As Business Equity for Indy launched our inaugural Workforce Pilot, we recognized the importance of documenting the cohort’s experience throughout the two-year program. Working alongside RightHand, we were able to capture the stories, lessons, and impact of this program on the nearly 20 participating companies. Through powerful storytelling, RightHand has enabled BEI to capture a compelling narrative about equity in Central Indiana—in real time. Their support of the Workforce Pilot is as much about learning from the past as it is about driving change for the future.
For Bryan Kryder, CEO and Co-Founder of RightHand, storytelling is more than just a medium—it’s a tool for driving lasting change.
“One of the biggest things we learned from this project is how critical it is to approach equity as more than just a Black-and-white issue,” Kryder shared. “So many organizations fall into that trap, but equity goes far beyond race. It touches on accessibility, economic status, and countless other factors. In our work with BEI, we saw firsthand how they [Workforce Pilot participants] were working to address that, even reflecting on their own experiences—like the realization that our previous building wasn’t ADA-accessible.”
Shifting the Focus to Long-term Impact
RightHand’s role in the BEI Workforce Pilot was to capture more than just a series of meetings or statistics. They aimed to amplify the stories that emerged from these sessions, documenting the insights and learning curves participants experienced as they applied new practices in their own organizations.
“Storytelling gives these sessions a life beyond the two-hour meetings, which is helpful in and of itself. However, for BEI, multimedia elements are critically important as membership continues to blossom and grow,” Kryder explained. “We interviewed participants multiple times throughout the program to not only hear what they were learning but also how they were implementing that knowledge to make real changes. What we captured was an ongoing process—this isn’t just about ‘fixing’ one thing, it’s about building the right systems from the ground up and providing tools that empower others to replicate that growth in their companies. That and recognizing that this work is never done. BEI is a commitment to learning, adjusting, evaluating changes, and continually progressing.”
And that so eloquently captures the mission of BEI. For so long, companies have tried to quickly redirect equity missteps with strong, sharp, corrective action that, unfortunately, has proven to lack sustainability, resources, and follow-through. Through BEI, we’re aiming to continually make improvements in how the regional business community views and acts to improve equity. Through their partnership on the Workforce Pilot, RightHand came to a similar conclusion.
“The Workforce Pilot emphasized the opportunity that small businesses have to build equitable systems from business inception,” shared Kryder. “While larger companies are learning how to shift priorities and resources to reimagine more equitable practices, the Workforce Pilot showed us that larger, longer established companies can be a resource for newer businesses in standardizing more equitable practices sooner. This also creates greater opportunities for Indy’s small businesses to emerge as leaders in this space—sharing ideas and best practices that can apply to all organizations, regardless of their size.”
A Commitment to the Journey
BEI is preparing to celebrate its fifth anniversary, and earlier this year, the initiative released an impact report to showcase progress to date. And while great strides have been made thanks to collaborative efforts across Central Indiana, the realization is that there’s still work to be done.
“We’re not doing equity work to check boxes or meet quotas,” Kryder emphasizes. “It’s about creating spaces where people of all experiences, abilities, and backgrounds can thrive. BEI is trying to change that narrative. These efforts are not about appeasing anyone—they’re about building an environment where equity is foundational, not an afterthought—for companies and for the entire Indianapolis community.”
Central Indiana, Bryan pointed out, is uniquely positioned to lead on this front—helping to drive regional collaboration that improves national competitiveness, business creation, and job growth. Through BEI, and programs like the Workforce Pilot, Central Indiana companies are creating an environment where businesses can thrive by embracing and supporting Black and Brown talent—but really all talent. Through RightHand’s lens, the story of BEI’s work is more than a moment in time—it’s an evolving narrative about growth, learning, and the pursuit of equity for all. And it’s a story that’s far from over.
“We often think of this work in terms of sprints—with a start and a finish line. But at RightHand, what we’ve learned, especially through our work with BEI, is that there is no finish line. Every milestone you reach just unlocks new challenges,” he said. “As leaders, we need to adopt that mindset—there isn’t a ‘fix’ that makes everything better. This is a continuous process of growth, and we need to keep evaluating our strategies, our vendors, and ourselves.”
