The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman

In this episode of The Freedom Forum podcast, Jimmie McMillian tells his story about growing up in a dangerous area of Chicago and in an abusive home, struggling in college but then finding his stride in law school. McMillian, who took a pay cut to move from a prominent law firm to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, also talks about the struggles that Black men have in opening themselves up to mento...

In 2020, Karen Bravo was appointed to be dean of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, where she is the first woman of color to hold the position. She joined the law school faculty in 2004 and has served in a number of leadership roles, while also developing specialties in human trafficking and international affairs. Since becoming dean, she has made increasing e...

Sharon Barner has spent a lifetime doing things that people told her she couldn't, starting with a high school guidance counselor who told her that she wouldn't succeed at a predominantly white college.  But not only did Barner graduate from Syracuse University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she went on to earn a law degree from the University of Michigan. Throughout her care...

In this month's episode, host Angela B. Freeman talks with Angel Henry, author of "Dents in the Ceiling: Tools Women & Allies Need to Breakthrough," which tells the stories of 30 women of color who have survived and thrived in tech and corporate America.  Henry—who is the senior director of professional services and the diversity, equity and inclusion chief of staff at tech firm Genesys—talks abou...

After working in IT for several years for various organizations, Lamont Hatcher got an unexpected itch to start his own company. So in 2012, he launched Apex Infinite Solutions—now called AIS—to provide IT solutions to other companies. In 2020, the company landed on IBJ's Fast 25 list. He talks to host Angela B. Freeman about the challenges of being an entrepreneur and how he's had to push through...

Dawn Rosemond is the first African American woman to make equity partner at Barnes & Thornburg and is now diversity partner, in charge of activating the firm's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. She's also an author, a keynote speaker and the founder of Reign, a company aimed at helping people find their greatness. But success hasn't been an easy road. Dawn tells podcast host Angela B....

In this week's podcast, host Angela B. Freeman talks with Jessica Gendron, CEO of The Center for Leadership Excellence, about the challenges that women face in life and their careers. And they discuss why those challenges are even more daunting for women of color, plus what non-minority women can do to help. IBJ's The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman is sponsored by Cummins Inc.

Host Angela B. Freeman talks with two central Indiana women who started their own companies in the male-dominated fields of technology and construction. Audrey Taylor, co-founder of Netlogx, explains her firm's self-funded model for growth, while Akilah Darden, founder of The Darden Group, details what it was like to start a company during a pandemic. They share what other women need to know about...

In the inaugural episode of IBJ's The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman, Kelli Jones—co-founder of Sixty8 Capital and Be Nimble—talks about the importance of investing in diverse founders. And she explains why venture capitalists who ignore companies helmed by Black leaders and other people of color are missing out on big opportunities.  IBJ's The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman is sponsor...

IBJ’s The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman will explore the intersection of business, race and gender in a monthly series that begins Aug. 25. Freeman, an attorney, will talk with business leaders about how the corporate community can advance equity in the way companies hire and promote employees, choose vendors and contractors and fund new companies and ideas. Freeman, who specializes in inte...