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Kelley School of Business Indiana University Bloomington
Corporate and Foundation Relations

Celebrating a Year of Corporate Engagement at Kelley

Posted on by Lily Williams

Celebrating a Year of Corporate Engagement at Kelley

2024–2025 Year in Review

As the 2024–2025 academic year concludes, we are reflecting on an exceptional year of collaboration with corporate partners who are advancing student success and bringing real-world impact into the classroom. We wanted to take the opportunity to share only a few highlights from a year full of industry engagement.

National Diversity Case Competition (NDCC)

Kelley proudly hosted the 14th Annual NDCC, welcoming students from across the country to tackle a business case focused on increasing access and belonging in the field of accounting. Twenty-three teams competed, and corporate

representatives from seven partner organizations provided mentorship, insights, and networking opportunities. Congratulations to Emory University’s team for earning first place.

“Connecting with the students during NDCC was such a rewarding experience. I’m honored to have been part of it,” shared a representative from Nucor.

Global Sales Workshop Dinner

In April, students from the Global Sales Workshop came together with corporate partners from Kelley’s Center for Global Sales Leadership to celebrate a year of accomplishments and partnership. The event recognized students’ achievements and honored the vital support of corporate partners.

Highlights included reflections on success in sales competitions, insights from corporate partner meetings on building a personal brand, cold calling strategies, mentorship, and fostering workplace community. Students also shared takeaways from visits to partner offices throughout the Midwest. This year, 35 students from the program will take the next step in their careers, joining these partners in internships or full-time roles.

Kelley Partner Recognition & Impact Celebration

In February, Kelley honored 91 corporate partners during a joint reception hosted by Employer Relations, the Advancement team, and Kelley Executive Education. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, music from a Jacobs School of Music jazz trio, and reflections on the year’s impact. Special thanks to Dean’s Circle partners, alumni, and top employers who continue to drive Kelley’s mission forward.

Student Organization Engagement

Corporate partners supported over 20 student organizations this year, contributing to professional panels, industry workshops, and networking events. Thirty-five companies helped empower student leaders and create hands-on learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom.

Investment Management Workshop: NYC Experience

In January, 48 members of Kelley’s Investment Management Workshop (IMW) visited 23 firms in New York City. The trip culminated in an alumni reception attended by over 150 Kelley alums. Special thanks to Liz Weikes of J.P. Morgan Wealth Management for sponsoring the event and to the alumni who hosted students and shared their career insights.

As we look ahead, Kelley remains committed to expanding these partnerships, driving student success, and preparing future leaders for the global business world.

Thank you to all our partners for an incredible year of engagement and impact!

 

Get in Front of Future Business Leaders: Corporate Branding Opportunities at the Kelley School of Business

Posted on by Lily Williams

Get in Front of Future Business Leaders: Corporate Branding Opportunities at the Kelley School of Business

At the Kelley School of Business, we believe in shaping not only the next generation of business leaders—but also in forging strong connections between our students and the corporate world they’re preparing to lead.

If your company is looking to build early brand recognition, develop meaningful student relationships, and recruit top-tier talent, we invite you to partner with us through several impactful programs designed to support and engage Kelley students. These opportunities offer both high visibility and the chance to make a lasting difference in the student experience.

Kelley Branding Opportunities

  1. Kelley Kickstart – Connect early with 100 of our top Direct Admit students during a high-impact, week-long, on-campus experience before the fall semester begins. Optional case competition involvement allows for
  2.  deeper engagement and talent scouting.
  3. Academic Success at Kelley (ASK) – With over 2,000 peer mentoring appointments each year, ASK is a vital student support program. Sponsor recognition in this space connects your brand to academic excellence and student success.
  4. Kelley Common Read – Reach 2,200 incoming Direct Admit students (plus the broader Kelley student body) through a school-wide shared reading experience. This program promotes reflection, critical thinking, and leadership development—and offers high-visibility branding throughout orientation and beyond.
  5. REACH (Resources, Education, & Campus How-To’s) – Support a series of leadership sessions designed for student organization leaders and aspiring campus influencers. These sessions focus on leadership development, communication, and involvement—perfect for companies looking to connect with high-potential student leaders.
  6. Kelley’s Closet – Make a difference while promoting your brand by supporting our initiative to provide 1,000+ pieces of free professional clothing to students. Help students put their best foot forward—at interviews, career fairs, and internships—while aligning your company with inclusion, equity, and career readiness.
  7. Student Support: Mental Health & Wellness – Be part of the momentum behind over 200 student support appointments and 50+ annual trainings. Kelley-to-Kelley mentoring alone connects nearly 3,000 participants, and our Balance Week wellness initiative serves over 1,200 students. Sponsorship here demonstrates your company’s commitment to holistic student well-being and leadership development.
  8. Professional Fraternity Council (PFC) – Support a network of 850 members across 10 professional fraternities. Events such as Professional Fraternity Night (1,200 attendees) and New Member Education (400 participants) offer premier branding opportunities. New in 2025: IU will host a national gathering for PFC chapters across the U.S.—a first-of-its-kind branding platform.

