impact | noun (im· pact): the force of impression of one thing on another : a significant or major effect

Dear Friends of MDLF,

2023 was defined and measured by IMPACT. For me, that meant intentional focus on influencing and inspiring others towards perpetual, positive and change-making leadership.

In each of my roles professionally, civically and personally, I love finding ways to be involved in the life of our Hoosier state, and it’s brought immense joy bringing those I mentor and our MDLF Fellows on this journey. Whether through facilitating our MDLF Aiming Higher Event series, studying lessons in leadership, nominating these exceptional humans for awards or recommending them for jobs and boards, their successes are tremendous and an honor to be a small part of!

Leadership to me is about how far we advance others, not ourselves, and championing others is the essence of how the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation chose to make impact in 2023:

• In 2023 we exceeded year over year growth in these categories:

• Number of Donors: 105 (119%)

• Annual Event Sponsors: 39 (134%)

• Annual Event Attendees: 371 (106%)

• Fellowship Applicants: 137 (132%)

• Monthly Newsletter Subscribers: 3,010 (145%)

• Monthly Newsletter Open Rate: 47% (125%)

• LinkedIn Followers: 3,613 (163%)

• Pierre F. Goodrich Grant Renewed and continued investment (125%)

• We gained further traction as a team and expanded our operations:

• Hired and onboarded new Membership Director, Kelsey Cook

• Engaged Mitch Daniels more strategically with Fellows, Curriculum and our Annual Event

• Implemented and trained our team on Salesforce CRM, including hiring a current Fellow, Robert Evans, as our Salesforce contractor

• Delivered two new MDLF Case Studies on the Healthy Indiana Plan and Creation of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation working with Neil Pickett

• Created MDLF team cultural values and Vision Traction Organizer

• Vetted and transitioned to new PEO and independent review firm

• Researched and proposed employee sponsored health plan

• Our programs and Fellowship program continued to improve in these ways:

• Welcomed 25 Fellows in the sixth Class representing 10 Indiana counties and hosted monthly Year-1 Class Days studying topics of state of Indiana’s economy, education and health, as well as civil society, free speech and leadership

• Hosted our first-ever MDLF Network-wide Capstone Day at The Heritage Group’s The Center with 100% of Class V Fellows participating

• Upleveled Aiming Higher Series with more robust topics, panelists/content with over 100 attendees at both events: “Meet Indiana’s Newest Presidents & CEOs” and “Meet Indiana’s Leading Ladies in State Government”

• Launched sponsorships and partners for Aiming Higher Series & Class Days

• Launched and delivered quarterly, Year-2 Fellowship Curriculum

• Built and implemented Capstone development curriculum within Year 1 & 2

• Vetted and onboarded three new board members

• Celebrated and recognized over 80 MDLF Fellows who accomplished a significant life or leadership milestone

• Created Driving Change Award to track and measure Fellows’ Capstone impact

• Across the community, we showed up intentionally in these ways:

• Executed our first-ever statewide “On the Road Campaign,” visiting four regions and meeting with 27 individuals from six new counties not yet represented in the MDLF Fellowship

• Secured multiple media features in: The Current, Indianapolis Business Journal, Inside Indiana Business, WISH TV Community Link, The Startup Executive Podcast and Circle City Success Podcast

• Sharing our mission of “Enable Leaders. Drive Change.” with diverse audiences across the state through 16 different speaking opportunities including: InnoPower Minority Business Conference, United Way Annual Luncheon and Leadership United, IRT Celebrity Radio Show, Indianapolis Executive Forum, International Center Global Impression Awards, U.S. Department of State Career Connections Seminar 

In 2024, we remain committed to recruit, empower and engage pragmatic, results-oriented leaders with a bias towards action who are eager to drive positive change, with the ultimate goal of producing a wave of individuals who will together serve with this same spirit of impact across our state. 

I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished this last year as a Foundation and look forward to driving further impact thanks to the generosity of our supporters like you.

Lauren James | Executive Director