With Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration taking place this week, the organization is in its busiest phase of the year.
Yet, you wouldn’t be able to tell or experience an overwhelming aura of stress from Tanya Bell, IBE’s president and CEO. A visitor who meets her at IBE’s near Northside office is actually likely to encounter a smile, bright, alert eyes and a calm, professional demeanor.
“We have had a great start to Summer Celebration so far. Hopefully we can keep it up over the remaining days,” Bell said with an easy laugh.
However, there is more to Bell than her leadership of one of the nation’s most successful African-American led organizations. The Recorder sat down with Bell this week to get to know a side of her that is often not seen, and to hear her thoughts.
Recorder: What motivates you?
Bell: The thing that keeps me focused is really the mission of the organization. Five years ago, when I took the job, the one thing that attracted me to IBE was its mission and potential. As a board member at that time, I felt like we hadn’t touched the surface of some of the things that we could be doing in the community, even though we had done an excellent job with respect to the programs and initiatives done by my predecessors and everybody that helped build the organization.
It was a blessing for me to be able to come in, try to make an impact and really look at some of the initiatives that we’re doing across the state.
What also motivates me is seeing what’s happening to our youth and the crisis within the K-12 educational system and the unemployment rate, particularly as it relates to Black men here. Those are really the things that keep me motivated because I know that we all have to come together collaboratively to address some of those issues in our community.
What do you enjoy the most about being president of IBE?
I enjoy a couple of things. One would be the service component, and that’s really what I just spoke to in respect to programs and initiatives. To be able to put on a parent empowerment conference and see the joy on their faces when we come alongside them and help give them resources they need is a joy for me – it is a blessing.
The other thing I really enjoy with respect to our fundraisers is working with our sponsors, because there’s a business component to that. When you look at Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic, they are products as it relates to our sponsors. To be able to work with our sponsors and help them accomplish both our goals and their business objectives is very enjoyable. One of the thrills I appreciate is the service component being mixed with the business component.
Is any of it fun?
Yes! The pitching and the presentations (smiling) and being able to walk into a room with a potential sponsor and say, “look, we have a reach that no one else can match in the African-American community.” To have a business or corporation come in and explain to them why they should be on board with us is intriguing to me.
Can you talk a little about your background?
Well, I was raised in a single parent household with my mother and two older brothers. My mother really struggled to make ends meet, but I was able to go to Indiana State University, where I received my undergraduate degree in teaching, then went straight to Indiana University School of Law.
I was part of the first class of ICLEO (Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity) under (former state Supreme Court Chief Justice) Randall Shepard. The way that went about was nothing but God, because at the last minute I was asked if I was interested in ICLEO. I was a single mother with a three-year-old at the time and graduated with honors. I then worked at the law firm of Ice Miller, which is a very prestigious firm here. Then I became assistant general counsel for the Community Health Network, where I managed all of their litigation for their different sites of care, and conducted a lot of hearings. During this time I was on the board of directors of IBE.
I really learned the value of an education after seeing how my degrees have opened doors that I wouldn’t even have imagined at the time.
How did it feel when the board selected you as president/CEO?
Overwhelmed, blessed and humbled because I know what Rev. Charles Williams and a lot IBE’s founders put into building it where it is today. So to be in a position where I get an opportunity to lead and help grow it is humbling.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time, if you have any?
One of the things I do (laughing) is go to the movies, and sometimes I’ll go by myself. It’s sort of my get away, you know, because sometimes you can’t go on vacation. When I do go on vacation I like to go somewhere where there’s water – not that I get in it, I just want to see it and relax. Sometimes my analogy for that is going to the movies where I can relax and get away from everything. I love to do that, whether alone or with friends.
I also enjoy spending time with my children.
What movies do you enjoy?
I used to like to watch horror movies, but now its hard to find someone to go with you to see them. My friends and neighbors are like ‘we don’t do that,’ which is interesting because I’ll go see the movie and end up hearing things when I get home and being scared for the rest of the night (laughing). Seriously, I’m a Lifetime drama and suspense woman, but when I need a laugh I’ll do a comedy every now and then. Anytime an African-American movie releases, I try to get out and support it on its opening weekend.
Can you tell us a little about your children?
My daughter, Melody, is now 8. When she thinks of me as president, she thinks of me as “in charge.” We’ll be talking and she’ll ask me to do something. When I tell her I have to work she’ll say, “Didn’t you say you were the boss?” Those conversations provide teachable moments about responsibilities with leadership. My 17-year-old son Deonté and my 18-year-old son George, who we took in two years ago from Liberia, are very active in basketball, so I have been very involved in supporting it, since I once played basketball myself.
How has motherhood been for you?
My mother, who passed away about two years ago from a heart attack and was a smoker, was the type of mother who loved her children unconditionally. I appreciate that love, and me and my siblings continue to have that family bond. I try to have that same type of love for my own kids. Motherhood has been interesting from the standpoint that I have a very active household with my sons’ basketball games, my daughter’s gymnastics and just trying to keep the balance there. As a mother, I really stress the importance of education. My kids are on the right path, and I really count that as a blessing.
Any advice for other mothers?
Don’t be too proud to get help, because it takes a village to raise children. Life is too short, so spend as much time with your children as you can, because when we leave this world we don’t want to leave it with regrets.
How do you balance your responsibilities?
With help! (Laughing). Things work a little differently for everybody. For me, making sure that I am spending time with my children is critical. It is God and church, spending time with my family and raising my children properly, and then my job. It’s not always easy, but I do have a support network. After my mother passed, for example Granny J (Charmaine Jefferson) has stepped in as kind of like my daughter’s grandmother, and has been a blessing.
What teams or players do you like?
Well, definitely the Pacers, but I am also a Kobe Bryant fan. I think when we talk about athletics he’s at the top. Also, the entrepreneurial side and life story of LeBron James is intriguing. To see how he went and hired people from his own neighborhood was great.
What kind of music do you enjoy?
(Smiles) I love Mary J. Blige, and the SOS Band is my favorite group. People talk about me – and just because I’m president doesn’t mean I call all the shots – if it was up to me, I would have the SOS Band here during Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic every year! Luther Vandross is one of my favorites as well.
Do you dance?
(Laughs) I did dance at the All White Party last year. I dance every now and then when I have the opportunity. It’s interesting because I don’t go out often outside of Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic. So when those special events come it is kind of my opportunity to get out there. I don’t normally go to clubs, although if there’s a nice band somewhere I’ll go see them. Usually, I just hang out with my friends and family during the events.
What is a misconception that you would like to correct?
Oh, gosh! One misconception that I have heard is that I’m not approachable. I do recognize that I have this serious side, but once people get to know me they will see this other side. Sometimes there is an advantage to having a serious side, because you do have to screen out a lot of things so you’re not distracted in your role, particularly when you are with a prestigious organization. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) we have to be about the business and good stewards over every resource that has been invested in the organization. Even in my interview with the board I was upfront and said, ‘I’m coming in as a change agent. So, if that’s not what you’re looking for, I’m probably not the right person for the job. Coming in and making certain changes to deals so that there was some mutual benefit to both the organization and partners was a challenge, in retrospect. Could it have been more of a gradual process? Maybe. In leadership, you’re not going to make everybody happy. I’m not perfect, but every decision I make is intended to be in the best interest of the organization.
Once people get to know me, I hope they see a side of me that has humility and character.
