New center, students benefit from corporate and alumni support

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Tracy James

The new Kinsey-Kelley Center for Gender Equity in Business hosts regular faculty research workshops to amplify ongoing gender-related research. With PwC, the center recently co-sponsored the Ethics Case Competition for undergraduate students.

Students on a winning team stand with Karla Montero, director of ethics and social responsibility for Kelley Student Government (far right), and Holly McKenzie, partner at PwC (second from right).

Karla Montero, director of ethics and social responsibility for Kelley Student Government (far right) and Holly McKenzie, partner at PwC (second from right) stand with one of the winning teams.

The teams analyzed a student-drafted case—focused on a fictional but realistic scenario involving workplace bias—and presented their recommendations to judges. Thanks to co-sponsor PwC, who helped fund the prize money for the winning teams. PwC employees also traveled to Bloomington to help judge the competition and even helped students while they worked on the case before the competition.

Anton Vincent, MBA’93

Meanwhile, the Kinsey-Kelley Center recently helped fund a faculty research project related to bias in crowdfunding, and is hosting regular faculty research workshops to amplify ongoing gender-related research and to encourage more. The center will create teaching and learning opportunities related to workplace relationships, sexual harassment, and bias in hiring and promotion. Areas of focus for the center include pay inequities, power differentials, and effective interventions in discriminatory workplaces. The Kinsey-Kelley Center formed last summer with a very generous donation from IU alumna Pam Meyer Yttri.

New founding partner

The Kelley School is thankful for the Kinsey-Kelley Center’s new founding partner Anton Vincent, MBA’93, president of Mars Wrigley North America.

Want to create a custom engagement strategy at Kelley and make connections with students and world-class programs?

Contact Kara Hieser, Senior Director of Development and Engagement, at khieser@iu.edu, or Jill Storm, Director of Development and Engagement, at jilstorm@iu.edu.

Accenture, Aldi, TCC participate in inaugural Kelley event

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Tracy James

When corporate partners engage with Kelley students, impactful connections result.

For Accenture, Aldi, and TCC, the inaugural Kelley Social Issue Fair—hosted by the Kelley Institute for Social Impact (KISI) in November—was an opportunity to meet highly motivated students earning top-ranked Kelley majors. Enthusiasm for the event was high, drawing more than 250 socially minded participants excited to foster social change through business.

Kelley students and corporate partners talk to each other during the Kelley Social Issues Fair sponsored by the Kelley Institute for Social Impact.

Kelley students and corporate partners engage during the Social Issues Fair sponsored by the Kelley Institute for Social Impact.

Accenture, a company dedicated to sustainability leadership, hosted a booth to speak with students interested in learning about social innovators. TCC leaders introduced Kelley students to their “More Than a Phone” program, a nonprofit partnership with domestic violence programs across the US to provide reliable and safe smartphones to survivors of abuse. Aldi generously provided food that made the event a celebration.

Kelley students were invited to next steps including volunteer opportunities, newsletter sign-ups, and participation in upcoming events, allowing them to dive deeper into issues that excite them.

We’re grateful to Accenture, Aldi, and TCC—and all of our corporate partners—whose support of Kelley students builds momentum for the next generation of courageous business leaders.

Want to engage with change makers at Kelley? Contact Kara Hieser, senior director of development, Corporate Engagement.

Aldi and Deloitte join I-Core case kickoff event

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Tracy James

At Kelley, real-world business scenarios prepare students to launch innovative solutions for top companies.

“The Integrated Core (I-Core) is a crucial component of the curriculum, allowing students to look across the operational functions of businesses holistically and broadly,” says Bridget Stomberg, Kelley Undergraduate Program faculty chair.

At the I-Core case launch for Kelley undergraduate students in November, Aldi and Deloitte brought leadership, motivation, and alumni perspectives for students starting their pinnacle team project. Molly Surette, BS’18, district manager at Aldi, talked about her own I-Core experiences. Aldi CEO Jason Hart, BS’93, and Aldi Director of National Buying Dave Winck, BS’16, shared valuable insights via video. Deloitte Partner Steve Pratt spoke on teamwork in the workplace and shared a video greeting from Kelley alumna Janet Foutty, executive chair of the board of directors, Deloitte US.

Two representatives of Aldi talk on the IU Auditorium stage at the I-Core kickoff

Molly Surette, Aldi, speaks to Kelley undergrads.

“Students were engaged and committed, the presentation was professional, the IU Auditorium was packed, and there were good vibes all around,” said a Kelley faculty member who teaches in the I-Core curriculum.

