DEFINING A POWER BROKER

Indiana has a number of players who influence policies that shape their communities, the state, and in some instances, the nation. They are the people who decide how we take care of our poor; what our schools need to graduate well-educated students who become successful, contributing citizens; and what environmental, tax and social impact a new business will have on the community.

Power brokers come from a variety of disciplines and often use their knowledge and experience to influence a course of action of other specialities. A business leader will sit on the board of an arts organization, and a health leader will be consulted on ways to improve education.

What makes a power broker?

We asked the community leaders in various areas of the state how they define what a "power broker" is and the attributes he or she has. Here are their responses:

Eric Hackley
United Nations of Fort Wayne
President and CEO
Hackonomics
Television host

"A power broker is a person of perceived influence in a community. You would go to that person, like a pastor of a church, to put the word out to people. Take a person like Jesse Jackson or Rev. Al Sharpton who are approached by corporations to put the word out to people in the community. They are people who are manipulated to put out a message … they also usually are in politics or anywhere somebody wants to persuade somebody to a certain belief."

Monica A. Medina
School of Education
Indiana University - Indianapolis
Clinical Lecturer
Indianapolis

"The power broker is typically viewed as someone who is an influential person; one who is convincing or can negotiate a deal, a contract, vote, or opinion with others. While some people may view this person as a leader, it is the illusion of power (whether actual or perceived) that allows the person to act, manipulate, or affect others.

"Often portrayed by the media or pop culture as slick business people in silk suits or expensive pumps, power brokers in grassroots communities – typically the holders of information about services, programs or resources – communicate in different ways and influence different spheres of authority. I find that learning how power brokers function within different communities requires a clear understanding of the cultural values, norms, attitudes and practices that are not evident to the person who is not from that community."

Roland Shelton
Indiana State University Foundation
Associate vice president for Constituent Relations and general manager of Rex baseball club
Terre Haute

"A power broker is a person with power and influence whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events."

 

POWER BROKERS

LIVE AND DIE BY THE BOTTOM LINE

In a boardroom, the power brokers sit at the head of the table. They have admirable influence, exceptional poise and the decisions they make affect people they'll never know. They know how to work a room and most importantly, they know how to make money.

Steve Sterrett does not run the show at Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group (SPG). That job belongs to its CEO, David Simon. However, as the chief financial officer of the largest U.S. publicly traded real estate company, the show runs more smoothly when he's sitting next to Simon. Voted top CFO by Institutional Investor Magazine, Sterrett says that his personal tools for success are showing good judgment and having a standard of ethics. Those tools he adds are just as crucial to the success of SPG, a company that currently owns or has interest in more than 390 properties in North America, Europe and Asia.
"I think any business ends up being a relationship business. For (Simon), we have thousands of leases with our tenants. A tenant in Castleton may want to lease a space in Evansville, so you have to do business that is a win win," said Sterrett. "It has to be good for Simon, but it also has to be good for our tenant. I think one of the things that is good about our company – whether it's our tenants, vendors, bankers or investors is that we try to treat people fairly and have a win win relationship. That's one of the things I've always thought about as I approached dealing with anyone; whether it's an employee, a negotiation to borrow money or buy a company."

The bottom line for business executives who are considered power brokers is making money. It's all about profit and loss. They not only have to broker deals to grow the organization but they also have to satisfy those who purchase their product and have stock in the company.

When the going is good, power brokers are compensated by six and seven figure pay increases and bonuses, they're asked to give commencement speeches at college graduations to inspire the next generation and they're given awards like Business Executive of the Year.

However, when business takes a turn for the worse, or what others perceive as the worst, pundits question pay raises and columnists use dictionaries to find not so nice nicknames.

Take Angela Braly for instance.

As president and CEO of WellPoint Inc., the nation's largest health benefits company, Braly is essentially responsible for the 34 million Americans who have medical coverage with the company. She's also responsible for WellPoint's $58 million in revenue in 2010 and the company's 37,500 employees. She's listed in Forbes as the 41st most powerful woman in the world and fourth on Fortune's most powerful business women of the world list. To call Braly a top power broker in Indiana (or any of the others featured on the list) is somewhat an understatement considering her mountain of responsibilities to the health care industry, WellPoint's members and its employees. She, in the famous words of a fellow Forbes powerful woman Beyonce, runs the world.

