Luminate: Navigating the Unknown Through Creative Leadership

Hosted by Schmidt Associates

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May 2026

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From navigating everyday team operations to carrying maximum impact in the boardroom, visionary leaders have used their experiences to create success. Listen to Luminate: Navigating the Unknown Through Creative Leadership as the Schmidt Associates’ team speaks with executives and leadership experts to uncover their achievements, watershed moments, and the turning points that have shaped their careers. Along the way, you’ll hear about their influences, discover what it takes to build strength and stability at the top, and learn lessons anyone in business can appreciate.

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42 recent

May 26, 2026Episode 524 min

Foundations + Futures: 2000s with Anna Marie Burrell

In this chapter of Foundations + Futures: By the Decade, we step into the 2000s, a decade reshaped by school security, sustainability and the growing belief that a building could be a tool for wellness, community and change. For Schmidt Associates, it was the era of deepening roots.Anna Marie Burrell, K-12 studio leader and principal-in-charge, joins host Sarah Hempstead to reflect on more than 21 years of putting community at the center of every school project. Anna Marie came to Schmidt Associates in the early 2000s with architecture already in her bones, and this conversation brings to life the decade when that kind of intentional, people-first design began to define the firm's identity.Listeners will hear about:Plainfield High School and the community task force process that started with a question, not a blueprintDecatur Central High School, one of Indiana's first project-based learning environmentsThe Vincennes Community School renovation, one of Indiana's first LEED-certified schoolsSchool security, mental health and wellness and how those conversations took root in this decadeSchmidt Academy and the firm's formal commitment to lifelong learningWayne Schmidt's servant leadership, seen up close by someone who got to watch it firsthandFor the first time in this series, Sarah isn't just interviewing someone about a decade. She's remembering alongside them. Both joined the firm in the early 2000s, both found something here they weren't expecting, and both will tell you the culture was better than advertised.This decade was about purpose. About designing not just for today's students, but for the communities they'll grow up to lead. That approach is still how Schmidt Associates operates today.🔗 Subscribe and follow us at @SchmidtAssociates on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. #WeAreSchmidt

May 12, 2026Episode 423 min

Foundations + Futures: 1990s with Kevin Shelley & Steve Schaecher

In this third chapter of Foundations + Futures: By the Decade, we step into the 1990s, a decade of dial-up connections, AutoCAD debuts, and a firm that was growing up fast. For Schmidt Associates, it was the era of intention.Kevin Shelley, chief operations officer and principal, and Steve Schaecher, design architect and firm principal, join host Sarah Hempstead to bring the decade to life. Both joined the firm at the start of the decade and have been part of its story ever since. Together, they share the stories behind the firm's expanding ambitions and the culture that made it worth staying for. Listeners will hear about:Just get over the wall: the retreat story that captures Wayne Schmidt's leadership in one unforgettable momentThe NCAA announcement: a foam basketball, a surprise, a private plane to Princeton, and the firm's first brush with a star architectPerry Clark Aquatic Center: the project that quietly launched an entirely new market segmentAdding disciplines: how landscape architecture, interior design, and MEP engineering transformed the firm in a single decadeThe throughline: servant leadership, owner focus, and the people who made it all possibleThis decade was about structure, layering intention onto entrepreneurial energy and trusting that a firm built on the right values could grow without losing itself. The 1990s gave Schmidt Associates its staying power, and you can still feel it in every studio today.🔗 Subscribe and follow us at @SchmidtAssociates on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. #Schmidt50

April 1, 2026Episode 329 min

Foundations + Futures: 1980s with Wes Harrison

In this second chapter of Foundations + Futures: By the Decade, we step into the 1980s—cassette tapes, big hair, and a decade that wasn't afraid to reinvent itself. For Schmidt Associates, it was the era of finding direction.Wes Harrison, structural engineer and longtime collaborator, joins host Sarah Hempstead to bring the decade to life. From hand-drafted drawings and eraser crumbs to a bold bet on a dilapidated building on Massachusetts Avenue, Wes shares the stories behind the firm's early momentum and the leader who made it possible.Listeners will hear about:The IPS school projects that launched Schmidt Claffey's first big break and a K–12 legacyWayne Schmidt's vision for an old building on Mass Ave that helped spark a neighborhood's transformationThe Soldiers and Sailors Monument restoration and the controversy over tilted glass that ultimately became belovedThe Tippecanoe County Courthouse renovation and the hidden floor discovered inside the wallsThe Indiana University Auditorium project and the bouncing balcony that became an engineering challenge worth solvingWayne's servant leadership quietly shaped a generation of young professionalsThis decade was about direction, discovering what the firm was built for and building the trust to prove it. The 1980s gave Schmidt Associates its pattern, and you can still see it in every studio today.🔗 Subscribe and follow us at @SchmidtAssociates on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. #WeAreSchmidt

