Svitlana Ramer is a native of Ukraine and holds degrees from Kyiv National University, East Carolina University, Friedrich Schiller University, and Penn State. Svitlana is the VP of Development and External Affairs at The International Center as well as the Co-founder and President of Ukrainian Society of Indiana.

The Courage to LEAP.

When MDLF Class VI convened at The International Center for their July 25th case study session on the Creation of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), I expected to walk away with many practical tools for startups and knowledge on the inner workings of Indiana’s economy. While all of that still happened, the most unexpected takeaway was the one theme that emerged as a throughline, permeating every panel and speaker presentation: COURAGE. 

The first panel consisted of people who stood at the very roots of the IEDC along with Mitch Daniels – Nate Feltman, Ryan Kitchell, Chad Sweeny, John Thompson, and Neil Pickett. They spoke candidly about the singular focus it took then-Governor Daniels to focus on bringing the IEDC to life with his first executive order after assuming office. Halfway through his first term, when the results of his innovative actions were not yet clearly seen, Mitch Daniels held steady to his vision and knowledge of what Indiana’s economy could be. “The IEDC [had] the full support and engagement of the Governor, and the willingness of other state agencies to cooperate in any and every way possible to assist the Corporation in completing deals to attract new business investment and jobs to Indiana.” (Neil Pickett, IEDC Case Study, 2023) It was encouraging to hear the panel share that there was a vision and strategy to flip the state’s past economic development downfall on its head to achieve prosperity. It was then, Ryan said, that the Administration’s team really saw Mitch Daniels’ “courage to not fold.” He started with his conviction and values, weathered the critics, and continued to do what he believed was right for the state’s economy. The speakers themselves had to make courageous decisions to step away from established careers and higher paychecks to contribute to something they believed in – to get behind an idea that was going to serve the greater good. 

The groundwork laid by those early IEDC employees, building out the “sandbox” with tools that helped attract companies like Honda Manufacturing, Nestle, Roche, and Rolls Royce – allowed for IEDC’s current team to make even bigger moves and reach $22 Billion in foreign direct investment in 2022 alone. It was this international activity that was the focus of the lunchtime panel, with insights from Andrea Richter-Garry, Sarah Iglehart, Marlon Webb, Maggie Bishop, and Colin Renk. More than anything, they all stressed teamwork – and the boldness it takes to shake off “Hoosier modesty” and promote Indiana on the global stage as a state that is “shooting higher and being aspirational”, as Brad Chambers said at the inaugural Indiana Global Economic Summit in 2022.

And it was precisely this individual, Indiana’s Secretary of Commerce and board member of The International Center, Brad Chambers, who rounded out the day with valuable insights on our state’s “economy of the future” and the courage it will take the next generation of professionals, and all Hoosiers, to position is as such. Not surprisingly, when Secretary Chambers shared his five characteristics of a leader, a familiar term popped up: 

1. Humility

2. Courage

3. Integrity

4. Other focused

5. Evolution

Maybe, when Cinderella said “have courage and be kind” - she was really onto something. For it seems that behind every great accomplishment in our state and globally – there is a great deal of courage being exhibited by people on all levels. After all, fairy tales are a way to teach children foundational values early on. For Indiana and IEDC, consistent focus on courage and being aspirational has resulted in the creation of Indiana's first industrial mega site – LEAP Lebanon Innovation District. 

So, my friends, have courage and be kind – and you will be amazed at where your leaps of faith may take you.