But Braly quotes Margaret Thatcher when penning her definition of what it really means to be powerful and run the world: "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."

"To me, power is not defined by title, or by the role you are in or even the authority or control that comes with it. Those are only tools," she said. "Power is defined by what you do with those tools, the lives you improve, how you enable others to be successful, and the environment you create that inspires innovation, health improvement and community service."

The good for Braly came in April 2010 when she was rewarded for how she utilized such tools with a 51 percent pay increase. Her total compensation rose to $13.1 million, from $8.7 million a year earlier. The increase, WellPoint said reflected the company's overall positive performance in 2009. Its stock price rose 38.4 percent last year to $58.29, from $42.13 in 2008. But while that was good news to Braly and other stockholders, customers, especially in California, didn't agree since the company had recently proposed a 37 percent premium increase.

The administration of President Barack Obama criticized the increases and used them to re-ignite its push for reform, which passed Congress and was signed into law. Administration officials criticized the insurer for asking for such steep rate increases when it made a profit of $2.7 billion in the final quarter of 2009.

Braly, who testified before Congress about the rate hikes, and other WellPoint officials have said the soaring cost of medical care and the weak economy, which pushes healthy people to drop coverage, spurred the rate increases. They said WellPoint actually lost money on its California individual insurance business.

The company also noted that its profitable 2009 was fueled by the $2.2 billion it received from the sale of NextRx.

But such is the life of Braly. Health care and controversy go hand in hand. However, being a woman adds a different element to her power broker status. While women make up more than half of the work force, only 12 women run Fortune 500 companies.
"Women leaders are held to a higher standard of performance and have to prove they can lead over and over again. All this for fewer promotions and generally lower pay," Braly said. "As a mother and as a leader, I've never been one for 'whining,' so, to me, women have two choices when it comes to handling this: accept it, or challenge and overcome it."

Overcoming challenges and obstacles has made Bill Mays the most successful Black businessman in Indiana. Thirty years ago, this power broker founded Mays Chemical Co. He started the company at a time when African-Americans weren't often seen in executive positions, let alone leading companies. According to Black Enterprise magazine, Mays Chemical ranks as the 22nd largest Black-owned industrial/service company in the nation with sales of $170 million. The private company has 170 employees and recently opened a $6 million distribution center in Greenwood, Ind.

"To be a good leader, you have to be a good follower," he said. "If there is anything I've learned throughout the years, it's to be unselfish in trying to give of yourself and not expecting anything in return."

One key to being a successful power broker is the willingness to give back, and being a giver is as natural to Mays as breathing. He says he's honored when asked for advice and lists advising fledgling Black businesses as a hobby.

"To be a successful entrepreneur you must have an education, experience and access to capital," said Mays. "You must also be able to sell yourself, build and maintain a strong banking relationship as well as retain outstanding personnel while balancing family, business and community."

If that sounds like loads of responsibility, it is. To be successful is one thing. To leave a lasting legacy is another.

Mays will retire from Mays Chemical at year's end. He's leaving behind a thriving business in very capable hands – his daughter, Kristin Mays-Corbitt. Although times are rough for small chemical distributors, Mays has begun to add medical science chemicals along with its steady food and pharmaceutical chemicals sales.

However, Mays' legacy, or Sterrett's and Braly's, isn't cemented in only the work they do in office, but more so what they do when no one is looking. They each not only have a strong background in brokering deals and making their respective company money, but the work they do in the community is just as important and just as powerful.

For Mays, power is relative. Real power, he says is being able to get access to the power.

"Anybody can call Sen. Richard Lugar or Gov. Mitch Daniels," he said. "Power is the ability to get a return call."

If Mays, Sterrett or Braly are placing such calls, surely the anticipation of a return call won't be long.

 

Exclusive roundtable discussion
With Indiana power brokers

By Brandon A. Perry

Recently, Indiana has earned a more prominent place on the national and global economic stage.
From coast to coast and overseas, more clients are turning to Hoosier companies and institutions for various products and services. Indiana has taken an increasingly leading role in a variety of industries, from biosciences and health care, to energy and information technology.

