Socratic Seminar, Values, and Indiana Talent Strategy
Geoff Fenelus, a Corporate Benefits Advisor at NFP's Indianapolis Office, partners with small to midsize businesses to design and implement employee benefits programs that align with their people strategy. His passion lies in building long-term client relationships grounded in results to address their most complex challenges.
As a proud member of the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation (MDLF) Class VI Fellowship, I find myself on a remarkable journey, one that presents a unique opportunity to unite people from every corner of Indiana in a collective mission to elevate our state to new heights. With each gathering of our Fellowship cohort, we discover invaluable avenues for learning and growth. During our most recent Fellowship session, we convened at Liberty Fund—an institution that champions the exchange of ideas, fosters robust discussions, and unwaveringly commits to effecting change by sparking dialogues on the enduring ideals of liberty, transcending time and culture.
While previous sessions emphasized the importance of hearing from leaders representing diverse sectors, the gathering at Liberty Fund held distinct significance. It offered us a platform for engaging in discourse on our economy and the different ways we interact with it. Stepping into Liberty Fund, we were greeted by an atmosphere of intellectual stimulation, where our Fellowship's diverse backgrounds converged, propelled by a shared passion for learning. We sat around a magnificent oval table, ready to partake in a Socratic seminar centered on unraveling the complexities of our economy and our role within it.
The Socratic seminar, in essence, is a conversation steeped in the dialectic style, molded to suit a specific context—in our case, the economy. Participants aim to gain deeper insights into ideas through the reading of pertinent texts and engaging in rigorous and thoughtful dialogue. This process encourages us to think expansively rather than gravitate toward consensus. As a leader, I found this experience profoundly impactful. It afforded me the opportunity not only to candidly express my thoughts but, more importantly, to listen attentively to the perspectives of others.
Within our cohort, we count nonprofit and educational leaders, business leaders, lawyers, entrepreneurs, government leaders, healthcare leaders, and individuals wholeheartedly dedicated to advancing Indiana's potential. Despite the differences in our backgrounds, it was gratifying to see the diversity of opinions on policies and structures, even in moments of disagreement. It underscored the critical significance of collaboration and active listening in an increasingly polarized world.
To sit side by side with fellow fellows, to feel secure in expressing my viewpoints while fostering an environment that encourages others to do the same—this experience was nothing short of transformative. In our discussions, we grappled with two fundamental questions: "What is the true essence of social welfare?" and "Are there inherent costs associated with the optimal approach to measuring policy effectiveness?" These questions, individually compelling, ignited a range of responses within our group.
If I were to distill the essence of being a Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation fellow, it would be this: we are a community of brilliant, impassioned individuals from diverse walks of life, united by a singular purpose—to propel Indiana to its highest potential collectively for a brighter future for our beloved state.
In our later session, we embarked on a profound exploration of our core values—a journey that proved illuminating. We uncovered and dissected the values that resonate most deeply with us. For me, these values crystallized as humility, humor, and curiosity. This introspective exercise forced me to scrutinize my fundamental beliefs and acknowledge how they guide my leadership journey.
Our conversations extended to the culmination of our Fellowship—a capstone project, a transformative opportunity to effect positive change in Indiana. I strongly believe in the power of nurturing talent within our state, whether that entails attracting and retaining individuals or fostering educational initiatives across diverse education ecosystems. Indiana's limitless potential lies within its people, and my capstone project aims to unite existing resources and synergize efforts to elevate our state through its "people."
I am eagerly looking forward to connecting with anyone who shares an interest in discussing my capstone project or contributing ideas to transform it into reality. Next up, we will head to Evansville to learn from the leaders there as we study the state of education in Indiana over the next three months."
