Looking back now, I can say with certainty that I would not be here today, in the United States, pursuing an education and a dream, if not for my aunt. Her hands were roughened by work that should never have been hers. Her dreams of education were traded for a life of sacrifice. She shed her blood, sweat, and tears so my father could learn, so he could build a different future. He did just that, but unfortunately, not with her. My aunt was born five years before my father.

When I first walked into Kelley Indianapolis in the fall of 2024, I carried quiet questions with me. Would I belong here? Would my voice matter in a school that, like so many business schools, has been shaped by traditions that often center on men? As a woman and a woman of color, I wondered how I would navigate classrooms, organizations, and leadership roles. What I found in my first year surprised me. The community I stepped into was not only welcoming but intentional a

“Women who.” It sounds unfinished until you meet the women who complete the sentence. Women who open a door and widen it. Women who speak truth with tenderness, work with rigor, and make room for others as a matter of practice. In our cohort, I’m honored to witness five such leaders whose paths are distinct and whose impact overlaps: Christian Massey, Karen Lyles, Belinda Murray, Dr. Juaneka L. Thomas, and Alexis Watts. Each is a graduate of A Seat At The Table’s Undivided Co

From roller derby skates to motor homes, these portraits prove bravery is the boldest kind of beautiful. Let me be honest right Indianapolis is a city of momentum. The Indy region is a place of opportunity—ranked among America’s Best Places to Start a Career, a Best Food City, and one of the Hottest Housing Markets in the country. It’s a place where careers take off, ideas are nurtured, and communities welcome you in. But beyond the numbers and accolades, what makes this re

Alone means having no one else present. Everyone has felt this feeling at least once in their life—starting a new school, moving out, or launching something brand new. That moment of discomfort, when you don’t know where to begin, is exactly why communities matter. When building community, the questions that you ask yourself are simple but profound: Who? What? Where? How? Networking can be one of the hardest things to do if you don’t know where to start. Create. Connect. C

Success for women has too often been defined by impossible standards – balancing careers, families, and personal dreams without missing a beat. The pressure to be everything to everyone can feel relentless. In a world that often tells women to “do it all,” InspireHER Collective offers a powerful alternative: a trusted circle where ambition and authenticity can sit at the same table. Launched in 2024 by Colleen Hungerford and Cheryl Medeiros, InspireHER is an all-women’s ma

When I launched Make Your Money Matter – Michigan, I knew I wasn’t just creating a business directory, I was building a love letter to the women and communities who show up, open shop, and do the work that keeps our cities not just running, but thriving. This is for the women who unlock their storefronts before sunrise and flip the sign to open with pride and purpose. It’s for the women who make neighborhoods feel like home, one My aunt was born five years before my father

Art is often described as a mirror, but for some artists, it functions as something more powerful. For Indianapolis-based photographer Jordan Connor Christie, the force of art lives in the act of embodiment. Through her work as Animal in a Dress, Jordan uses boudoir photography to help people step fully into themselves, reclaim their stories, and see their own beauty reflected in lasting images. Jordan did not set out to be a boudoir photographer. Her journey began with se

Inside the Life in Indy initiative: how local women are opening doors, sharing stories, and helping others call this region home. Indianapolis is a city of momentum. The Indy region is a place of opportunity—ranked among America’s Best Places to Start a Career, a Best Food City, and one of the Hottest Housing Markets in the country. It’s a place where careers take off, ideas are nurtured, and communities welcome you in. But beyond the numbers and accolades, what makes this

My name is Kaitlyn Courtney, and I am a recent graduate of the Kelley School of Business at IU Indianapolis. I majored in Business Management with a minor in Legal Studies, and I currently own and operate my photography business, @kulturekreator on Instagram. Although I come from a business background, I have loved the arts and creating since I was a kid, and that passion has shaped many of the choices I’ve made in my life.

I am the embodiment of love, dedication, and hard work—a living testament to the powerful saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Hello, my name is Van Sui, and I am a rising sophomore at the IU Indianapolis Kelley School of Business. I am from Hlamphei, a small village hidden in the mountainous regions of Myanmar. Next month marks 19 years since my parents and I immigrated to the United States in search of religious freedom and a better future. Fortunately, we did

Hello! My name is Oyenmwosasere Ekhosuehi, and I am a rising sophomore at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington, where I double major in Marketing and Digital & Social Media Business Applications. Oyenmwosasere with Issue X! Like most freshmen, my first year of college was a completely new experience – I didn’t fully know how to prepare for it. As a first-generation college student, stepping onto campus and navigating a huge chapter was daunt

Hi! My name is Jaidyn Bills, and I am an incoming freshman at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. I was born and raised in Avon, IN, but am ready to find my own adventure and identity outside of my hometown. I will be majoring in Communications with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies. I hope to get a job in marketing management after I obtain my Bachelor’s degree. This past year, I did an internship during the first semester of my senior year, with the Commu

My name is Chi Nguyen, and I am an international student from Vietnam, currently a senior at DePauw University majoring in Studio Art.

My name is Xavier Cruz, and I’m a senior in high school, and I'm getting ready to go to college. I’ve been admitted to Purdue University For

In today's dynamic business world, hands-on learning isn't just a phrase to generate buzz—it's transforming how we prepare tomorrow's business leaders. At the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Indianapolis, this approach represents the heart of their educational philosophy. By combining active learning with entrepreneurial thinking, Kelley is equipping students to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and creativity.

Theatre has a presence in our world, whether you’ve sat in a darkened room with a crowd and watched a performance or you haven’t. Movie musicals like Wicked and La La Land have gained critical acclaim and a foothold in popular culture. Hamilton was the hot topic of conversation when it first took the Broadway world by storm, and most people reading this have probably at least seen a community theatre production or attended their child’s school performance. If you’ve played im

As a photographer documenting the intersection of culture and style, I've witnessed firsthand how Black culture has shaped the fashion landscape. The contributions are endless—from the artistic explosion of the Harlem Renaissance to the bold statements of the Black Power movement, Black creativity has been a driving force behind countless innovations in style and design.

Design is more than aesthetics—it’s problem-solving, storytelling, and a force that shapes the world around us. At Indy Design Week [IDW], we celebrate and elevate the many disciplines of design while fostering a collaborative and inclusive creative community. Founded in 2018, Indy Design Week has grown into an essential platform for designers, artists, and creative professionals to connect, share ideas, and inspire one another.

My Power Was Never Hard to Pronounce—Just Hard to Contain Growing up in a predominantly white community in Wisconsin, I was one of only three Indian students in my entire high school. For four years, I faced racism, bigotry, adversity, and xenophobia—experiences that made me acutely aware of my differences. My name, Alabhya, meaning "one who is invincible," was constantly mispronounced or reduced to nicknames for convenience. Instead of making the effort to learn my name, tea