Indiana's success is due in large part to the hard work, innovation and leadership of men and women who can make things happen in their industries. One name that could be easily applied to these individuals is "power broker."

Indiana Minority Business Magazine would like to introduce you to six power brokers from Indiana who have made a difference both within our state and beyond its borders.

Although each of these individuals are already highly successful, more accomplishments, are sure to follow.

France Cordova
Area: Lafayette
Company:
Purdue University
Title: President

Professional Summary: Since 2007 Cordova has served as the 11th president of Purdue. She is the university's chief executive officer and is responsible for implementing goals set by the board of trustees.

Cordova is credited with helping to take the university to a new level of success.

Purdue opened its 2011-12 academic year by announcing higher rankings that reflect excellence and satisfaction among students and faculty. The university, for example, ranks 61st on the national Academic Ranking of World Universities, up from 69th last year.

Cordova was recently elected chairman of the Smithsonian Board of Regents.

Prior to joining Purdue, Córdova served as chancellor and professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California (UC) Riverside.

An internationally recognized astrophysicist, Córdova served from 1996 to 2002 as a professor of physics and vice chancellor for research at UC Santa Barbara. Before joining UC Santa Barbara, she was chief scientist at NASA, serving as the primary scientific advisor to the NASA administration and the principal interface between NASA headquarters and the broader scientific community.

Córdova attended Stanford University, where she graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English, and earned her PhD in physics from the California Institute of Technology. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by Loyola Marymount University in 1997. This year she was given an honorary doctorate from Ben Gurion University of the Negev.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Each undertaking we have had as a university has had an emphasis on student achievement. In the last four years we have witnessed a series of significant accomplishments that include an increase in rankings, a doubling of research awards, establishment of the Global Policy Research Institute, the development of a new College of Health and Human Sciences, and an Office of Engagement that has made significant contributions to the Hoosier workforce and the Indiana economy.

I am especially proud that we did all this while successfully navigating one of the worst economic environments in many decades, which we did by cutting costs dramatically. Today, Purdue is stronger than ever, with higher student metrics and increased national and international visibility. In addition, it is increasing its physical footprint with more building and maintenance projects going on that support growth and innovation than ever before.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

My teachers and mentors put their faith in me as a young student and allowed me to open a new window on the universe. I have never let go of the notion, and every student is worth that investment, so it is wonderful to help every student envision that he or she can discover something never seen before, or make something that is unique, or do something that makes a difference.
What advice do you have for other professionals seeking to climb higher in their career?

Find your passion, apply yourself well and have a lofty goal. I have advised our graduates to be unafraid and embrace everything that lies ahead with energy, confidence, and a little impatience. Don't wait for anything. You can define your own path, whose twists and turns will reflect the choices you make along the way. What you make will move the world forward.

Any hobbies and/or an interesting fact about you that people might be surprised to know?

My husband, Christian Foster (a fellow science educator), and I have two adult children, and we enjoy outdoor activities, especially kayaking and canoeing on rivers around the state. I also enjoy riding my bicycle around campus and planting in our vegetable garden.

Angie Hicks
Location: Indianapolis
Company: Angie's List (as seen on TV)
Title: Founder and Chief Marketing Officer

Professional Summary: Hicks is co-founder of Angie's List, a premier provider for reviews customers can trust on contractors, doctors, dentists and other service professionals. For more than 1.5 million consumers across the United States and Canada, joining Angie's List has helped make important hiring decisions easier.

It's now one of the fastest-growing companies in U.S. expanding from a 100-square foot office to a nationwide operation. Angie's List was named for three years in a row – 2002, 2003 and 2004 – among the Inc. 500 by Inc. magazine, a list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the nation and has been included in the Inc. 5000 for the past three years, a testament to its continued growth.

A working mother herself, Hicks helps ensure that Angie's List continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing, dynamic needs of today's families and homeowners. Angieslist.com puts reliable information and resources at the fingertips of its members, so they can hire right the first time – whether it's for a major home renovation, an emergency car repair or finding a new dentist.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Professionally, of course, I'd have to say Angie's List – we started the company with an idea of how to fill a need and we're now nationwide, helping more than 1.5 million consumers and supporting hundreds of jobs in Central Indiana. On a personal level, I am most proud of my three children.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Every day presents a different challenge and another opportunity to work with some of the brightest people in Indianapolis. We are constantly trying to improve our product and deliver new products to members, so I spend a lot of time working with staff to create, refine and execute on new ideas. I also spend time to talk with members and service companies about how Angie's List affects them in their daily lives. It keeps us really in touch with our customer base and up on the latest trends and issues.