Let’s Build the Future Together

Each of these programs represents a unique way for your company to connect with highly engaged, motivated students. Sponsorships can be tailored to your goals—whether that’s recruitment, brand visibility, or strategic engagement in key areas like leadership, inclusion, or mental health. Join us in supporting the student experience—and shaping the future of business.

To explore partnership options, please contact Jill Storm @ jilstorm@iu.edu

Celebrating Innovation and Career Exploration: Highlights from the 2025 Kelley Challenge

Posted on by Lily Williams

The 2025 Kelley Challenge, wrapped up with an exciting capstone event on the IU Indianapolis campus, showcasing the creativity, confidence, and business savvy of participating high school students.

This year’s Challenge brought together 18 teams from Ben Davis High School and the McKenzie Center for Innovation & Technology (representing Lawrence North and Lawrence Central High Schools), who took on a real-world corporate case developed by Rolls-Royce. Their task: decide whether a key component should be manufactured in-house or outsourced – analyzing the decision through the lens of supply chain logistics, cost efficiency, scalability, and quality control.

“This has been the highlight of my year so far and we all really had a great time networking with the kids and being able to help support this program.” Rolls Royce Team Member

Our partner and educator at Ben Davis High School celebrated “Noticeable growth in students’ public speaking and communication skills and a powerful chance to engage directly with business professionals and learn from real-world insights.”

The culminating event featured polished team presentations, a networking session with professionals from OneAmerica and Rolls-Royce, and a celebratory luncheon. Congratulations to this year’s winners:

First Place: Ben Davis High School

Second Place: McKenzie Center

Over the four-week program, students built critical business skills, gained exposure to workplace expectations, and forged connections with Indiana-based employers. Impressively, 69% of Kelley Challenge alumni over the past three years have reported discovering new career interests because of the program.

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated alumni and Rolls-Royce professionals for their mentorship, guidance, and insight. We’re also grateful to Rachel Jones (Ben Davis) and Brandon Shipp (McKenzie Center) for preparing their students so thoroughly.

The Kelley Challenge exemplifies the Kelley School of Business’s commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders—equipping students with the tools, confidence, and professional exposure they need to thrive in a global economy.

Want to learn more or get involved? Visit: Kelley Challenge Program or contact us at ksbcorp@iu.edu

ACE Students Sharpen Professional Skills at Etiquette Dinner with AbbVie

Posted on by Lily Williams

The Academic and Career Excellence (ACE) program recently hosted an exceptional etiquette dinner, supported by global biopharmaceutical company AbbVie. Held in the historic Federal Room at the Indiana Memorial Union, the event brought together 50 ACE students, AbbVie professionals, and Kelley School of Business faculty for an evening of professional growth, networking, and polished dining.

Throughout a six-course meal, students were guided by a professional etiquette consultant who shared practical tips and best practices for navigating corporate dining settings. From mastering formal place settings to confidently engaging in conversation, students had the opportunity to apply professional skills in a real-world context.

This signature event is an integral component of Compass 1, the first course in Kelley’s three-part Compass professional development series. In Compass 1, students begin to shape their career identities by identifying their strengths, building a personal brand, conducting informational interviews, and developing LinkedIn profiles that reflect their goals and aspirations.

AbbVie’s partnership and active participation were instrumental in making the event a success.

“The event was incredible!” said Logan Akers, a representative from AbbVie. “Our AbbVie team was unanimously impressed by the students and the event. I’ve already received a few connections on LinkedIn – their profiles look great! It was truly a touching and impressive experience.”

We extend our sincere thanks to AbbVie for their continued support and for investing in the future of Kelley students. Events like the ACE etiquette dinner are vital to bridging the gap be tween academic learning and professional success—helping students gain the confidence and skills needed to thrive as future business leaders.

