Lauren Petersen
BUPD 2011
Senior Director of Relationship Management, TechPoint, Indianapolis
As the Senior Director of Relationship Management for TechPoint, Lauren is driven by her team’s purposeful mission to build a renowned ecosystem growth accelerator that makes Central Indiana the top tech hub in the Midwest and top in the nation among mid-sized cities. She’s been committed over the past five years to creating a strong, vibrant tech landscape in Central Indiana through her roles at ExactTarget, Salesforce, and now at TechPoint, via community engagement programs, partnership management and policy advocacy.
Lauren’s unquenchable desire to do more, invest more, serve more and learn more is coupled with the dream of creating an ecosystem in which economic, human and social capital improves in richness and quality. Her role at TechPoint helps strengthen Indiana’s digital economy by infusing investment and resources, as well as creating a dynamic and supportive community. In her current role, Lauren manages all the partner, member and sponsor strategic relations (over 100 organizations including tech companies, universities, investors, service providers and non-profits) and secures their annual contributions which allow TechPoint to build a premier engagement platform. She and her team execute a best-in-class events program of over 30 annual events for over 3,000 attendees that showcase, connect and celebrate Indiana’s vibrant tech community.
Since her PLAN 100 and CAP studio courses freshman year, Lauren quickly grew fascinated by the dynamics of governmental systems and how policies affect people’s lives and actions, thus she now aims to establish a holistic understanding and approach to serving individuals and communities. Her enthusiasm for the interrelatedness of place-making, community development and politics fuels her mission of making communities economically competitive and better places to live.
Lauren’s past leadership experiences have offered insight into the legal and economic tools that guide community development and place-making. Her work with the Indiana State House of Representatives, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the Fulbright Scholarship Program, the Indiana Chamber’s Technology & Innovation Council, and now TechPoint, have further confirmed her devotion to public service. After serving as a 2011-2012 Fulbright Scholar at the University of Wrocław in Poland, her interests were piqued in public diplomacy. In search of creating a more purposeful, joyful, and inclusive community, she focused much of her Fulbright exchange on civic involvement and volunteered directly with the U.S. Embassy and Consulate.
Lauren graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ball State University in 2011 where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning and Development and was named the American Institute of Certified Planners Outstanding Student and the John R. Emens Outstanding Senior Scholar of her graduating class.
In 2013, Lauren received the IMPACT Award in honor of her philanthropic commitment and volunteerism and was selected as an Indiana Emerging Leader; additionally, in 2017, she was recognized by Junior Achievement of Central Indiana as a Best & Brightest Finalist. She has served as a Wish Granter for 17 local Make-A-Wish children since 2008 and was recently honored as a 2017 Women Inspiring Strength and Hope Honoree. Presently, Lauren’s passion for serving inclusive communities extends to her positions as a Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation Fellow, Board Member for Partners in Housing and the Women’s Fund OPTIONS Alumnus Committee Member. Through these roles, her goal is to help create supportive, sustainable and conducive communities that foster self-sufficiency, respect and support from its members. She also serves on the Local Organizing Committees for the Indy Women in Tech Championship and REV and is an active member of Women & Hi Tech, Venture Club of Indiana, League of Women Voters, Wells County Foundation’s LiGHT (Ladies Initiating Giving – An Honored Tradition and Ball State University’s Discovery Fund).