What advice do you have for other professionals seeking to climb higher in their career?

For me, starting Angie's List was a huge growing/learning experience. Out of college, I planned to have a career as a financial consultant, a background player supporting a larger company. I didn't dream of having a lead role in a national television and print advertising campaign or having my name on a company. I spent a year knocking on doors approaching people I'd never met, asking them for insight on local service companies and to join my new company. It was a challenge every day to work up the courage to ring those doorbells.

However, what I learned is that perseverance is an essential element for anyone wanting to make a difference – no matter what you're trying to achieve. So, if you have a great idea you think the world needs, do your research, refine your product and don't give up until you reach your goal.

Any hobbies and/or an interesting fact about you that people might be surprised to know?

I love spending time with my family. I will confess to watching a bit of reality television, and I have an awesome designer shoe collection.

Carrie Hightman
Location: Merrillville
Company: NiSource
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

Professional Summary: Hightman serves as a member of the company's senior management team. Her responsibilities include all legal functions, ethics, compliance, and environmental health and safety. Prior to joining NiSource, Hightman served as president of AT&T Illinois (formerly SBC), where she was responsible for all regulatory, legislative, governmental and external affairs activities, as well as community and industry relations throughout Illinois.

Before joining AT&T, Hightman practiced telecommunications and energy law for more than 17 years. She is vice chair of the Telecommunications Committee of the Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law Section of the American Bar Association and past chair of the Public Utility Law Section of the Chicago Bar Association.

Hightman earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois and her law degree from Florida State University.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Personally, I'm most proud of my family, including my husband and two grown children – my daughter Cassie just graduated from DePaul University in Chicago and my son Brian is a screenplay writer and film producer in Los Angeles.

Professionally, I'm proud of a project in which I'm currently engaged to assemble a summit of the top 150 women leaders at NiSource.

This leadership development program is being designed to strengthen the pipeline of women leaders at NiSource. It will also be an opportunity to network with women from within and outside of the company, who will come from across the country to discuss opportunities and strategies for developing female leaders across the company.

We have lined up a variety of guest speakers and are developing the content now. Although we are an inclusive company, we are in a historically male-dominated industry. Making this summit a success, and then determining next steps, will further enable NiSource to become the premier energy company.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I enjoy working at a company that affects so many people's lives. NiSource provides electricity and natural gas to more than 3.8 million customers in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. We have to do so safely and effectively. That is an awesome responsibility.

This fact really hit home for me when we worked over the long weekend to take care of customers and our employees along the East Coast during Hurricane Irene. We were able to maintain service to our customers throughout the storm while responding to emergency calls. In addition, we sent our crews from across the company to help assist other companies and first responders. I work with a great team of people that are smart, dedicated and focused on serving their fellow employees and customers every day.

What advice do you have for other professionals seeking to climb higher in their career?

I have three tips for those seeking to advance their careers.

First, is to "know and grow." Not only do you need to master your professional skills in order to be successful, but you also need to be prepared to become proficient in other areas because you never know where your career path may take you or what opportunities may come your way.

Second, don't be afraid to take risks. In order to be successful you can't be averse to taking risks. A successful career will likely unfold in directions that you never anticipated and those detours can lead to some surprising and rewarding results.
Third, master the art of "relationship rainmaking." In order to have success, you need to master the skill of developing relationships and networking – both will seed the growth of new opportunities and open doors that would otherwise remain closed.

Also, the key thing to remember is that these three tips never have an end date; they can and should be something you're committed to throughout your career. I still practice them.

Any hobbies and/or an interesting fact about you that people might be surprised to know?

My husband and I are passionate about food and traveling. We're always looking for the next great restaurant and when we travel, we build our itinerary around the newest great chef.

