Linda Speed
President & CEO
Community Foundation of Southern Indiana
“I would like to see this area align all its resources to reach our potential for being one of the best places in America to live, work and play.”
Boards, volunteer or community work:
I serve on the boards of the Center for NonProfit Excellence and the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (vice-chair). I am past president of the Southern Indiana Estate Planning Council, the Charitable Gift Planners of Kentuckiana, and the Fundraising Executives of Metro Louisville.
In terms of growth and economic development, where would you like to see Southern Indiana in 10 years?
In 10 years, I would like to see this area align all its resources to reach our potential for being one of the best places in America to live, work and play. When we maximize our quality of place, we improve our lives, keep our families and businesses here, and we attract new companies because this is a place where workers have the skills and education to meet the demands of employers and where people want to live and raise their families.
Who or what motivates you?
First and foremost, my family motivates me every day. But, a close second is the work I do at the Community Foundation. At the foundation, I’m able to come in each day and work to make this a stronger, better community. I get to work with individuals and businesses that give back in ways that matter to them and make a real difference in the lives of the residents of Clark and Floyd counties. Not only is that a great motivator but incredibly rewarding.
What habits/routines have helped with your success?
I’m a big fan of continuous learning and improvement, so I try to attend seminars and read as much as I can on a lot of different topics, but especially those that affect the charitable industry. I work out several times a week, and I make it a point to meet with friends outside of work often to recharge and stay in touch, all of which make it easier to focus on work when I’m there.
What pushes you through your most difficult times?
The knowledge that “this too shall pass” usually helps. I rely on faith, prayer and my family to support and guide me when times are tough.
What are you most proud of professionally?
There are a lot of things that got me to where I am now professionally, beginning with graduating from Vanderbilt School of Law and then moving from the private practice of law into the nonprofit and foundation sector, which have led to the work I do now with the Community Foundation. I’ve been working a long time, so I have different things to be proud of from different periods in my career, but right now I’d have to say that leading the Community Foundation since 2010 as our assets have grown to over $115 million – which gives us so much more opportunity to support the community – is something that I am very proud of because it exhibits the generosity of this community and the faith they have in the Community Foundation as a partner in their philanthropy.
