the executive team in 2020. 

Host Angela B. Freeman talks with Holli about her efforts to promote equity in the airport's operations and among its vendors. And they discuss the importance of developing a culture in which employees can bring their authentic selves to work.

 

The Freedom Forum: Karrah Herring, Indiana’s chief diversity officer

Karrah Herring, a South Bend native, never had any interest in working in government or politics. But when she heard Gov. Eric Holcomb explain why he wanted to create the state's first Office of Equity, Inclusion & Opportunity—and create a data portal to track diversity issues—she felt a calling to be part of the effort.

Since then, she's traveled the state, talking to businesses and organizations—as well as state agencies—about how to find and retain diverse talent, how to create equitable workplaces and how to invest in inclusion efforts. 

"We have to be comfortable challenging ourselves to take this pivotal moment in Indiana's history to change the narrative, to change the faces around the table," Herring told host Angela B. Freeman. "If we say we want to be a premier state, ... we're going to have to make some adjustments so that we can get that talent here."

Herring also explains why she believes the office and her position as chief equity, inclusion and opportunity officer should be codified into state law.