On Wednesday, the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence at Indiana University celebrated the 20th anniversary of the endowment signing. At the ceremony, the newest edition to the Oral History Insights project features James Morris, alumnus and trustee of Indiana University and vice chairman of Pacers Sports and Entertainment. Listeners will hear or read Jim outline his best practices for defining a company’s vision, leadership and navigating change.
The Oral History Insights features prominent leaders and leadership scholars as narrators, providing invaluable insights into leadership and impactful stories of success and resilience. Beginning under Tobias Leadership Center’s Founding Director and IUPUI Chancellor Emeritus, Gerald Bepko, the project originally focused on Hoosier leaders but expanded when the center partnered with the International Leadership Association to highlight the leaders selected annually with the association’s lifetime achievement award. Each interview is conducted with the highest standards set by the American Oral History Association with Dr. Philip Scarpino, an IU professor and expert in oral history, directing the project. Explore each story through an interactive, online platform that allows listeners to hear or read insights and life lessons from prominent leaders in their own words.
“As we reflect on the past two decades, we are proud of all the Tobias Leadership Center has accomplished. Our journey has been marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence and the belief that leadership matters now more than ever,” said Julie Manning Magid, executive and academic director of the Tobias Leadership Center and vice dean of the Kelley School of Business Indianapolis.
The project hosts more than 40 stories from local and global business and impact leaders including:
- Imhotep Adisa and Paulette Fair, co-founders of the Khepwr Institute;
- Dennis Bland, president of the Center for Leadership Development, an Indianapolis-based non-profit organization dedicated to preparing African American youth for academic, college and career success.
- Otis Bowen, the 44th Governor of the state of Indiana;
- Frances Hesselbein, former Girls Scouts USA CEO;
- Former Senator Richard G. Lugar;
- P.E. MacAllister, former president and chairman of the board of MacAllister Machine Company;
- William Mays, founder of Mays Chemical Company;
- Patricia Miller, co-founder of Vera Bradley, and Indiana’s first secretary of commerce;
- John Mutz, former president of the Lilly Endowment;
- Sallie Rowland, CEO of Rowland Design; and
- Guy Russell, former engineer at Allison Transmissions Inc. and Indianapolis civil rights leader.
Guy Russell, former engineer at Allison Transmissions Inc. and Indianapolis civil rights leader, joins the May 15 event.
“This online collection gives insight into the lives and stories of leadership luminaries –the challenges they faced and the impact they made. These oral histories offer a unique insight into their lives and provide a valuable resource for those seeking to learn from them,” said Magid.
The Tobias Leadership Center, founded in 2004 thanks to a $5.25 million contribution to Indiana University from the Randall L. Tobias Foundation, is committed to leadership development and education to empower leaders to develop people, organizations, and communities by bridging the gap between knowledge and practice. This gift, the single largest ever made by the foundation, memorializes Tobias’ prominence as a state and national leader and honors IU for the significant role it played in his success. For more information on the Tobias Leadership Center, click here.
About the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence
The Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence prepares leaders for 21st century challenges. Celebrating its 20th year, the Tobias Leadership Center bridges the gap between knowledge and practice, so leaders are empowered to develop people, organizations and communities who can solve complex problems. The center’s signature initiatives are the Tobias Fellows Program, an Oral History Library, and the Hazelett Forum. Established at Indiana University, the Tobias Leadership Center is headquartered on the IU Indianapolis campus. The center partners with the Kelley School of Business, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.
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