Kelley Indianapolis welcomes eight new Corporate Partners to strengthen regional talent development

Posted on by Lily Williams

The Kelley School of Business at IU Indianapolis is excited to announce the addition of eight distinguished organizations to its growing Corporate Partners Program. These new partnerships are a testament to Kelley Indianapolis’s dedication to bridging the gap between academia and industry, fueling workforce development and economic growth across Indiana.

The Corporate Partners Program serves as a vital platform for collaboration between students and employers. Through mentorship, personalized educational experiences, and innovative branding opportunities, the program equips Kelley students with the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to thrive in their careers while driving success for their future employers.

This year, Kelley Indianapolis is proud to welcome Rexel, KSM, CBIZ, DOZ, Sherwin-Williams, Forvis Mazars, BGBC, and Enterprise Mobility as new corporate partners. Each of these organizations shares a commitment to building a robust talent pipeline by offering internships, full-time positions, and mentorship opportunities designed to provide real-world experience and foster professional growth.

Partners have expressed enthusiasm to increase collaboration with Kelley Indianapolis to help shape the next generation of business leaders. The program’s focus on student success aligns perfectly with their values of innovation and professional development. The addition of these eight organizations marks a significant milestone in strengthening Indiana’s talent pipeline, with partnerships that provide students with invaluable access to industry insights and opportunities, preparing them for lasting success in the business world.

The impact of these collaborations is already being felt, as many of the new partners actively participate in career fairs, networking events, and customized student engagements. These interactions not only give students practical exposure but also open doors to meaningful relationships that can shape their professional journeys.

Kelley Indianapolis extends its heartfelt gratitude to all corporate partners, whose generosity and commitment to workforce development inspire the school’s mission to provide transformational experiences for both students and employers.

Interested in joining the Kelley Indianapolis Corporate Partners Program? Learn more about how you can collaborate to shape the region’s future workforce by contacting Brenda Espinoza at bespino@iu.edu.

Together, we’re building a brighter future for Indiana—one partnership at a time.

 

Abbott Case Competition: Transforming financial planning and analysis at Kelley

Posted on by Lily Williams

Participants for the case competition sit at tables in a room, while they are listening to someone speak.
The Kelley School of Business celebrated a significant milestone with the inaugural Abbott Case Competition held on September 27. Sponsored by Abbott and organized by the AFP Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis Workshop, the event brought together 26 student teams for a high-energy day of problem-solving, innovation, and strategic thinking.

winners of the abbot case holding a big check - their winnings! yay

This groundbreaking competition marked the first-ever event at Kelley focused exclusively on Financial Planning and Analysis. It offered students a unique platform to address real-world business challenges, requiring them to develop creative and analytical solutions that reflect the complexities of today’s corporate finance landscape.

After a rigorous round of competition, eight finalist teams showcased their innovative strategies before a distinguished panel of judges. Their presentations highlighted creativity, analytical rigor, and strategic vision, culminating in $3,000 in prizes awarded to the top-performing teams.

However, the Abbott Case Competition was more than just a contest. It served as a transformative experience for participants, equipping them with hands-on expertise in FP&A and enhancing their readiness for future careers in finance. Students not only honed their problem-solving skills but also engaged in experiential learning that bridged classroom concepts with industry expectations.

a close up photo of a few people who worked the case competition.This event underscored the importance of Kelley’s partnerships with leading organizations like Abbott, which play a critical role in enriching student opportunities and fostering innovation. Through initiatives like this, the Kelley School of Business continues to exemplify its commitment to preparing students for success in an ever-evolving business environment.

As Kelley advances its portfolio of innovative Workshops and experiential learning opportunities, the Abbott Case Competition stands as a testament to the school’s dedication to student excellence and industry collaboration.

For more information about the AFP Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis Workshop and other opportunities, visit the Workshop website.

Nucor Joins the National Diversity Case Competition as new partner

Posted on by Lily Williams

the nucor team dressed business professional in a very nice team photo

The Kelley School of Business is thrilled to welcome Nucor Corporation as a new partner for the National Diversity Case Competition (NDCC). This partnership highlights Nucor’s commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion while creating transformative opportunities for Kelley students.