I'm also passionate about civic engagement. The one area in particular on which I have been focused for many years is economic empowerment – and in particular economic empowerment of women and minorities. I believe that with the right access to information, resources and training, we can improve economic self-sufficiency and quality of life for all.
I've had the opportunity to serve on the Board of the Chicago Urban League for the past 10 years, and as part of our commitment to economic empowerment this year we offered the Next Wealth program where more than 300 adult participants received financial education, including information on basic banking, credit repair/management, retirement planning and insurance.

Brigette Jackson
Area: Indiana and Michigan
Company: T-Mobile
Title: Vice-President and General Manager for the Indiana and Michigan region.

Professional Summary: Jackson is responsible for all sales in the region. She also oversees profitable customer growth and retention, with full profit and loss (P&L) accountability for the region.

Jackson, who brings more than 25 years of experience in management, sales and store operations, joined T-Mobile in 2007 as divisional director for the Georgia division.

Under her leadership, her divisional team was chosen to pilot several major national initiatives, including the Equipment Installment Plan (EIP) and the Even More™ plans. In addition, Jackson has held leadership roles on T-Mobile's loyalty and finance teams.

Jackson also serves as the vice president for T-Mobile's Central Area focused on Mobile Broadband and channel calendar planning. Prior to T-Mobile, Jackson was a regional manager covering nine states for a subsidiary of Limited Brands, Express, where she was responsible for full profit and loss, managing all budgets and increasing net profits. Jackson also has held leadership roles at The Children's Place, Pier 1 and Claire's.

Jackson graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Michigan State University.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

For me personally, my husband and I have been completely focused on working together in raising great children. We are grounded together in living our values in all that we are doing. A quote from the author John Maxwell, says it best, "The law of the (Cub Scout) pack guides the boys to move in the direction of being helpful, friendly, courteous, trustworthy and promote qualities which parents and the community are looking for. The whole purpose of scouting is to help the children grow up making good decisions in life."

Most recently, my greatest professional achievement was coming into the new regional organization structure and my role as VP/GM of T-Mobile's Michigan and Indiana Region. It is very important that we continue to learn from both our successes and mistakes.

We should never be afraid to admit the need to change and remain open to new and innovative ways of doing business. This will ensure we meet the needs of our customers and the business. This is exactly what our new structure at T-Mobile was designed to do. This will impact how we move forward and do business today and in the future.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Every day brings new, exciting and creative opportunities. One element of my work that is very important to me is to work for and be part of an organization that is committed to growing individuals, while living the company's values.

That is what separates "good" from "great." In partnership with my immediate team, I enjoy sharing our corporate vision, while planning and collaborating on ways to enhance our ability to do business. This partnership carries itself throughout the entire organization, which allows us to be creative, and to influence and execute flawlessly on our regional strategies.

What advice do you have for other professionals seeking to climb higher in their career?

In all of my leadership roles, I have always "embraced and valued" the diverse skills, talents and experiences of the members on my team. As a collective team, we have open two-way communication, and we challenge our processes/systems to ensure we have a sustained difference on the business. We are not afraid to make a mistake and learn from it. By creating consistency in everything we do, we have accomplished a lot.

It is critical for a leader to always be an advocate for the field and be sure to keep a streamlined approach, keeping it simple and driving exponential results at all levels within your organization.

Any hobbies and/or an interesting fact about you that people might be surprised to know?

I enjoy traveling and relaxing with my family. We look forward to our time together, with no interruptions. It is all about family time. I find excitement in supporting my kids through marching band. With any opportunity, I love to paint and volunteer my time. These experiences have allowed me to re-energize, grow and give back.

Raj Kushwaha
Location: Warsaw
Company: Zimmer
Title: Chief Information Officer

Professional Summary: As CIO of Zimmer, an international company on the New York Stock Exchange, Kushwaha is responsible for delivering a sustainable competitive advantage for the business through optimal use of information technologies.

He manages the planning and execution of Zimmer's vision, goals and initiatives that support the company's long-term global objectives. Kushwaha also leads Zimmer's technology-enabled business process changes that deliver significant business improvements and a superior return on investment for Zimmer. Identify and drive new technology innovations that significantly improve Zimmer business and/or drive superior surgeon/patient outcomes.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Over the years, I have been involved in many charitable organizations and activities. Many years ago, as part of my social responsibilities, I became involved with an adopt-a-child program.

