Best Places To Work In Indiana

How Will You Measure Your Life?

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 by Brandon Russell

Success is measured differently by each person. The school you attended, the company for which you work, the balance in your bank account, among other criteria, are all yardsticks by which people measure personal success.

I was recently handed an article by my CEO, asked to read it and share my thoughts.

The article came from the Harvard Business Review, and was authored by Clayton M. Christensen (Yes, the Clay Christensen who penned The Innovator's Dilemma - the penultimate authority on disruptive technology, and a great read for anyone interested in technology and how it interacts with and impacts society.)

The article, titled, "How Will You Measure Your Life," discusses the common pitfalls college and graduate school students experience when plotting their futures - and puts forth a simple, yet poignant truth - success is defined by how you, not others, measure your value and merit.

A Harvard Business School professor, Christensen's theories on management, disruptive technology, and leadership serve as the foundation of his lectures as he empowers his students to dissect real-life organizations and understand how decisions and practices, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, can have a major impact on an organization.

That's all great, but I know those of you who have bothered to continue reading are wondering, "How does this relate to me? Why is this relevant to the Orr Fellowship, and why do they let you write these blogs, Brandon?"

I was getting to that. But first I had to lay some groundwork. On the last day of class each semester, Christensen asks his students to turn these theoretical lenses on themselves. How have their decisions, even small ones, impacted their lives, and eventually led them to where they are today?

He asks them to study themselves, and find answers to 3 simple questions:

How can I be sure I'll be happy in my career?

How can I be sure my relationships with my friends and family become an enduring source of happiness?

How can I stay out of jail?

Okay, the third question is a little odd, but Christensen was classmates with former Enron President and current resident of the Englewood, Colorado Correctional Facility, Jeffrey Skilling - so it's relevant.

After reading the article, I turned these lenses on myself and the decisions I've made that have led me to where I am, and have reached out to others in the Orr Fellowship to do the same here's what I've found:

1) How can I be sure I'll be happy in my career?

This was big for me. Like many other Orr Fellows, and I'm sure many Orr Fellowship candidates - I had offers for distinguished post grad jobs from companies whose names have serious brand equity, companies where my entry-level paycheck would have allowed me to purchase many leather-bound books and housing that smells of rich mahogany, but with me, as with the other Orr Fellows I included in my little experiment - it isn't all about the money, the title, or the bravado that comes from saying, "I work for Company X."

We joined the Orr Fellowship and took positions at high-growth startups because of the opportunity the program offers. The opportunity to network with professionals and leaders in the community, to grow personally and professionally, and the opportunity to create strategies for our lives. What the Orr Fellowship lacked in glamour, our clout, it has made up in spades through the opportunities we've been afforded.

Orr Fellowship companies are some of the best places to work in Indiana, and the entrepreneurial spirit in each organization, and the dedication to the personal and individual success of each employee is something you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere but a high-growth startup.

2) How can I be sure my relationships with my friends and family become an enduring source of happiness?

I know. This is a blog about work, and business, and technology, not the Dr. Phil Show. But, It's time to get personal. Plus, let's face it - to be productive at work, you need to be happy outside of work, and vice-versa. Relating this to my, and others' time in the Orr Fellowship, the common thread was the relationships I've developed within the program ARE an enduring source of happiness for me. Digging deeper, it's not just the relationships with other Fellows that add value to our experiences, it's our relationships with our non-Fellow co-workers, our executive sponsors, and the people who speak at our Business Leader Meetings, who augment our experiences.

Yes, as Orr Fellows we spend a lot of time together and get to know each other on a personal level. But our culture as an organization, goes beyond that. We develop common bonds. We become friends. And these interactions, both positive and negative, ensure we continually grow as professionals and as people.

3) How can I stay out of jail?

I don't really need to go into much detail on this one - it's pretty self explanatory. Just don't do anything illegal. One Fellow went a philosophical on us and asked, "Why does jail have to mean prison?" He continued, "I think sometimes people build jails for themselves as a result of the choices they make, so I would challenge everyone to not only stay away from the illegal, but go one step further and stay away from the immoral, the ill-advised, and the unjust, as well. I'd challenge us to live lives of which we can be proud, not just try to stay out of jail - because a lot of guilty people aren't in prison."

