The Importance of Purpose and Leadership (w/ Lauren James of Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation)

Lauren James is the executive director of the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation (MDLF). She is a Hoosier by birth and choice, hailing from Bluffton, Indiana. Lauren pursued her college education at Ball State University and has had a diverse career, including internships at the Indiana State House, the Lieutenant Governor's Office, and the Indianapolis Colts and a number of roles at ExactTarget and Salesforce before joining MDLF. Lauren is passionate about making a positive impact and is involved in various community organizations, including the United Way of Central Indiana and the Indiana Repertory Theater. She shares insights on relationship management and event marketing, highlighting the importance of building connections and creating memorable experiences. Mentorship has played an important role in her career, so she intentionally dedicates time to mentoring weekly. Ultimately, Lauren believes in the importance of purpose and passion in the professional world and shows up boldly and authentically in her career and in her community. Lauren concludes by discussing her goals for MDLF and the impact she hopes to make in the state of Indiana. Show highlights: 4:43 A background on Lauren’s life 9:23 Don’t be afraid to become a beginner 13:53 Bringing passion into the professional world 22:55 What it’s like to have mentors 25:15 Learnings from the book “Atomic Habits” 27:24 Why it’s never too late to go for “it” 31:35 Doing a little bit of everything 39:39 There is always a platform where you can pour your passion into 48:42 Things that make an event special 51:35 Remembering and connecting with people 1:01:02 Advice to younger self LINKS MENTIONED Connect with Lauren James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenpetersenjames/ https://www.mdlfindiana.org/ Connect with Grayson Faircloth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nosyarg/ Email: [email protected]   Connect with Crystal Bell on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-bell-ms-eit/ BOOKS MENTIONED: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less - Book by Greg McKeown Atomic Habits - Book by James Clear