The Jackson County Chamber hosted a Fireside Chat with Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb on Monday afternoon at The Copper Top in downtown Seymour.

Throughout the year, the chamber hosts leaders from different industries and areas to speak during the chamber’s Leadership Series.

Earlier in the year, chamber Director Dan Robison reached out and invited Holcomb to speak as part of the leadership series, and he was excited to recently receive a response.

During the chat, Robison presented Holcomb with five questions, varying in length, topic and difficulty, tying back to the importance of his leadership as governor. With 112 days left in his second term as governor and counting from the day of the event, he had some words to reflect his time in his position.

The first question he tackled was related to leadership values that has guided him through his nearly eight years in office. His first response was learning that you need the skin of a rhinoceros. Along with being tough, he said that people need a vision that can be measured and they need to be willing to tell their story to connect.

“You have to be able to cast a vision, to be able to articulate that vision. That vision more than not will track like minded folks,” Holcomb said.

When Robison asked about “Indiana’s biggest risks to overcome and strengths to leverage,” he said that everyone is struggling with the same issues, not outlining state-specific ones.

“South Korea is just as worried about the demographics as America is and Indiana is,” Holcomb said.

Generally, he threw out wealth, health, economic development and other similar topics as what needs improved.

“There are a lot of governors who would love to have Indiana’s spread sheet,” he said.

Robison asked about the struggles Indiana communities face with accommodating the rapidly growing diverse population, particularly in areas of education, healthcare and public safety and concrete ways both state and local leaders can work together to solve such a complex issue. Holcomb did not have a direct answer, but agreed that this isn’t an easy problem to solve.

Holcomb turned his attention to good things to say about Indiana, highlighting how attractive the state is to many for people to settle and raise families. He spoke highly of Indiana’s culture and how people perceive Hoosiers as genuine people.

His response harkened back to the first question, thinking about telling stories and having a vision. He said each piece of the puzzle should be involved, but didn’t give examples as to how that could be done.

“It’s meetings like this, organizations like this, that look at the collective. They look at that one issue and say [we should] measure where we are right now,” Holcomb said.

The last two questions asked were more personal, directing its attention to Holcomb as a person. Robison asked about his favorite items from the collection in his office. While Holcomb mentioned several items that are important to him and explained how everything has a meaning and purpose, he talked more in depth on a portrait of C.J. Walker that he has behind him at this desk.

“If I ever thought it was a tough day, I would look up at her. […] The first self-made female in America. African-American, born a couple years after the Civil War,” Holcomb said. “Lost both of her parents before she was 20. Tough, tough, tough marriages — abusive. And yet, she persevered.”

Since around COVID-19, Holcomb said she is behind his left shoulder and will remain there until his final day in office. During that time, he said it was especially difficult to make that final decision.

Finally, Holcomb reflected on his legacy as governor. He said that he preferred the facts to speak for his time instead of his own words, recognizing that people’s opinions will vary more or less favorably.

“I would hope [people know that] I never forgot who sent me there and for what reason,” Holcomb said.