At the end of his article, Christensen offered one extremely sage piece of advice, and that's how I'll end this post.

"Choose the right yardstick."

Only you know what's best for you. Do not measure your success by how others measure you. Choose the path that will allow you to be happy in your career, happy in your relationships and interactions with others, and keep you out of jail.

If you've read this far, I applaud, and thank you. I can be a bit long-winded. If you'd like to read Clay Christensen's full article, and turn this lens on yourself (I'd recommend it), Click Here.

The Young and The Proud

Thursday, August 25, 2011 by Breana Buchler

Last week, I received a very interesting email. This message informed me that Mayor Ballard, and Governor Mitch Daniels would be paying a visit to Angie's List, my host company, the following day. As I drove up to the ever eclectic Angie's List campus the next morning, the energy was undeniable. The entire company was counting down the minutes until 9:15, when the two were scheduled to arrive. At about 9:00am, my department was buzzing was eagerness. We all walked over to the courtyard where a mix of employees, including many Orr Fellowship alumni, sat on hand-me-down picnic tables, looking on as Angie Hicks introduced the mayor and the governor.

The first statement Governor Daniels made was that he was proud of this organization and the impact it has made on the near east side of Indianapolis. As he continued his speech, I could not help but feel pride as well. I am proud to be a part of Angie's List. I am proud to be associated with one of the Best Places to Work in Indianapolis; a company that will be providing over 500 jobs in the city of Indianapolis in the next 5 years. I then looked around at all of the Orr Fellow alumni, and thought about their positions within Angie's List, as well as all of the entrepreneurial endeavors they work on after hours and the career opportunities they are pursuing.

I could not help but feel, in that moment, that I was beginning to fully realize the mission of the Orr Entrepreneurial Fellowship in Indiana. Angie Hicks, Co-founder of my host company, is motivating me to take a career risk. The current Orr Fellows and alumni I associate with, aside from their distinguished post-grad jobs, are motivating me to do more with my energy than just a 9-5 job. Governor Daniels and Mayor Ballard are motivating me to make a tangible impact on the city of Indianapolis.

As I left my office that day, my head was buzzing with opportunities to pursue around the city. I spent that evening sending emails and brainstorming how I could give back to this community that is offering so much to me during my fellowship experience. I found myself reaching out to connections I have already made through the Fellowship to offer help in various volunteer avenue. I was beginning to take advantage of post-graduate networking in Indianapolis. I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to experience the influence of city and state leaders just three short months out of college.

Attention College Seniors: You'd be crazy not to look at the Orr Fellowship

Thursday, August 25, 2011 by Alec Synnestvedt

Today marks my two month anniversary at T2 Systems. What's it like so far?

Awesome. I love my team, my executive mentors, and the work I get to do daily. I'm already contributing meaningfully. Nothing feels better than that. Of course, a grown-up salary and this great city make me feel pretty good, too. Yep, T2 Systems was voted one of the best places to work in Indiana and one of the INC 5000 for the sixth year.

Plenty of classmates that graduated with me in May are still in training at their respective jobs. And, unfortunately, plenty more are still on the job hunt. But you already know that the Orr Fellowship involves an exciting job opportunity at a fascinating company. My job is to tell you what you can't learn on our website.

As promised, here's a bit of what I've been up to in the past few weeks:

Elevated my host company's social media presence across all channels
Helped revamp my host company's blog plan & wrote a few posts
Attended a concert at the Vogue
Rode my new bike from my Woodruff Place apartment to Mass Ave downtown countless times
Spent the weekend with the rest of the awesome Orr Fellows on our retreat at Bradford Woods--you guys rock!
Written a few email marketing campaigns, one of which almost had a 40% open rate

Interested? Cool. Are you qualified? I hope so! Here are the requirements:

Cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher (students with as low as a 3.2 GPA will be considered if they have extensive leadership experience)
Demonstrated leadership potential (leaders in on- and off-campus clubs/organizations/athletics)
Strong interest in entrepreneurial business or organizational leadership
An expected graduation date in 2012 with one or more undergraduate major
Graduate of an Indiana college or university (or a native Hoosier graduating from any school around the country)

The application deadline is quickly approaching! All you have to do to get started is submit your resume.