As the largest steel producer in the United States, Nucor is renowned for its innovation, sustainability, and dedication to building strong relationships with academic institutions. Their support of Kelley is not new—over the past eight years, Nucor has been a key partner of the Kelley Center for Global Sales Leadership supporting initiatives like the National Team Selling Competition, Global Sales Workshop, Sales Club, and professional sales courses. Their investment has been instrumental in preparing Kelley students to excel in the competitive world of sales.

nucor representatives talking to students at a kelley event.

Nucor’s involvement in diversity initiatives has grown steadily. Earlier this year, they participated in the Indiana University Diversity Case Competition (IUDCC), where their representatives served as judges and mentors, providing students with valuable industry insights. Now, as a partner for the NDCC, Nucor deepen its engagement by sending a team of professionals to the event, including a keynote speaker to inspire and connect with students on a larger scale.

This collaboration reflects a shared vision between Kelley and Nucor to cultivate inclusive environments that empower students to thrive. By combining Kelley’s dedication to experiential learning with Nucor’s industry leadership, this partnership is set to create impactful experiences for students while promoting the values of diversity and equity in the business world.

a nucor representative talking with students, at their table during a kelley event.

“We were thrilled to welcome Nucor to NDCC and deepen our collaboration. They understand the value of diversity, and it is obvious in their company culture. They provided invaluable mentorship and connection to the student teams this year,” said Kara Hieser, Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the Kelley School.

To learn more about the National Diversity Case Competition and its partners, visit the NDCC website or reach out to the Kelley Office of Access and Community Enhancement at kace@iu.edu.

Corporate Partners propel experiential learning at the Center for Brand Leadership

Posted on by Lily Williams

a selfie of keith and students outside oh hodge hall steps

The Kelley School of Business Center for Brand Leadership (CBL) is redefining how future brand leaders are prepared for the ever-evolving marketplace. With its commitment to fostering innovation and bridging the gap between academia and industry, the CBL has become a hub for dynamic collaboration between students and corporate partners.

This fall, the CBL has reached new heights in its mission, offering students invaluable hands-on learning experiences and exposure to industry-leading professionals. Through partnerships with top-tier companies like Procter & Gamble, Conagra, Kellanova, Mattel, and Eli Lilly, students have been immersed in real-world brand management scenarios that sharpen their skills and expand their perspectives.

a compilation of photos highlighting when Kellanova visited Kelley school of business. there is a photo with Keith and Kellanova CMO Julie Bowerman. another with students standing in front of the Kelley stop and repeat. A photo of the classroom where Kellanova gave their presentation to the students. and a photo of Julie Bowerman talking with a slideshow behind her.

Highlights from the fall semester include engaging guest lectures, interactive case studies, and exclusive site visits during Consumer Marketing Academy (CMA) Week. Students had the chance to hear from Jason Horowitz of Mattel, who shared insights on navigating today’s fragmented media landscape, and CMA alum Antonia Collins from Eli Lilly, who discussed the evolving field of direct-to-consumer healthcare marketing. These events brought students face-to-face with industry challenges, providing a firsthand look at what it takes to thrive in brand management today.

Professor Keith Niedermeier, director of the Center for Brand Leadership, said he is excited about the program’s trajectory. “We are committed to strengthening our corporate relationships to create meaningful, lasting impacts for our students. These partnerships are vital to shaping the next generation of brand leaders.”

Corporate partners play a pivotal role in the CBL’s success, offering mentorship, internships, and career opportunities that help students envision their future as marketing professionals. By facilitating experiential learning and sharing industry expertise, these partners contribute to the development of versatile, market-ready leaders.

As the CBL continues to grow, it invites additional organizations to join its mission of shaping the future of brand leadership. For more information or partnership inquiries, visit the Center for Brand Leadership’s website or contact Keith Niedermeier at knieder@iu.edu.

With a strong foundation and a commitment to innovation, the CBL is set to deliver even more transformative experiences in the years to come. Together with its partners, the center is preparing students to lead with confidence in a rapidly changing world of marketing.

The future of brand leadership starts here — Bring On Tomorrow.

 

 

A great academic year concludes, setting up a great year ahead

Posted on by archeke

The IU trident sits above the Campus Center bell tower at IU Indianapolis, formerly IUPUI, with the Indianapolis skyline in the background.

Dear partners,

We recently celebrated more than 4,000 new graduates of the Kelley School of Business in Bloomington and Indianapolis. Many of those graduates gained special insights and benefited from industry experiences and opportunities through the years because of the generous engagement and support of our corporate partners.