As part of this program, I went to visit the child, who was very driven but lacked many of the opportunities we take for granted due to his circumstances. I championed him and supported him, and over time we became closely connected, just like family.
Today, he is a graduate of Harvard and famous within his field. He now lives with his family in New York. I think of this as one of the greatest events in my life – being able to help raise someone from hopelessness and to help them dream, to be there for them in their time of need, to encourage them when they are down and to give them the greatest gift of all – the strength to realize their dream.

Working with this person, I have perhaps learned more about endurance, pain, struggle, and perseverance than I had ever imagined. This experience has forever changed my life. It is for this reason I also think it is one of my greatest achievements – to stay involved with the program and to now have a friend for life.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

We live in a world today where the evolution of technology is perhaps the single largest change happening around us. Fifteen years ago, very few of us had emails, cell phones weighed a ton, and no one knew about the Internet.

Today we have people of all ages feeling comfortable with email, there are more cell phones in the world than landlines, and who can imagine a life without the Internet? This is the power of change a CIO brings into the organization.

CIOs have to be constantly exploring what is changing in the technologies available to the business, and how we can help our business operate better, cheaper and faster by adopting new technologies. For example, the iPad is a very new technology, yet it is already changing the world for Zimmer's sales teams worldwide.

This pace of change and the opportunity to harness this change to fundamentally transform how Zimmer operates (for the better) is the most exciting and enjoyable part of my job.

What advice do you have for other professionals seeking to climb higher in their careers?

The best advice for professional growth I can give is a very simple three-step program:

First, identify what you love to do and what you intrinsically get excited about, then find a job that allows you do it and where doing what you love allows you to add significant value. Then go for it – follow your passion and give it your all. I call this the strategy of tail winds. What you intrinsically love is your tail wind; if you align your career with your tail winds, you will go faster and higher.

Second, identify a mentor who is outside the organization who can help you and reflect with you on blind spots that can potentially become professional glass ceilings or hurdles. Find someone who cares about you, someone who you respect and can look up to, and who is willing to give you ruthlessly candid advice that helps you improve.

Finally, never forget your family for your work, or vice versa. At the end of the day, your family is your rudder, your stabilizer. Best performance generally comes naturally when you have balance in your life, the appropriate tradeoff between work and family. If you short-change one, the other will follow.

Any hobbies and/or an interesting fact about you that people might be surprised to know?

I have many hobbies, including roller-blading, motorcycles, fast cars, flying etc. People may be surprised to know that I am an avid scuba diver. I have dived most of the coral reefs around the world. I find the experience to be the most relaxing, satisfying, calming and peaceful...just being one with water and swimming with the fish. If you have not tried it and you lead a stressful life, I highly recommend it.

Derica Rice
Location: Indianapolis
Company: Eli Lilly and Company
Title: Senior vice president and chief financial officer.

Professional Summary: In his current position, which he has held since 2006, Rice manages the financial planning and risks of Eli Lilly and Company, a global pharmaceutical firm that reported revenues of over $23 billion in 2010 and more than 38,000 employees worldwide. Previously, he had served as vice president and controller.

Rice has also been a key member of the company's policy and strategy committee, the operations committee and the diversity leadership council, which aims to improve Lilly's efforts to create a diverse work force and serve an increasingly diverse customer base. Previously, he had been vice president and controller.

Rice joined the company in 1990 as an international treasury associate. He held various assignments as a sales representative, manager of global financial planning and analysis for the medical devices division, and global planning manager for pharmaceuticals. In 1995, he became finance director and chief financial officer for Lilly Canada. In 1997, Rice was promoted to executive director and chief financial officer for European operations based in London. In 2000, he was named general manager of Lilly United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Rice received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Kettering University (formerly the GMI Engineering & Management Institute) in 1988 and a master's degree in business administration in 1990 from Indiana University.
In 2009, Rice was selected as one of the "Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America" by Black Enterprise magazine and as one of Diversity MBA magazine's "Top 100 Under 50 Executives."

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Personally, being a good husband (to wife Robin) and father for my three sons. On a professional level, it has been serving with a company that has been able to make a positive difference the lives of people around the world by improving their health.
What do you enjoy most about your work?