Fellows + Community

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 by Abbey Wilson

Tomorrow is certain be a gloomy day. In addition to the fact that local meteorologists are predicting rain and stoms, it also happens to be the day DePauw University begins classes for the 2011-2012 (wait, 2012!?) school year. While many friends (including my younger sister) enter the historic halls of Abury and the bright, welcoming rooms of Julian, I'll be at my desk weeping silently for the past 4 years that passed all too quickly and have left me counting PTO days for the rest of my life.

Perhaps I'm being too dramatic. Because alas, after graduating and being placed at a high-growth startup, I have something many of my DPU peers do not: The Orr Fellowship. This past weekend 40 of us "roughed it" in the deep woods of Martinsville, gathering to solve important issues with exercises such as capture the flag and campus golf. Oh, we had bonfires and smores, too.

I got to know many of the Fellows better during our stay in the middle of nowhere (no disrespect), and I continue to admire and appreciate each Fellow's unique talents and experiences. Each Fellow is so unlike the next, yet the group of us shares many key characteristics that defines our interest in high-growth Indianapolis companies, entrepreneurship careers and post-graduate networking.

This weekend showcased an ever-present human element to the Fellowship: accomplished, smart people with great ideas who also happen to be friends that get along, dance and cook together very well. Hearing this Fellowship community existed sold me on applying last Fall and now I'm experiencing it first-hand.

We can't wait to meet new faces interested in technology and business jobs in Indianapolis, because we're partners with some of the best places to work in Indiana, and because we're looking for more fun people to do fun things with :-)

Email me at abbey.wilson@orrfellowship.org or follow me on Twitter if you want to know more!

The Essence of the Fellowship

Monday, November 15, 2010 by Brant Howell

The Orr Fellowship's ROTC took place in Indianapolis, Indiana, just a few days ago, and with all the wonderful new candidates to speak with, inspiring presenters, and some great MCing by Bob Reish and Matt Lubbers, there was plenty to be excited about. My favorite part, however, was after the event had ended. The last candidates were trailing out and the hosts were gently herding the current fellows towards the exits while flipping the lights off behind us.

Outside, the conversations continued. For a good 30 minutes, almost twenty of the current fellows stood in the not-so-tropical Indiana night, catching-up, telling jokes, and making plans for both the short-term (weekend) and long-term (career). It was already late, we all had work in the morning, and we had already been together for nearly four straight hours. Yet somehow we were simply having too much fun enjoying each others company, conversing about business jobs in Indiana and pleasure, and bouncing our latest ideas off one another to be bothered.

To my left, the ever enthusiastic Jon Corwin rang out, saying he wished the candidates were still around, as this scene was the best example he could think of of what it really means to be a fellow. I had to agree.

Thinking Outside the Box When Job Searching

Tuesday, October 12, 2010 by Robert Tichy

A year ago seems like yesterday as I begin remembering my job recruitment journey. At my alma mater, Indiana State University, the career fair is very local-heavy with companies and opportunities. The only jobs that were outside of the Wabash Valley were with Target as a part of their retail training program. I'd worked retail throughout my entire college career, so I knew that wasn't going to be in my best interest. Therefore, I was in a bit of a bind - how do I find more opportunities without blindly submitting my resume online?

Luckily, I remembered that there was a nationally recognized undergraduate business school less than an hour away from ISU - the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

I started researching when the career fairs took place, and found the sales and marketing fair to be my best bet. I called a good friend of mine who attended IU and asked if there were any prerequisites to get into the career fair. He mentioned I needed to have an IU student ID, which I obviously didn't have, but said I could use his - I'm in!

I drove down to Bloomington and was able to get in to the career fair without any issues. I walked in and was amazed at all of the tremendous companies and names: Procter & Gambel, Kimberly-Clark, Otis Elevator Company, News Corporation, among others. I stopped by all of these booths, but was somewhat displeased with their demeanor and bland answers to questions.

I decided to start going to a few smaller companies and my first stop was the Orr Fellowship. Talking for just a few minutes, I knew immediately that the Fellowship was a unique experience that would allow me to work in a small company (as I had interned in college) and could have an impact right away.

