Kristen Lampkin leads Business Equity for Indy, a joint effort of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and the Indy Chamber, in collaboration with the Indianapolis Urban League. The initiative aims to promote workplace diversity and foster economic opportunity for people of color through training, resources, data and advocacy. Central to her role is building relationships with other nonprofits, community organizations and partners. “Kristen Lampkin’s work and leadership,” one peer said, “is at the forefront of growing a more inclusive business environment.” Lampkin helped launch the People Community of Practice, a forum to provide guidance to hiring professionals as they look to increase diversity within their companies. She also guided a Mentors of Color event, which connected 40 young Black professionals with local business leaders. She is CEO of HR Guru LLC, which helps professionals with their LinkedIn profile and resume. “I love that I am making an impact on companies in central Indiana by providing resources and education around topics that are essential for human resource professionals,” she said.
Getting here: She held human resources jobs with Teachers Credit Union and Finish Line before taking the role of diversity, equity and inclusion manager at KAR Global. A person in her network later connected her with a recruiter looking to fill the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership role.
First job: McDonald’s
Givebacks: co-founder of Black in HR Indy; board member of Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis, Black Women of Faith Inc., and Create. Connect. Collab.
Influential person: Her grandmother. “She was a true example of someone that loved unconditionally and had a strong work ethic while being an outstanding mom.”
Meaningful moment: The social justice movement of 2020. “It pushed me to advocate for myself and seek work that allowed me to make an impact.”•
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