I recently wrote about POWER and how it is actively moving right now. Not in theory. In real time. Across capital, leadership, and who gets to make decisions.

2026 will not be a year you drift through and come out unchanged. Some people will exit it with more leverage, more influence, and more optionality. Others will feel like things simply kept happening to them.

The difference will not be luck.
It will be preparation.

That is why we are gathering today at noon on Zoom for our Startup Capital Series.

During this session, we will be joined by our friends at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation for a conversation about how they support founders and growing companies across the state. We will talk through how public resources and tax dollars actually flow, how economic development decisions get made, and where founders and investors can realistically engage.

This is a community conversation about how capital actually moves, how founders and investors can position themselves early, and how communities stop waiting for permission to participate in systems that already exist. If you care about funding women owned businesses, building power responsibly, or being ready when opportunity shows up, this conversation is for you.

And this work continues in person.

On Tuesday, February 18 from 6 to 8pm ET, at CoHatch in Broad Ripple, we will be together for a hands on working session with Rick McGlinchey. This is an interactive session, not a lecture. Rick will help founders learn how to spot real customer demand, tune out noise, and make better decisions about what to build and what to walk away from. You will leave with clearer priorities and at least one concrete conversation or decision to act on next.

Capital matters because it determines who gets to build, who gets to scale, and who gets left waiting. But capital alone is not power.

Power comes from understanding how decisions are made, where influence actually lives, and how to act before opportunity passes you by.

As we recognize Black History Month, this newsletter also highlights leaders whose work continues to shape how business, capital, and community show up locally and nationally. Who you learn from shapes how you think, and how you think shapes what you build. Be sure to follow the leaders I've highlighted below.

✅ CLICK HERE to register for today conversation at noon with the IEDC.

Be part of the conversation that shapes what happens next.

Kristen

As we kick off February, I want to highlight some people and organizations I am deeply grateful to be learning from right now and who deserve your attention. These leaders are shaping business, culture, and community and making history in Indiana in the most meaningful ways. Find them on LinkedIn.

Anita & Larry Williams
Cofounders of the Indy Black Chamber of Commerce, and true pillars of the local business ecosystem. Anita also serves on The Startup Ladies board. Together, they are extraordinary connectors, educators, and advocates for economic growth. If you are serious about building relationships and doing business in Indiana, joining the Chamber is a must.

Oseye Boyd & Mirror Indy
Mirror Indy led by Editor in Chief, Oseye Boyd is delivering serious, investigative journalism that holds power accountable and strengthens our city. Their work is important, timely, and needed.

Ranada Dalton
A therapist doing critical work supporting founders and professionals on their mental health journeys. Business is personal, and mental wellness is foundational to sustainable leadership.

Andrea Hunley
A thoughtful, data-driven Indiana state senator (46th district) and hopefully the next Mayor of Indianapolis. Andrea is working to eliminate the tampon tax and brings a strong understanding of policy paired with real accountability to the people she serves.

Indianapolis Recorder & Robert Shegog
The Recorder continues to be essential reading, with a clear finger on the pulse of Black voices in Indianapolis and a long legacy of trusted reporting.

Lasana Kasembe
Director of The People Speak, one of the most powerful cultural experiences in our city. If you have not attended yet, put it on your list. On deck this fall. Watch last year's jazz and spoken word celebration here.

Shaunt’e (Howard) Lewis
An award-winning multidisciplinary artist whose work spans mediums and challenges audiences to see, feel, and think differently. If you are not already following her work, you should be.

Wildstyle Paschall
Advocate for the community and arts stopping the scroll and sparking important conversations across LinkedIn and Facebook.

Nakeisha Washington
An innovator in STEM education, creating hands-on learning kits that truly engage kids and build confidence in science and technology at an early age.

Side Effects of Membership: Friendship 😊

FOUNDERS
Build what matters in 2026, with the clarity, confidence, and support to turn vision into execution. You got this. And along the way? You’ll find yourself surrounded by people who actually get it. The kind who cheer you on, ask better questions, and become real friends in the process.

INVESTORS
Invest with intention in 2026, backed by education, access, and a network committed to funding women-owned businesses. Purpose is calling you. Membership also means investing in relationships. You will sit at tables where trust is built, conversations go deeper, and community grows alongside capital.

EXECUTIVES
Lead with impact in 2026, using your experience to advise, mentor, and help companies grow the right way. If your skills are not being fully utilized, they can be.
A side effect of showing up? You reconnect with your own purpose and form meaningful friendships with other leaders who want their work to matter.

Power is Transferring in 2026 and Business Leaders Need to Be Ready

Many business leaders feel it but struggle to name it: the growing disconnect between what’s happening in the world and what’s expected of them at work. This article puts language to that tension, explains why 2026 marks a meaningful shift in how power is moving across business and capital, and shows where power already lives in your day-to-day decisions. Not in titles or posturing, but in what you fund, protect, prioritize, and walk away from. This isn’t a rant or a call to panic. It’s a practical framework for understanding the moment we’re in and how to lead through it with intention. READ.

Tools for Success Pod 

Tools for Success Podcast, hosted by veteran educator and CEO Cathy Tooley, is a deeply personal series focused on the immense influence of educators, leadership, and legacy. It explores the intersection of faith, purpose, and the challenges of burnout, offering insights for leaders.

Your Manager Isn't Difficult. She's Under Extra Scrutiny.

This is the article you wish your smartest male ally would share with the men who report to you, especially those who’ve never had to do what you’ve done. Chris Vannoy, founder of Axiomatic, guest-wrote this piece. It’s required reading for the men in our lives.