As they say, the rest is history. I applied to the Orr Fellowship, went through the interview process and was lucky enough to land with ExactTarget in Indianapolis.

The moral of my journey to IU is that when looking and applying for a job, get creative. Now more than ever it's imperative that graduating seniors stand out from the rest, and having the opportunity to tell recruiters that I had driven from ISU just to attend the career fair was a great talking point, not to mention it introduced me to the Orr Fellowship.

It's that time of year again...

Friday, October 1, 2010 by Skip Tokar

That's right, its job application season again. Its the annual time of year that college seniors come to the realization that undergrad school is going to end and they have to do... something. Some people pursue graduate schools while other focus on Entrepreneurship Careers, Indiana Job openings, or even graduate fellowships (possibly the Orr Fellowship...); however, all eventually come to the realization that they need a great resume.

I am no resume expert but I picked up a couple of tips and tricks back in the day that I am willing to share with my numerous dedicated readers. You might be saying to yourself "Who is this guy and why does he think he is even remotely qualified to give me tips?" This is a valid point, but, if you apply to the Orr Fellowship, I could be the person reviewing your resume and my tips worked out pretty well for myself. So just sit back and let my insightful resume knowledge engulf you.

In no particular order here is a sampling of my vast resume understanding:

When putting your GPA on your resume go to a maximum of 2 decimal places. If you Major GPA is significantly higher than you cumulative GPA then list that as well (it needs to be obvious that that is specifically your major GPA)
Don't be afraid to include distinguishing experiences. This could include time studying abroad or brief descriptions of your more complicated projects/papers. Just make sure that these things fit in the natural flow of your resume and are not under or overstated.
Do not include stuff from high school, unless they are so ridiculously outstanding that there is no way you could sleep at night knowing that potential employers had no idea how great you were in high school.
Make sure your experience/work history is organized logically. Ideally these sections will flow chronologically because if you planned things correctly, each job/internship builds on the last one, hopefully leaving your most recent experience as the crown jewel on your resume. In addition to this, avoid time gaps in your employment.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when a person just puts "selected" or "completed" said internship on their resume. If it is on your resume I know you worked there and eventually completed the job/internship/program. Your resume needs to be about what YOU have done and what results YOU achieved. No company is going to hire you just because you were selected to participate in a particular program. Companies want to see how you progressed trough an internship and the impacts that you made while there. Sometimes showing how you went about something is just as important as the results. Interviewers know that summer jobs/internships are typically not long enough to make any really significant gains, but they want to see that you have demonstrated the aptitude to get things done.
Make sure you don't sell yourself short or embellish your accomplishments. A lot of times it is plain to see that a person has done some pretty significant work, but their resume does not reflect upon these accomplishments. If you have done impressive things make sure it is known. On the other hand, people can tell if you are trying to make something appear more significant. You don't want to claim more than you really did or use synonyms for every word.
Don't leave dangling words on a line. You should either add words or take out words so there is not just one word all by itself on a line. This is valuable space, don't waste it.
Don't make a resume that is more than one page. I don't care how good you think you are, at this point in time you have not done enough to merit more than one page. You only want to include the very best experiences that are most relevant to the position you are applying for.
There needs to be a balance of good details without jamming some much in there that your resume looks squished and cluttered. You really want your experiences to POP OUT not be hidden in the mess.
Be sure to have a good balance of activities and experiences. Companies, especially the Orr Fellowship, want to see that you are a well rounded individual that has done well in school, has had good work experience, has been involved in campus activities, has held leadership positions, and somehow finds time to volunteer.

These are just some of the resume tips that come to mind. I would have written more but frankly I got tired of writing. If you want to make sure you have good career opportunities and don't end up like this guy then follow my advice.

Follow these guidelines and constantly revise and improve you resume. This is a never ending process but if mastered you will really stand out to all the companies that are hiring new grads, which will lead to you getting a great entry level job and, with any luck, ending up like this guy.