March 5, 2026Episode 223 min

Foundations + Futures: The 1970s with Dean Illingworth

In this first chapter of Foundations + Futures: By the Decade, we travel back to 1976—when Schmidt Associates was born from a bold idea, one chair, two employees, and a deep belief that architecture should serve people first.Dean Illingworth, a longtime Schmidt Associates team member and firsthand witness to the firm's earliest days, joins host Sarah Hempstead to bring the 1970s to life. From hand-drafted drawings on repurposed doors to animal safaris for third graders, Dean shares the stories that reveal who Wayne Schmidt was—not just as a founder, but as a leader who practiced servant leadership long before it had a name.Listeners will hear about:The real story behind "one chair, two employees"—and the doors that became drafting tablesHow a staged job interview landed Dean his first day at the firm (and why he was left alone in the office)The Hammond Block, Mass Ave, and the birth of the firm's historic preservation expertiseThe restoration of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument—a project that shaped the firm's identity and its place in IndianapolisThe roots of Schmidt's K–12 education practice and early community-centered workThis decade was about conviction—showing up for communities, leading with empathy, and building something bigger than a business. The 1970s gave Schmidt Associates its DNA, and you can still feel it today.🔗 Subscribe and follow us at @SchmidtAssociates on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. #WeAreSchmidt

January 29, 2026Episode 122 min

Flipping the Script: Sarah Hempstead on Legacy and Leadership

In this special anniversary series episode, we’re flipping the script—Sarah Hempstead, CEO of Schmidt Associates and host of Luminate, takes the guest seat to reflect on legacy, leadership, and what it means to carry a vision forward.As Schmidt Associates celebrates 50 years—and honors 100 years of Arrasmith history in Kentucky—Sarah shares the story behind her architectural journey, the values that drew her to the firm, and the pivotal moments that shaped her approach to servant leadership. From her earliest design inspirations to navigating the transition to CEO, this conversation explores how thoughtful preparation, collaboration, and curiosity have defined both her path and the firm’s evolution.Listeners will hear about:Finding purpose in architecture through travel, education, and mentorshipLeading through uncertainty and the lessons learned from unexpected challengesPreserving culture while adapting for growth during leadership transitionThe importance of inclusive, ego-free design rooted in community impactThis episode sets the stage for Foundations + Futures: By the Decade, a special anniversary series exploring the people, projects, and decisions that built our past—and the vision shaping our future.🔗 Subscribe and follow us at @SchmidtAssociates on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. #WeAreSchmidt

December 10, 2025Episode 3731 min

Episode 37: Showing Up Matters: How Dr. Travis Madison Leads with Heart and Clarity

Few roles demand more heart, humility, and resolve than leading a public school district. In this episode, CEO Sarah Hempstead sits down with Dr. Travis Madison, superintendent of New Albany Floyd County Schools, for a candid conversation about leadership rooted in purpose—and the power of showing up for students, staff, and the community every day.With nearly three decades in education, Dr. Madison offers the perspective of someone who has served at every level—from the English classroom to the superintendent’s office. He reflects on how coaching shaped his leadership style, why visibility and trust matter more than ever, and how career education can serve as a powerful equalizer for students across the district.Listeners will explore:Empathy and consistency as foundations for effective school leadershipVisibility, relationships, and trust as drivers of districtwide successCareer education access and how programs like Prosser prepare students for life beyond the classroomDistrict alignment and the strategies behind building systems that support long-term impactWhether he’s cheering on students at an evening event or navigating big-picture strategy, Dr. Madison leads with an unwavering commitment to doing what’s best for kids.🔗 Subscribe and follow us at @SchmidtAssociates on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

November 12, 2025Episode 3542 min

Episode 36: Tuned to Serve—Wendy Muston on Arts Advocacy and Community Leadership

In this insightful episode, CEO Sarah Hempstead sits down with Wendy Muston—concert harpist and former school board president—for a conversation about leadership, service, and the lasting impact of the arts in education.With a career that spans international concert halls and 25 years of public service in The Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township, Wendy shares how her experiences as a musician shaped her leadership style and fueled her advocacy for equitable arts education. From navigating challenges on stage to leading through a pandemic, her story is one of resilience, integrity, and a deep commitment to community.Listeners will hear about:Developing a music career with adaptability and purposeLeading without a personal agenda—and why that mattersAdvocating for early instrumental education as a foundation for equityDrawing leadership lessons from orchestral collaborationThis episode is a powerful reminder that creative disciplines can build the skills leaders need most: empathy, collaboration and the ability to listen with intent.🔗 Subscribe and follow us at @SchmidtAssociates on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

