With your gift to this fund, you’re helping Kelley students turn challenges into turning points. You’re not only investing in a single event—you’re investing in a culture of support, growth, and resilience that will guide students throughout their lives and careers. Your gift helps fund all aspects of the summit, including but not limited to:

Cultivating resilience and a growth mindset

• Keynote speakers who share honest stories about overcoming adversity
• Guided activities that help students reflect on their own experiences with failure
• Resources and tools that normalize challenge as part of the professional journey

Building community and reducing isolation

• Peer-to-peer connections that foster belonging
• Conversations that break down the stigma around failure
• Events designed in collaboration with Kelley's Office of Student Support and Mental Health Task Force

Supporting student well-being and leadership development

• Programming that integrates wellness, personal growth, and emotional intelligence
• Opportunities for students to build self-awareness and leadership skills that last beyond graduation

When you give to the Failing Successfully Summit Fund, you help create a transformative experience that reaches students across all programs and backgrounds. The summit was founded by Kelley alumnus Tom Cole, BS’82, whose 37-year Wall Street career and 15 years on the Dean’s Council gave him a deep appreciation for the role that failure plays in long-term success. His legacy lives on through this powerful program—one that grows stronger with each year thanks to your support.

Please note, the name and purpose of the fund displayed on this page constitute the authorized description of the fund by the Indiana University Foundation, Inc. Your gift supports the fund as described herein.