Until next month... This has been Skip Tokar (Special Thanks to Editor Bryan Watson)

Start of a New Chapter (In more ways than one)

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by Skip Tokar

So here I am writing my first ever blog, something that I never imagined I would ever do, and a million thoughts about a possible topic are running through my head. Throughout the next two years and roughly 24 posts I plan to blow all my readers minds and expose them to the world of Skip Tokar and his time in the Orr Fellowship. I will cover a myriad of topics including The Orr Fellowship, Brightpoint (my company), Indianapolis, sports, and any other thing that might pop into my brain. This will be such a ground breaking source of information and wealth of knowledge that you will literally be counting down the days until the first of every month (or thereabouts) when my blog is posted. And while I may not have the supreme blogging abilities of people like my good friend Matt Hudson: http://blogs.wabash.edu/matthudson2010/ or http://en.wordpress.com/tag/matt-hudson/, I give will give a valiant effort in my writing and, with any luck, by the end of my two years I will be somewhat competent in my blogging ability (Note the last sentence, along with pretty much this whole paragraph should be read with a sarcastic undertone... just saying).

Anyways, back to my original line of thinking for the blog. Since this is my first blog, I was pondering about all the other "firsts" that myself and all my other Orr Fellows (not to mention many of my recently graduated college friends) are experiencing this summer. Last year at this time I was worrying about finding a job. I was looking for high growth start-ups, Indianapolis job opportunities, specifically looking at the "best places to work in Indiana list", various leadership development/ rotational positions, and even some consulting and investment banking positions. I was lucky enough to find the Orr Fellowship, make my way through their recruiting process, and eventually receive an offer from Brightpoint. After evaluating all my options, I realized that the Orr Fellowship and Brightpoint offered a tremendous opportunity (more on this in a later post, that was a teaser by the way).

Flash forward to today. I am now in my first real job after college, writing my first blog, and am now in one of the fastest growing Business Fellowships in the country. I am excited to start this new chapter of my life and am glad that I get to muddle my way through these next few "adult" years with over 25 other Orr Fellows who are in the same boat as myself.

So I hope you liked my first blog and I apologize in advance for any mistakes that I might have made (I blame my editor). I suggest that you keep track of my progress through the Orr Fellowship by marking you calenders for October 1st when my next blog hits the streets.

Fertile Times in Silicon Prairie

Monday, August 30, 2010 by Greg Slisz

The complaint, it seems, is a familiar one. "I want to get out of Indianapolis and go to (insert 'cooler' city here)," say graduates at Indiana colleges. Super Bowl-winning Colts notwithstanding, Indiana seems to have gotten somewhat of an unfair reputation as a boring place to live. Young people flee from the state every year, chasing jobs in investment banking in "sexier" cities such as Chicago and New York or tech jobs on the West Coast in cities like Seattle and San Francisco. But in the words of the great Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friend!"
Although it may lack the sex appeal of the Big Apple or the Windy City, Indianapolis is a great place to live for new college graduates. And tech companies are no longer just on the west coast. In fact, there are a number of tech high growth startups right in Indianapolis. Orr Fellowship host companies such as Compendium Blogware, Bluelock, Weblink, and my very own ExactTarget are all helping to turn Indianapolis into a hotbed within Silicon Prairie.

In fact, ExactTarget has not only helping to lead these Silicon Prairie efforts, but is also leading the entire email marketing industry. Some of the company's most-recent developments include

-International expansion to offices in London and Australia, as well as stateside offices in San Francisco and Seattle
-An industry-leading one-to-one marketing conference in downtown Indianapolis, featuring guest speaker Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin, and Grammy-winning artist Train
-Cutting edge market research that examines the demographics and behaviors of email subscribers, Facebook fans, and Twitter followers.
-And in case that wasn't enough, ET was recently ranked third on a list of the Best places to work in Indianapolis (with break rooms fully-stocked with free snacks and drinks, might I add!).

So much for Indiana being nothing but cornfield. ExactTarget is just one of many Indianapolis success stories that is also a host company in the Orr Fellowship. Click here and check out some of the other outstanding career opportunities that exist with these other fast growing Indianapolis companies.

How Does Time Fly So Quickly?!

