Five alumni from the Kelley School of Business returned to speak with IU students about how they define success in life after college Wednesday in Hodge Hall.
The forum was sponsored by the Hutton Honors College Association, Kelley Student Government and Women in Business.
“I think it is important for everyone to try to define what it is to be successful,” said Todd Richter, the Vice Chairman of Global Banking at Barclays.
Richter said though the common definition of success changes throughout time, the true meaning of success is personal and varies among individuals.
“I define success based on what I think the only measure of success or failure in business in a capitalistic society is,” Richter said. “That is money.”
On the other hand, James Hodge, CIO at Permal Asset Management, had a different idea of what it means to be successful.
“I think success is happiness,” Hodge said. “If you find something you really enjoy doing and you work hard at it, do your best and enjoy yourself, then success comes with it.”
While he said his career in finance is lucrative, Hodge said money is only one of many ways in which success can be measured.
In agreement with his fellow alumni, Milon Nag, chairman and managing director at K.K. Nag Limited, said there are two dimensions of success.
Nag said there is an external dimension of success, which is measured by wealth, position and power, as well as an internal dimension, which is measured by happiness, satisfaction and internal peace.
“My definition of success is being able to achieve both,” Nag said.
After giving their perspectives on what constitutes success, the alumni responded to questions from audience members regarding how to achieve it.
Sherry Davis, a finance director working in the Access Expansion group of Eli Lilly & Company in Indianapolis, said being present is a crucial aspect of success.
“What I have learned is the importance of saying ‘I am in this moment right now and I’m really going to put my full effort into where I am right now,’” Davis said. “I feel like that has changed my level of being able to contribute everyday.”
Louis Jordan, the owner of Tympany Vineyards, said when making plans for the future, it is imperative to keep in mind that the world is constantly changing.
“Think about the things that satisfy you that correlate with the businesses that are available for you now and go after those things,” Jordan said. “If you’re good, you’re going to make a ton of money.”
Though they agreed that a successful career can be achieved through hard work and commitment, the alumni noted the professional playing field is not always level.
Despite this, Richter said, success will ultimately be determined by how effectively you are able to communicate with other people.
“Don’t under invest in your ability to read and understand something,” Richter said. “Don’t under-invest in your ability to sit in a seat in front of a bunch of people and talk.”
Jack Langston, a sophomore Wells scholar and member of the Kelley Dean’s Insight Board, helped organize the event.
“We often get geared into looking at the immediate step in front of us, whether that’s internships, getting that first job or even getting through that ICORE project,” Langston said. “I think that this forum is going to allow everybody to kind of step back and evaluate what it is that we want out of our lives and careers.”