The Enneagram Institute describes its “5” as alert, insightful, curious, able to focus on developing complex ideas and skills, independent, and innovative, who, at their very best are pioneers, often ahead of their time, and able to see the world in an entirely new way. Fives are dubbed “investigators” by the Institute.
Of course, not everyone has studied the Enneagram, but for Joe White, Partner and Executive Vice President of Operations for New City Development, the study helped him see how his gifts and energy align perfectly with the “5,” and likely helped him acknowledge the other side of that equation too: That intense ability to focus comes with a need for balance over time.
“If I have a superpower, it’s being hyper-aware of the people around me, their disposition and how it’s evolving, and how their interests align with others and me,” he says. He enjoys developing partnerships.
But bringing the busyness of life together with his desire to bring logic out of chaos, White has designated 2024 as the year to step back and assess how he’s doing with his important relationships at work and home.
“We have to keep doing the little things that got us here and are so important to those around us,” he says. “Things may be comfortable, in a rhythm, but I have to take time to be aware of how the relationships around me are evolving and invest in them in the same way I did when they were originally established.”
The majority of his childhood was spent east of Indianapolis in Richmond, where his dad has now pastored a church for 27 years. A young White was inspired by his dad’s work in the church and on several local boards, and he has followed that example both in faith and community service.
White attained his education at Earlham College in Richmond, studying human development, social relations and psychology during undergrad years, then attaining an Master of Arts in Education at Earlham as well. He was initially drawn to education as a way to create community and have impact in the lives of young people.
After moving to Indianapolis in 2010, White worked for five years with Goodwill Education Initiatives, where he helped launch Excel Center, eventually starting nine schools in its network. He then worked with The Mind Trust and, over a five-year tenure, helped launch and support 31 charter schools and non-profits to impact kids in Indianapolis. As he considered the impact of these ventures, he found his perceptions shifting.
“After 10 years in education, it occurred to me that there are bright spots, but by and large, the system wasn’t changing,” he said, observing that the real influencers were either legislators or very wealthy people. “I had been in the system, working on the system,” he says, “and it felt like cutting down an oak tree with a butter knife.”
When Dave Neff introduced him to Isaac Bamgbose in 2019, the two discovered many connections in their thinking about community and business. Bamgbose had just launched New City Development and invited White to partner with him in 2021. Today, the small but mighty firm manages $50M in assets with a future that is opening up more and greater opportunity.
As to community involvement, White values the boards he serves on, particularly the YMCA of Central Indiana, where he is vice chair. There he has helped work through a transition in CEO and looks forward to serving as chair of that body in several years. He also serves on the boards of the Urban Land Institute, where he is active with their real estate development initiative, the Center for Innovative Education Solutions, and on the committee for comprehensive planning of the Children’s Museum.
White’s wisdom – for his own life as well as his team and family – causes him to slow down a little from the pace of such fast growth to consider how to best care for others as well as foster a culture of accountability, and how they come along together.
“I feel like there are two paths you can take,” he says. “You can just ride the wave and not be as reliant on your faith or as diligent in loving people or investing yourself into the business as you were at the beginning – you can just wait for something to break – or you can pause before something breaks and make corrections proactively,” he says, and that’s a path he’s working on right now.
“We have a chance to establish real momentum,” he says, “but Isaac and I also talk a lot about death by a thousand cuts and how to keep our pace from compromising health, relationships, and quality of life.”
White and his wife, Michelle, attend Trader’s Point Christian Church, Whitestown, and are the parents of Jada (17), Brave (6), and Honor (3).
WHITE'S IDEAS FOR A BETTER INDY
BE PROACTIVE ABOUT BALANCE. Take time apart to assess your responsibilities to family, work, and community in the light of faith.
KEEP FAITH FRONT AND CENTER. “In the early days of my career when I was being promoted, I didn’t have the same level of confidence I do now to walk into board meetings or companies and manage well. I literally whispered, ‘Lord I need your help.’ But 10 years later, it’s more like ‘oh yeah, I know what to do.’” Greater success and confidence, and more resources and independence can tempt us to forget, he says. “Don’t allow it. Don’t allow self-sufficiency and the voice of your own intellect to dominate. Maintain dependency and faith, be diligent to invite the Holy Spirit into everything you’re doing.”
SEEK OUT ENCOURAGEMENT & ACCOUNTABILITY. “C7 is a convener,” he says, “designed to encourage men and leaders to be best version of themselves, the best reflections of the light into the world we live in, which can be dark at times. It leads to stronger men, leaders and fathers.”
JOE WHITE TRIVIA
Favorite hobby besides work? Been on a basketball team practically since he could walk
Go to snack and beverage? Beef jerky and Celsius energy drink
Favorite restaurant, locally? Prime 47
Favorite places for a vacation? Hawaii or Los Angeles
Secret Dream? To play bass like Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers