Indiana 250: Pete Ward

Pete Ward started with the Indianapolis Colts in 1981 as an unpaid public relations intern, was hired as a full-time administrative assistant in 1982, and was intimately involved with the team’s move from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984. He was named director of operations shortly after the team arrived in Indianapolis and became chief operating officer in 2010. He served as the Colts’ point person for design and construction of Lucas Oil Stadium, the city of Indianapolis’ Super Bowl bids, and the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI Host Committee. He serves on the boards of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Visit Indy, USA Football, the Indianapolis Zoo and the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee.

First job and what it taught you

Age 9, local paper route and yard jobs. I learned responsibility, and satisfaction from a job well done.

Job swap

Head of the U.N. World Food Program (inspiration: Jim Morris).

A failure you learned from

Too many to list.

Favorite thing about being a leader

Helping others to be better, professionally and personally.

Something surprising

As a kid, my alternate career choice was to be a foreign correspondent for The New York Times.

Other than parents, most admires

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine. Incredible leader in the face of incredible adversity.

Toughest challenge overcome

My first days of middle school in Oakland, after relocating from the insulated enclave of Carmel, California.

Advice for a young person

Embrace the crap work no one else wants to do; make yourself as valuable as possible.

Something you’d like to change about Indiana

A cultural shift that is enticing to bright young minds.

Favorite civic contribution you’ve made

Serving as board chair for the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Great cause, great people—great asset to our community.

Worries about

The influence of the internet and social media on young minds.•