Sunday, August 22, 2010 by Amber Mohling

My, my, my ... how quickly a year flies! I'm officially entering my second year in the Orr Fellowship and my position at Compendium. Back in college, I'm not sure I could have imagined myself in a technology job in Indianapolis and working for one of the best high growth start-ups. However, I couldn't feel more blessed to be here!

In addition to my job at Compendium, I love having a network of 30+ twenty year olds going through very similar experiences with me. Not only are the fellows my friends, others are also co-workers, and even one is my roommate (shout out to The Teresa Becker).

If you're a college senior, please be sure to apply to the Orr Fellowship for your opportunity to land a post-graduation job with one of the best places to work in Indiana!

The Orr Fellows meeting Governor Mitch Daniels

From The Punch Guy to The Orr Fellowship and ASI

Saturday, August 21, 2010 by Zac Workman

My name is Zac and I am a recent grad from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. Like many of you, I too was beginning to think about where the future would take me about this time last year. With interviews and job offers just around the corner, I had absolutely no idea where I would end up come graduation. But that's not the whole story.

As a sophomore at IU, I decided one day that it might be cool to start my own company. I mean who doesn't like the idea of being your own boss and setting your own hours? I would just start a company and the dollars would start rolling in. It sounded like a great plan at the time so I founded an LLC and began creating Punch Energy Drink. Well turns out that running a company wasn't as easy as I thought once the new wore off and we had to get down to business. Within six months we had signed a contract with Anheuser-Busch and we were on store shelves and receiving plenty of media attention. Things were looking great and I was thinking to myself how easy it was. We had been featured as one of the coolest college start-ups for 2009 by Inc. Magazine, Fox Business Network ran a story, and BevNET had given our product fantastic reviews.

However, the 2009 blues hit us hard and with the economy Punch was beginning to be less viable as a competitor among the cash kings within the industry. We simply couldn't compete at a level that would allow us to grow and stay within our very limited budget. A co-sponsored Indy 500 car and lawsuit later, Punch had seen better days. That was my senior year, but I wasn't ready to give up on Punch or my entrepreneurial spirit just yet.

The Orr Fellowship was the answer I had been looking for and an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. I knew that they could place me within an entrepreneurial company and that I would be at one of the best places to work in Indiana with a network of people just like me. The opportunity to be part of a program that allowed me to network with business leaders in Indiana as well as expand my social network while staying involved with Punch, was all I needed. It was the perfect opportunity for me and it has turned out to be a perfect fit.

Now, as an Orr Fellow, I work full time for Author Solutions Inc. as a Marketing Specialist. I primarily work with our core brands and partners within the online realm of brand awareness and development, but I also work closely with our product development team. This is very similar to what we did with Punch and fits me very well. When we launch new products we have to go through the same process that I did with launching Punch and it is a great opportunity to learn each part of the business. The Fellowship is a great way to take a step into the real world without having to take a dive into the typical corporate America setting as just another number at company XYZ.

Friday Dinner Rush People

Monday, December 21, 2009 by Nate Bullock

In celebration of the holiday season, @allythill scheduled lunch for the Fellows at a restaurant in downtown Indianapolis. @hunckler and I showed up late, but we probably both wish we hadn't shown up at all. It was a bad dining experience.

12 minutes to get a drink
30 minutes before the food order was taken
50 minutes before the food was served
75 minutes before bills were delivered

On the bright side, I had some time to chat with @YawA about @PocketTales launching their new web app and how he's making the jump from his distinguished post-grad job to an entrepreneurship career. Takes a lot of moxy.

My mind already operates at warp speed. Things jump in my head before I finish a thought. Mitchell Davis and I would be too much to handle. On this particular day of bad service at a restaurant which also had bad food, my mind was racing to find a connection between high growth start-ups (like @PocketTales) and this waiter who seemed to be wasting everyone's time.

Aha moment!

Restaurants give the slow shift to the slow wait staff. Monday is typically the slowest day of the week and lunch is the slowest serving of the day. Since we went on the slowest day during the slowest meal, the odds were against the @orrfellowship having a good service experience. More to the point, while good work is rewarded with accolade, bad work is rewarded with defrocking.

High-growth Indianapolis companies do not like having to defrock their employees due to poor performance. Some of the best places to work in Indiana see applicants present a positive version of themselves during the interview process, but entrepreneurship careers quickly peel away any misperceptions that may have existed after that good interview took place.