Everything that I do is geared towards helping the community be in the best position to improve patient outcome. I enjoy being with this company because I'm able to meet both my professional and my personal aspirations in one opportunity. My grandmother used to tell me, 'If you [can] help one person in your life, you've reaped the riches of the world.' In some cases, I'm able to help thousands — if not millions — and that gives me great gratification.

What advice do you have for other professionals seeking to climb higher in their career?

What I like to get across to young people and new professionals is to never give up, and have the independence of mind to run your own race. Don't measure yourself by your peer group, measure yourself by your own aspirations and what you think you are capable of. Early on, I had to learn that if I constantly try to keep up with the Joneses, I can either overly excite myself or I can overly disappoint myself. You have to live up to your own individual potential, aspirations and expectations.

Also, I will tell you what my mother taught me: to always treat people with respect. She would say, "Shake every hand you meet. You never know who you may have to ask for a piece of bread one day."

Finally, it is important to remember to do your best with everything. Whatever you do, do it to its completeness, because the worst thing you can do is a half job!

Any hobbies and/or an interesting fact about you that people might be surprised to know?

Time with my family is always a source of comfort. Watching sports and athletic activities, particulary basketball, have always been enjoyable for me.

Sally Hutton: Municipal power broker

Among the most influential power brokers in Indiana, or any state for that matter, are mayors who manage the places where we live, work and play.

Many would agree that the same attributes needed to run a successful business or organization – being hard working, visionary, and resourceful while meeting the needs of people – are those needed to manage a city.

Sally Hutton, the mayor of Richmond, understands the need for those skills very well.

"Leadership is not about one person being in charge and doing everything," said Hutton. "It's about getting people to actually and truly work together."

In 2007, Hutton was elected mayor of Richmond, a city of nearly 37,000 in Wayne County, which sits on the state's border with Ohio. Previously, she had served 18 years on the City Council.

Hutton does the high profile activities that most mayors and other influential people thrive on, such as meeting with dignitaries and brokering major economic agreements. However, she also enjoys getting her hands dirty (sometimes literally) with the grassroots and unglamorous aspects of operating the city.

For example, every week she can easily be found participating in events supporting the education of children, or walking in alleys or down neighborhood streets with volunteers, helping to clear trash and debris.

"It's amazing what you can learn about your city when you do that," Hutton said.

That kind of attention to detail and care for some of the most minute aspects has helped make Richmond a good place to live for many Hoosiers.

In 2009, Richmond won an All-America City Award from the National Civic League for outstanding civic accomplishments, especially in education, quality of life, diversity and infrastructure.

"What makes Richmond great is its people. We seem to have a very caring community," Hutton said. "Also, it's not huge but it's not too small, and it is close to major urban areas like Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Dayton. We have a lot of historical buildings and are really strong supporters of preservation."

Hutton is Richmond's first female mayor and one of only a handful that Indiana has had in its 195-year history.
Since the 1980s, the cities of Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Franklin, Lawrence, Carmel and Princeton have all elected women as mayors

This year, with Democrats Melina Kennedy and Karen-Freeman Wilson running in Indianapolis and Gary, respectively, those cities may follow suit.

Women who currently serve as mayors of major Indiana municipalities include Hutton, a Democrat, Sharon McShurley, a Muncie Republican, and Shawna M. Girgis, a Bedford independent.

Hutton said the key to a successful enterprise, whether it is a business, a company, or a city, is respecting other people and motivating them to reach common goals.

"My advice would be to be honest with people, because you can never think you're better than anyone else," Hutton said. "You also have to listen to others before formulating your own opinion. Don't think that you know everything, because no one does. It is also important to truly work with people; it's the way to get things done."

McShurley agrees with that sentiment, which is why she made an effort to incorporate as many citizens as possible into her new Muncie Action Plan to attract jobs, enhance business opportunities and improve quality of life in the city of more than 70,000.

"The public has been involved every step of the way – first to generate ideas, then articulate values and finally, affirm goals," McShurley said. "It is important to have everyone involved as we work to reinvent our city and develop specific action steps to build a stronger, prosperous Muncie."

