Adapted from Vanguard Law Magazine - Buren Jones - Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Company

Transforming a culture

In recent years, Buren has helped lead a company-wide effort to define and instill the culture of IFM—as well as a historic expansion of a company founded in 1877. Using his background in making music collaboratively, Jones decided to work in concert with employees (in this case, associates) to define the existing culture and how it might change for the better.

Identifying the culture of an institution that’s been around for so long was new territory for both the company and Jones, who’s also been busy formalizing and memorializing an enterprise-wide compliance program; preparing for the company’s ongoing expansion; and working with company leaders to help develop their leadership skills.

“Instead of approaching it from the top down, it seemed logical for our associates to play a leading role in determining the environment that would allow all of us to do our best work,” says Jones. “We had never formally defined our culture, though we did have formal values and expected behaviors in place. The truth is, it’s there whether you know it or not. If you aren’t purposeful about your culture, it will end up somewhere on its own, and that’s rarely a good place.”

A few years ago, he says, IFM knew company culture was an area of opportunity, based on being asked about it and not having a well-defined answer. Company leadership agreed: This was something that needed to be addressed more comprehensively than compartmentally defining values and expected behaviors.

A whole leader

A native of Indiana, music has been an important aspect of life for Jones, who has played trumpet everywhere from symphony orchestras to jazz clubs. After receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music, Jones attended law school in his mid-30s, going to class at night and working as an underwriter during the day.

“Being a musician made me the person I am. It teaches you how to collaborate; making or listening to music is somewhat the same as a business conversation,” says Jones. “I try to take that feedback, then mold or synthesize it into a better product.”

After landing his first job at an Indianapolis law firm, Jones realized business law was a passion, and has followed that path while still drawing on his musical side for inspiration and dedication. “When you’re a musician coming up and growing, it never stops,” he says. “You are always working to become better. You’re always chasing this unicorn of perfection.”

“Like so many, I had to find my own path, a process which has value wherever life takes you, professionally and personally,” he says. “I would call the path I’ve taken to get here creative. Some who work with me would call it … different.”