The bad news for some on the job market is that many of these startups cannot afford to pay for the 'Monday lunch shift' person. @orrfellowship host companies need good work from talented people NOW; they need the 'Friday dinner shift' person, because every day is like the Friday dinner rush for companies hiring new grads.

Be the 'Friday dinner rush' person today.

The In's and Out's of an Orr Fellowship Host Company

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 by Blaine Cooper-Surma

We've all talked about our host companies and what makes ours better than the rest, but how are these companies chosen, and why would someone want to work for an entrepreneurial company in Indianapolis? In order to shed some light on the Orr Fellowship host companies, I have given the information in a question/answer format.

Q: What is a host company's role in the Orr Fellowship?
A: Orr Fellowship host companies have the responsibility of providing their Fellow(s) with a unique experience that cannot be found anywhere else. We want these companies to give their Fellows important projects that help them learn and grow as a working professional. In addition, we require these companies to provide their Fellows with ample exposure to executive-level management so that they can become more comfortable in that type of an environment (this is exactly what we're talking about when we say that the Orr Fellowship is one of the best networking opportunities in Indianapolis).

Q: How are host companies selected to be involved in the Orr Fellowship?
A: Although this process may seem unscientific at times, that's probably because it is. However, host companies are invited to join the Orr Fellowship if they've successfully demonstrated their ability to move at a fast rate of growth, created an environment that is conducive for great learning experiences, and have emerged with a product/service that has the ability to thrive in a changing society for years to come. Overall, we seek out companies that we're confident will provide our Fellows with a wonderful two years of experiences coupled with strong promise of job security with that particular company.

Q: How long are host companies allowed to be involved in the Orr Fellowship?
A: There really isn't a straight-forward answer to this question. There have been companies like ExactTarget and Angie's List that have been a part of the Fellowship essentially since the beginning. However, some companies participate for a year or two while others take Orr Fellows for four, five, and even six years. We typically allow host companies to be in the Orr Fellowship until they've grown out of the stage of being a small, entrepreneurial start-up or until they've shown that they no longer are a suitable company for an Orr Fellow to work in.

This year the Governor Bob Orr Entrepreneurial Fellowship has agreed to allow twenty host companies to participate in our program. Over the years we've made a conscious effort to grow the organization - and this year we've finally made the decision to double the size of next year's class. So why have we decided to take so many more Fellows? With an increase in name recognition in Indiana, and the development of a strong reputation among business leaders, we've experienced a tremendous growth in the amount of applications that we've received. It's because of this recognition that the Orr Fellowship has proven itself to be one of the best places to work in Indiana. With that, I want to go ahead and congratulate those candidates that have moved on to the final round of recruitment. You've managed to set yourselves apart from the rest of the competition and have proven yourselves over and over again. Good luck to you all on Friday and I look forward to meeting the Orr Fellowship Class of 2010!

Finalist Day is Just Around the Corner!

Monday, November 30, 2009 by Teresa Becker

Can you believe it? It's that time of year already. It doesn't seem like it was a year ago that I was making the many trips to Indy for Orr Fellowship interviews, ROTC, and Finalist Day.

This Friday, the finalists for the class of 2010 will be interviewing with entrepreneurial companies from around Indiana for a chance to be one of 20 selected to represent the Orr Fellowship. For current Fellows, we've had the opportunity to get to know many of you on a personal level and we couldn't be happier for the quality of candidates represented.

From companies like ExactTarget to Compendium Blogware, BlueLock to Angie's List, there are terrific opportunities among some of the best places to work in Indiana. No matter where the new class of Fellows land, there will be many ways for them to make a difference in their jobs, but also in their communities.

Good luck from the Current Fellows!

To the Fellowship and Beyond...

Monday, November 23, 2009 by Blaine Cooper-Surma

With Turkey-day quickly approaching and the holiday season nearly upon us, I thought a good focus for this blog would be to discuss what a Fellows' options look like when they've completed their two-year committment of being in the Governor Bob Orr Entrepreneurial Fellowship. Ok wait, you're right, holidays and post-Fellowship opportunities have literally nothing to do with one another. Oh well, it's a Monday - give me a break, already!

