After decades of influence, mentorship, and excellence, Todd and Kim Saxton retire from Kelley Indianapolis

Kelley School of Business Indianapolis professors Todd and Kim Saxton have significantly impacted the city’s academic and entrepreneurial communities through their research, teaching, and mentorship. Their expertise in strategy, entrepreneurship, venture capital, and marketing has enriched Kelley Indianapolis and supported numerous startups and ventures. The Saxtons have co-authored multiple works on business strategy and innovation, contributing to the body of knowledge in these fields. Their involvement in various business incubators and accelerators has fostered a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, helping students and budding entrepreneurs translate knowledge into practical applications. Their influence extends beyond the classroom, shaping the next generation of business leaders and innovators.

Todd and Kim Saxton decided this year is their last in Indianapolis and retired from the Kelley School of Business Indianapolis. They will continue their teaching, research, and leadership with positions at the University at Buffalo.

The Saxtons’ expertise, passion, and unwavering commitment to their disciplines, the Kelley School, and our students leave an indelible mark.

“Kim and Todd Saxton have been pillars of excellence at Kelley Indianapolis, profoundly shaping our academic and entrepreneurial landscape,” said Julie Manning Magid, vice dean of the Kelley School of Business Indianapolis. “Their dedication to teaching, research, and mentorship has inspired countless students and colleagues. While we will feel the loss of two remarkable professors, their legacy will continue to influence and elevate our community for years to come.”

Todd has been a Kelley since earning his PhD from the Kelley School. For 27 years, he’s been an integral leader of Kelley Indianapolis, where he has led entrepreneurship initiatives and advanced strategy research and teaching. He has taught across all Kelley programs, including every Physician MBA cohort, and has received multiple teaching awards. He was the founding director of the Discovery, Innovation, and Ventures Enterprise (DIVE) for the Evening MBA Program. He received the Chancellor’s Award for Civic Engagement in 2016. His research has been recognized with a Best Paper Award, and he has served on the editorial review board of the Academy of Management Review and Academy of Management Journal. In the collaborative research environment, Todd has also researched with scholars across disciplines and exemplifies the interdisciplinary focus of Kelley Indianapolis.

Todd has advised, helped launch, and invested in hundreds of startups spanning life sciences, software, sports, consumer products, and services. Todd serves on the boards of multiple entrepreneurial ventures, including VisionTech Angel Partners and Diagnotes, a venture-funded health IT firm he helped found. He has consulted with several emergent and high-growth ventures on their launch and growth strategies, including several Inc. 500 companies.

A Kelley Indianapolis pillar for many years, Kim received her MBA and PhD from the Kelley School and joined the Kelley Indianapolis faculty after a successful corporate career in marketing, including a stint at Eli Lilly and Company. With more than 30 years of marketing and market-research experience, working with large corporations, startups, and medium-sized businesses, Kim has used her knowledge, skills, and connections to advance Kelley Indianapolis. She has served as faculty chair of Emerging Programs, co-director of the Scholarly Concentration in the Business of Medicine at the IU School of Medicine, and Marketing Enterprise director. She developed the Graduate Certificate in Medical Management, the school’s first graduate certificate, and led initiatives for attracting more women to our graduate programs, with great success. She has received multiple teaching awards, including the Indiana University President’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2014, and she was recognized as an IUPUI Bantz Community Scholar. Kim is an extensive researcher, publishing with multiple co-authors in top marketing and management journals. She also has served as a principal investigator or co-investigator on multiple grant submissions. Kim has advised business organizations and community nonprofits. Notably, she.

Kim is also an active angel investor and advisor to high-potential startups. She is a member of the advisory board for The Startup Ladies, a community-based organization helping women launch their startups through training and access to investors.

Together, Todd and Kim published a book, The Titanic Effect: Successfully Navigating the Uncertainties that Sink Most Start-ups. They are frequent contributors to local, regional, and national podcasts and provide commentary for news outlets, including the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ). Todd and Kim have had an undeniably impactful presence in the Indianapolis start-up community, and they have helped bolster dynamism in Indiana’s business community. In their final IBJ column, the Saxtons expressed their gratitude for all the support the city has shown them:

“Indiana University, the Kelley School, and the Indianapolis community welcomed us with open arms, and we have thrived. To all of you who have supported us, taken the time to share your ideas with us, and listened to (tolerated) us, we thank you from the bottom of our collective hearts. This has been an investment on our part that has realized immeasurable returns.”