31 F
Indianapolis
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Marian University, partners breaking barriers for leaders of color

More by this author

When Leon Jackson was a student at Notre Dame University, he was one of just a handful of Black students in his program. Luckily, he said, entrepreneur Bill Mays took him under his wing and helped Jackson forge relationships and connections that helped him in his future career. Now, as director of strategic initiatives at Marian University, Jackson is spearheading the Diversity in Leadership (DIL) Program.

Along with Notre Dame, Purdue University, IUPUI and Butler University, the DIL Program provides minority and female students with skills they need to advance in corporate jobs. The first cohort of 25 students will take five classes ā€” data analytics, accounting and financing, leading change, communications and strategy ā€” to gain skills that will help them be successful in business. Jacksonā€™s goal is for 50% of participants to go to graduate school after completing the five-month program.

ā€œWe also understand that graduate school isnā€™t the path for everybody,ā€ Jackson said. ā€œWeā€™re hoping that about 10% of them go on to start their own businesses, and that 75% go on to serve on a board, because thatā€™s another way to gain leadership experience and understand fiscal management.ā€

Jackson, who organized the coalition of colleges, said getting the institutions on board was a non-issue.

ā€œEveryone acknowledges the challenge,ā€ Jackson said. ā€œIf there wasnā€™t a challenge, there would be no need for programs like this. After the death of George Floyd, it was apparent that universities and individuals wanted to do more and be intentional about it. ā€¦ Weā€™re really focused on helping people break through that glass ceiling.ā€

Jackson compared the experience of a person of color in business as ā€œbeing asked to drive a car thatā€™s on fire and doesnā€™t have a steering wheel and get it to Chicago.ā€ Oftentimes, he said, white workers have safety nets that arenā€™t afforded to workers of color.

ā€œWhite, male workers are given a brand new car and can drive it to Chicago, and when they do it, the boss says, ā€˜See how easy that was for him? Why canā€™t you do that?ā€™ā€ he said. ā€œAnd you start to question yourself and your worth.ā€

Another concern for Jackson is Indianaā€™s ā€œbrain drain,ā€ those who get their graduate degrees in Indiana but leave to seek opportunities elsewhere. He said the issue is prominent for African Americans, who often feel they wonā€™t be able to thrive in the state. He and other partners hope the DIL Program will help change that.

ā€œThe DIL Program is a bold cooperative effort providing new pathways for underserved student populations to advance their graduate business education while addressing critical talent needs in the state of Indiana,ā€ Robert Hummels, dean of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, said. ā€œPurdue and the Krannert School are thrilled to join with our colleagues in great universities across the state, and we thank Dr. Jackson for leading the way.ā€

Jackson hopes the program revitalizes Indianapolis to what the city was in the 1990s: a top destination for young people to start their careers in business.

ā€œWe have to make Indianapolis a little more welcoming and be intentional about equity,ā€ Jackson said. ā€œWe have the brains here to do it, and certainly the need. ā€¦ Weā€™re really excited for whatā€™s coming.ā€

Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper.

- Advertisement -

Upcoming Online Townhalls

- Advertisement -

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest local news.

Stay connected

1FansLike
1FollowersFollow
1FollowersFollow
1SubscribersSubscribe

Related articles

Popular articles

EspaƱol + Translate Ā»
Skip to content