As I'm sure you can imagine, being in the Orr Fellowship isn't always easy; nor is it glamorous at times. To do well and set yourself up for success you have to spend a lot of time with your nose to the grindstone and your pride in your back pocket. But what happens when you've completed your two years with the Fellowship?

At this point in your career you have an important decision to make. Your first option is to stay on with your current host company. This is probably the most common route that graduating Orr Fellows take, but it is by no means what is expected. Many Fellows decide to go this direction because they've spent the past two years developing a foundation for themselves in their organization. Building relationships and making a name for yourself takes time and a great deal of effort. Also, most of these host companies are fast growing Indianapolis companies. Just by being in the organization for a couple of years, these Fellows have been able to experience accelerated career growth that would most likely not have taken place had they begun their career in a large corporation.

Another option that exists for graduating Orr Fellows is to change companies. Some Fellows decide to move on to completely separate companies, while others stay within the Fellowship family and join a different host company. The Orr Fellowship has a reputation of providing some of the best networking opportunities in Indianapolis, so it's not surprising that connections are made between Fellows and host company executives that result in a career opportunity.

A third option that many Orr Fellows over the years have pursued is graduate school. Typically, Orr Fellows go to either law school or business school, but there have been many others that have gone on to receive a range of different graduate degrees. This path has become more and more common among Fellows as they're often considered to be life-long learners. They appreciate learning new things and are curious about what they lack knowledge in.

The last option for graduating Orr Fellows is to pursue personal business ventures. There have been several Fellows that have built entrepreneurial companies in Indianapolis on their own, while several others have teamed-up with their fellow Orr Fellows to create high growth start-ups together.

Although these several options are available for Orr Fellows after they complete their two-year stint with the Governor Bob Orr Entrepreneurial Fellowship, one thing that all Fellows involuntarily do is join the list of successful Orr Fellow alumni that came before them. Many stay active in Fellowship events/activities, but this is something that we're working to improve upon. It is important to keep the Orr Fellowship as tight as possible and the alumni network as strong as ever. It certainly is a blessing to have so many young, successful business leaders in our network that are more than happy to help out if you just reach out to them.

This is just another reason why the Orr Fellowship is one of the best places to work in Indiana!

How will they choose just 20?

Friday, November 13, 2009 by Ally Hill

Wow. ROTC (Reception on the Circle) last night was unbelievable. All of the current Fellows had a great time getting to know the candidates. I left thinking - how will the board of directors narrow the 60 candidates from last night down to only 20 in the end? I wish all of the candidates the best of luck putting together a personal summary and essay to submit on Monday, and can't wait to see who attends Finalist Day.

With that being said, what I really want to do is address a few of the FAQs I got from candidates last night...

Q: How is the Orr Fellowship different from other Indianapolis job opportunities?
A: No other Indianapolis job opportunity compares to what the Orr Fellowship has to offer. You can go to work at a Fortune 500 company etc., but it will not give you the following:

Instant access to Host Company executives and Indiana business leaders
A social network of the other Fellows and alumni
Monthly business leader meetings and professional development opportunities
A chance to reassess at the end of the 2 year Fellowship - go to grad school, change companies, start your own, or stay with your Host Company
and of course there are MORE reasons...

Q: How are Fellows compensated?
A: I was asked this question more times than expected, but I suppose it's one that should be answered since as a Fellow you'd have an entry-level job in a startup (which is probably much different from anything else you're considering).

I will say that although the salary isn't glamorous, it's 'average' and most definitely an amount you can live on. You are paid by your Host Company, but all Fellows are paid the same amount. Benefits will vary depending on the Host Company you are placed in. Other business jobs in Indiana or entry level technology jobs may pay better, but if you look at the answer to the question above - you'll see what you're not getting with those opportunities.

Q: Have you enjoyed your experience in the Orr Fellowship so far?
A: YES! I've been given a lot of responsibility in a short amount of time. I work with executives on a daily basis. I have a group of friends I wouldn't have had without the Fellowship... I can't believe it's already been a year and a half. I'm going to be bummed when my Fellowship is over.

TGIF! Have a great weekend everyone.