Dean Ash Soni

It is impossible to measure the ways our corporate partners enhance a Kelley education. This past academic year, some of our undergraduate honors students presented recommendations to General Mills for innovations in the healthy cereal and snack space, and a grant from Procter & Gamble helped expand the Equal Justice Initiative-Kelley Leadership Collaborative to advance DEIB education while having a positive impact on the Kelley community and larger society. This year also marked the inaugural awarding of the Janet Foutty/Deloitte Foundation Leadership Scholarship to four young women who hope to follow in the footsteps of the former chair and CEO. These are just a few of the many examples of generosity from our corporate partners.

The experiences we are able to offer our students have a broader impact on Kelley’s reputation as an elite business school that is reflected in numerous impressive rankings. For example, U.S. News & World Report ranks all three of our MBA programs in the top 20—our in-residence Full-Time MBA in Bloomington (20), our part-time Evening MBA in Indianapolis (13), and our Kelley Direct Online MBA, which was again ranked No. 1. Our Kelley Bloomington Undergraduate Program is ranked No. 8 by U.S. News. Our faculty are highly ranked, too, earning the No. 9 spot in the UT Dallas Top 100 Business School Research Rankings. Special initiatives also garner attention, including our National Diversity Case Competition—supported by many of our corporate partners—which earned the 2024 Inspiring Programs in Business Award from Insight into Diversity magazine.

Looking ahead, it’s going to be another special year at Kelley. IUPUI became IU Indianapolis on July 1, and we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kelley Indianapolis, where we are developing a new MS in the Business of Biotechnology, along with other special programming related to the life sciences industry. In addition, we are launching a new Business Plus Co-op program this fall that offers directly admitted Indianapolis undergraduates the opportunity to combine traditional classroom learning with onsite work experience at central Indiana’s leading companies each year. It’s also the 20th anniversary of the Tobias Leadership Center, which has helped expand networks, strengthen the Indiana business community, and shape nearly 300 leaders who have gone through the year-long Fellows program.

In Bloomington, we’re celebrating 25 years of our ground-breaking Kelley Direct Online MBA Program, which is consistently ranked No. 1 from multiple organizations, as well as the 25th anniversary of the first graduates of our Graduate Accounting Program. We’re launching a new residential MS in Management and our re-imagined online MS degrees in Business Analytics and Finance. More innovative degrees and partnerships are in the works.

I feel very fortunate to be the dean of a school that has meant so much to me for so long. I believe in its mission and its future. I know you do, too. Thank you for partnering with us and creating momentum for our exceptional students.

Ash Soni

Dean, Kelley School of Business

The Sungkyunkwan Professor

Robust Intelligence partners with Kelley lab on AI Risk Database

Posted on by archeke

AI Risk Management leader Robust Intelligence and the Kelley School of Business Data Science and AI Lab (DSAIL), in collaboration with MITRE, have partnered on a database that logs risks among open source AI models.

DSAIL is an interdisciplinary group of doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students from various majors at Indiana University that focuses on developing practical data science and AI-enabled analytics methods and systems for societally relevant applications, particularly in cybersecurity, mental health, and business intelligence. DSAIL is focused on training students in data science research processes for relevant application areas and serving as a resource for Kelley, IU, and firms to make a positive societal impact.

Thanks to a generous gift from Robust Intelligence in Summer 2023, DSAIL undergraduate students and Robust Intelligence embarked on a partnership to begin collecting open-source AI models from Hugging Face and assessing their source code for vulnerabilities, aiming to address the growing importance of AI risk management.

Sagar Samtani

The partnership’s research outcomes were integrated into the AI Risk Database, a system that provides capabilities for organizations to search, sort, and browse risks associated with AI models. The research results were published in IEEE Intelligence and Security Informatics (ISI) and presented at DEFCON AI Village. Additionally, the students contributed to a White Paper to be part of NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework. Collaborations like this and others can significantly impact the fields of AI ethics and security.

Sagar Samtani, associate professor of Information Systems and the director of the lab, emphasizes core values such as integrity, work ethic, teamwork, service, problem-solving, critical thinking, accountability, curiosity, passion, diversity, respect, and perseverance.

As the school’s first recipient of a prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation and the principal investigator on the research project the award supports, Sagar understands the importance of collaboration with organizations to advance AI ethics and security.

“These projects aim to develop integrated AI-enabled analytics research and education around important topics in cyber threat intelligence, including modeling adversarial behaviors, vulnerability management, and open-source software security, ” Samtani said.

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