Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Secretary of Management and Budget and Chief Operating Officer, State of Indiana
Hometown: Hendersonville, North Carolina
Family: husband, Brandt Hershman; rescue pets, Ranger, Maggie and River
Achievements: Lisa Hershman serves as Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer. She worked with Gov. Mike Braun and the General Assembly to enact a balanced, two-year state budget; helped streamline the state’s executive-branch agencies for better value to the taxpayer and improved customer service; negotiated contract savings in a variety of areas, including vehicle fleet purchases and software licenses; started a procurement initiative that’s expected to save several hundred million dollars; and launched a government-wide AI initiative to improve productivity and detect fraud.
Career track: Before joining the Braun administration, Hershman’s career was largely in the private sector, helping Fortune 100 companies become more efficient, effective and customer-friendly. (The book she co-authored on best management practices, “Faster Cheaper Better,” has been published in 13 countries.) In 2019, she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the third-ranking official in the Department of Defense. As chief management officer, she oversaw 28 agencies, 120,000 employees and a $168 billion budget. During her tenure, the Government Accountability Office validated that the department achieved more than $37 billion in reform savings.
Influential moment: As she was leaving her role at the Pentagon, Hershman was awarded the Distinguished Public Service Medal, the Department of Defense’s highest civilian honor. On the same day, she was honored by having a Pentagon conference room named after her, the first room at the Pentagon to be named after a woman.
Giving back: board member, EchoStar/Dish; chair, Purdue Applied Research Institute; Tanium; Sagamore Institute
Advice for young women: “The one who speaks the most is often seen as the most junior. There’s a fine line between team player and doormat. There is nothing wrong with wanting to climb the career ladder—as long as you’re willing to be a rung for others. And, if you have a seat at the table, resist the temptation to continually give your resume. People want to hear about what you’re going to do, not what you’ve already done.”•
Check out more Women of Influence honorees.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.