Our deep appreciation goes to the Aldi and Deloitte representatives who inspired Kelley students to apply what they’ve learned about finance, marketing, operations, and leadership to see this Kelley rite of passage—the final I-Core case—to successful completion.

Want to create a custom engagement strategy at Kelley and make connections with students and world-class programs?

Contact Kara Hieser, Senior Director of Development and Engagement, at khieser@iu.edu, or Jill Storm, Director of Development and Engagement, at jilstorm@iu.edu.

Letter from Julie Manning Magid, Vice Dean, Kelley Indianapolis

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Tracy James

Dear partners,

The Kelley School of Business Indianapolis provides research and talent that fuels the vitality of our city and state. It’s a commitment we take seriously—and one we couldn’t fulfill without your support.

Let me share how Kelley Indianapolis researchers are tackling big questions and uncovering new solutions that help make sense of today’s complex world.

Julie Manning Magid, Vice Dean – Indianapolis Campus

Amrou Awaysheh, associate professor of operations and supply chain management, studies how firms integrate and manage socially responsible practices in their operations and supply chains to enhance profitability and improve firm valuations. He’s led projects with Amazon—to better understand the environmental impact of e-commerce warehouses—and Unilever, which achieved €220 million ($240 million) in cost savings and created more than 1,000 job opportunities.

In the last year, Kelley Indianapolis faculty and students have partnered with large corporations, small businesses, and not-for-profit organizations across central Indiana to offer solutions that drive growth and provide access.

For example, students in our top-ranked Evening MBA Program worked with a fitness and wellness center to scale its business revenue in preparation for an equity investment. Another student team recommended a menswear boutique consolidate its downtown and northside operations to better serve customers and retain employees. Both are among 40 strategic consulting projects that are removing barriers for minority- and women-owned small businesses.

As “Kelley in the City,” we contribute to Indianapolis’ business and social ecosystem and foster entrepreneurial exploration for students who want more than a traditional academic degree.

After winning a pitch competition at Elevate Ventures, 2022 finance graduate Anna Dorris worked with a venture capital firm to beta launch her new company, a mail-order personalized style service that uses secondhand clothing. She went from zero to 100 customers in six months and generated $10,000 in revenue during the pilot period.

From expanding access to making dreams come true, your investment in the Kelley School of Business Indianapolis empowers us to be a collaborative community of consequential impact. Thank you.

Julie Manning Magid

Vice Dean – Indianapolis Campus

Kelley Venture Fellow

Professor of Business Law

Letter from Ash Soni, Dean, Kelley School of Business

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Tracy James

Dear partners, 

I am honored to serve as Dean of the Kelley School of Business for the next two years. With Pat Hopkins as Vice Dean of Kelley Bloomington and Julie Manning Magid as Vice Dean of Kelley Indianapolis, we will work as a team to continue Kelley’s momentum and keep us at the forefront of business education in Indiana and the world.

Ash Soni, Kelley Dean, standing in front of a wall with crimson and cream vertical stripes.

Ash Soni, Dean, Kelley School of Business

We will navigate new opportunities as IUPUI transitions to IU Indianapolis, and we will create innovative initiatives to support President Whitten’s IU 2030 strategic plan. We are confident in our strong position for the future. We have a new generation of leaders guiding our programs, enthusiastic world-class faculty, and dedicated staff who put our students first. We continue to innovate in the classroom and explore strategic academic partnerships and collaborations at the local, national, and global levels.

It’s an exciting time to be part of the Kelley School of Business. Our reputation as an innovative educator that helps students grow professionally and personally has led to record enrollment. Our success is also reflected in recent top rankings; all of our major programs are in the Top 20, including our No. 1-ranked Kelley Direct Online MBA Program and our No. 8-ranked Undergraduate Program.

Among some of our recent initiatives this year are two new centers that reflect our commitment to diversity and inclusion, the Kinsey-Kelley Center for Gender Equity in Business, and the Institute for the Advancement of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Business (DEIB). Our Full-Time MBA Program also has a new partnership with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek fraternity for African American men. In addition, we’ve just appointed our first Associate Dean for DEIB.

As we look to the future, we recognize the importance of your partnership with us. You create momentum for our students through opportunity, experience, and understanding of industry needs. You support our student organizations, co-curricular activities, and special programming that helps our students build resilience and create balance. You also help us attract and retain world-class professors through faculty fellowships and sharing your insights on advisory boards and in the classroom, helping us stay responsive and relevant in the ever-changing business world.

Thank you for your investment in Kelley and in the leaders of the future. We couldn’t do it without you.

Ash Soni

Dean, Kelley School of Business

The Sungkyunkwan Professor

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