October 1, 202535 min

Episode 35: Leading Where You’re Planted—The Story of Dan Robison

In this inspiring episode of Luminate: Navigating the Unknown Through Creative Leadership, guest host Audra Blasdel speaks with Dan Robison, director of the Jackson County Chamber, about returning home, building ecosystems, and leading rural transformation through connection and creativity.After nearly two decades in Florida, Robison made the bold decision to return to Seymour, Indiana—just days before the pandemic hit. What followed was a reimagining of community leadership rooted in servant leadership, entrepreneurship, and a relentless belief in the power of people.Listeners will hear about:The journey from big-box retail to rural innovationRebuilding trust and energy in a hometown communityWhy “being a connector” is a leadership superpowerThe bold vision behind the Spark Shop and rural entrepreneurshipTurning perceived disadvantages into strategic advantagesLeading through uncertainty—and staying grounded in purposeWith humor, honesty, and a deep sense of mission, Robison shares how returning home became his greatest act of leadership—and how building supportive ecosystems can unlock opportunity for generations to come.🔗 Subscribe and follow us at @SchmidtAssociates on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

September 3, 2025Episode 341 hr 30 min

Episode 34: Purpose-Driven Change at Butler University's Founders College with Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty

In this inspiring episode, CEO Sarah Hempstead sits down with Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, inaugural dean of Founders College at Butler University, to explore how visionary leadership and lived experience are reshaping access to higher education.Dr. Gentle-Genitty shares her journey from growing up in Belize to serving as dean of a bold new college model designed for high-ability, low-wealth students. With stories that span grassroots youth leadership, systemic change in U.S. higher education, and her role in leading a program built on access, equity and purpose, this conversation is a masterclass in servant leadership, innovation and resilience.Listeners will hear about:Designing academic spaces with intentionality and belongingRemoving barriers to student success through policy and practiceThe power of mentorship, storytelling and showing upHow education can shape better citizens, not just better careersThis episode is more than a conversation. It is a call to design boldly, lead with purpose and make space for those too often left behind.🔗 Subscribe and follow us at @SchmidtAssociates on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

August 6, 2025Episode 3332 min

Episode 33: Building a New Bench of Women Leaders: UIndy President Tanuja Singh on Impact and Access

In this episode of Luminate: Navigating the Unknown Through Creative Leadership, host Sarah Hempstead speaks with Dr. Tanuja Singh, president of the University of Indianapolis.Dr. Singh shares her extraordinary journey from particle physics in India to purposeful leadership in higher education. She discusses the importance of belonging, mentorship, and preparing the next generation of women leaders—offering a candid and inspiring look at what it means to lead with empathy, curiosity and conviction.Key highlights:From particle physics to people-centered leadership Singh began her career in science, but discovered her true calling in higher education—where she could make a personal impact. “I liked particles, but I liked people better,” she said.Parental support and early empowerment Raised in a household that valued independence and education, Singh credits her father—a self-described feminist—for instilling in her the belief that she could do anything.Creating community and belonging Her decision to attend Millsaps College in Mississippi was shaped by a sense of personal connection. That same value of caring deeply for individuals now informs her leadership at UIndy.Empowering women leaders through action Singh helped launch the Women’s Executive Leadership Institute, a program rooted in mentorship, skill-building and support for emerging women leaders across industries in Indiana.Reimagining lifelong learning Through UIndy Online and the CS Institute, Singh is championing accessible, real-world education for adults seeking to reskill or upskill in today’s rapidly changing workforce.Curiosity as a leadership imperative Singh underscores the role of curiosity in personal and professional growth. “Higher education is where your mind learns to be resilient, adaptable and imaginative,” she said.A global perspective on education and equity Singh calls for renewed investment in U.S. higher education, warning that countries like India and China are rapidly advancing their research and experiential learning infrastructures.Leading with purpose—one student at a time Singh’s legacy is rooted in helping others discover their potential. Whether it’s a student gaining confidence or a professional finding their voice, her mission is to inspire belief in what’s possible.Recharge through travel and reflection A passionate traveler, Singh finds joy in exploring new cultures—and sees it as a way to better understand shared human values.Singh also shares two compelling reads: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, and In Case of Emergency, Break Glass, a book about finding calm and clarity in an overstimulated digital world.This episode is a must-listen for educators, leaders, and anyone committed to building a more inclusive, curious, and purpose-driven future. Hear how Dr. Tanuja Singh is shaping the future of higher education—one meaningful connection at a time.Subscribe to Luminate: Navigating the Unknown Through Creative Leadership to stay inspired and informed!