 

Cultivating future leaders

Variety of programs groom future power brokers A number of organizations throughout Indiana are dedicated to preparing the power brokers of the future: Center for Leadership Development: Entering its 35th year, CLD has been devoted specifically to the preparation of African-American high school students for the future through its 13-week program. Though he's not certain how many people have gone on to become power brokers, the organization's executive director Dennis Bland said he's certain a large number of leaders, especially in Indianapolis, are graduates of CLD. "It's essentially an executive leadership program for high school students," he said. "It's helpful in giving them a lot of the social skills and soft skills they will need to be successful." NULITES: The National Urban League Incentives to Excel & Succeed is a national program administered locally both in Indianapolis and in Fort Wayne that offers personal development opportunities for youth, including the development and implementation of chapter activities under the guidance of adults. Youth Leadership Initiative: The United Way of Central Indiana operates several leadership programs, including one for youth. Entering its 17th year, the program each year accepts 17 students in grades nine through 11. After a year of monthly training workshops in public speaking and presentation, consensus making, team building and fund raising, the young people are assigned to serve on boards of United Way organizations. "We believe that youth can be leaders right now," said the program's director Paula Shepley.

As Peyton Powers demonstrated recipes using Girl Scout cookies on a recent local morning television program, her mother and troop leader Crystal Livers-Powers stood next to her, impressed by her poise and ability to take viewers through the steps.
Livers-Powers again was struck by her daughter's maturity in March as she led the Pledge of Allegiance for the Governor's Leadership Prayer Breakfast.

"I feel like Girl Scouts has opened up many opportunities for me. It's helped me build up my confidence," Peyton said. It's what helped the 15-year-old Cathedral High School junior conquer her fears of public speaking.

Peyton and her sister Jade Powers have experienced a variety of leadership opportunities since their family, including father Mark Powers – one of many "do-dads" – became involved in Girl Scouts of Central Indiana more than 15 years ago. They are among thousands of girls who are being groomed as future power brokers through Girl Scouts programs that emphasize team building, planning and self-discipline.

Jade, a 20-year-old junior majoring in religious studies and art history at DePauw University, studied in India during her university's winter term earlier this year. She credits participation in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts program in Atlanta, Ga., with broadening her horizons and developing an interest in world affairs.

"I don't know if I knew anything about international issues before going to WAGGGS," she admitted. "I don't know where I would be if I didn't have a Girl Scouts program in my life."

Though she's moved into the life of a young adult, Jade continues work with middle school-age Girl Scouts in Greencastle. She also has discussed starting a new troop in Indianapolis with her mother.

Livers-Powers, who also participated in Girl Scouts as a child, certainly is no stranger to starting a troop. Concerned with the lack of extra-curricular activities when Jade attended kindergarten at Holy Angels Catholic School, she decided to matters into her own hands.

"I was looking for something that would occupy and challenge her," she said. "Nobody else thought I had the time to give … I was working full time in a demanding job and had a toddler, so I wasn't sure I could bite off one more thing, but I couldn't say no to the children."

Now board chair for Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, Livers-Powers said she panicked when 28 girls showed up for that first meeting. She hadn't expected the need to be so overwhelming.

Livers-Powers and her troop worked hard, making crafts, selling cookies and taking a trip to see "The Lion King" on Broadway in New York City.

"We set some big goals, and we were able to achieve them," she said.

Her daughters' future leadership abilities definitely were on Livers-Powers' mind as she guided them and her other scouts through the program.

"I wanted them to be prepared, and I wanted them to be unafraid to lead," she said. "All these things translate to the professional and will work very, very well later."

The lessons of the Girl Scouts weren't lost on Livers-Powers, whose day job is director of corporate communications for Indianapolis Power & Light. Her own leadership abilities led Livers-Powers to be named one of The Indianapolis Business Journal's "Forty Under 40" in 2005.

"It's been a great leadership experience for me and my family," she said. "I've received as much as I've given… I feel I have developed as a person and a professional through the Girl Scouts.

"It's all about the village, and this has really been a chance for me to be a part of the village," she said. "I also was able to let people in the village help mine."

Livers-Powers encourages other adults to take advantage of the leadership opportunities Girl Scouts offers.

"There are many ways you can be involved in developing the power brokers of the future," she said.