As Indiana’s tech community continues to grow and mature, it’s getting harder and harder to narrow down the winners for our annual Tech 25 Awards program. Clearly there is a wealth of tech talent in the Hoosier state, and they are making incredible moves.

Join us in celebrating the Tech 25 class of 2020 through this profile series and learn a bit more about each winner.

Andy Kennedy is a Principal Brand Strategist at Innovatemap, where he leads the brand team. An Indiana native (Muncie, Ind.), Andy graduated from Anderson University in 2010, and since then has been helping businesses of all sizes tell their stories through written and visual communications.

At Innovatemap, Andy spearheaded the product brand discipline and has been key to developing the talent, philosophy, and offerings that make Innovatemap’s clients successful today. Andy’s work is behind some of the most successful tech companies in Indianapolis as he’s helped to bring those brands to life through visuals, messaging, websites, ads, and motion.

What led you to get into tech and this occupation? What was your first job in tech?

I started my career in the branding and advertising space, helping companies of all sizes and industries tell their story. I loved being able to change minds and communicate the truth in fresh, compelling ways. After a role at an agency in Austin, Texas, co-founding, growing, and exiting my own brand agency, I was doing freelance work out of the Speak Easy when I saw Mike Reynolds and the Innovatemap team bustling around. Brittany Young, a mutual friend, worked at Innovatemap and made the intro. I started on a few freelance projects for Innovatemap and the rest is history. Innovatemap is my first job in tech.

When you think of a day in your life, what are the main work activities you do or responsibilities you have?

I’m responsible for creative excellence at Innovatemap, ensuring our talented team of designers fuse art and commerce to impact businesses. I help our clients say no to shiny objects, focus on their uniqueness, and communicate more with less.

Andy Kennedy
Principal Brand Strategist at Innovatemap
“I love challenging conventions and using design to change minds and move them to act.”

Which resources, people, books, websites, etc. would you recommend to those who want to learn more or advance their skills in this occupation?

I’m not much of a reader. I’m not much of a course-taker. I learn through doing, observing, noticing, and staying curious.  Creativity is about connecting new dots that have never been connected before. The more dots you have, the more you can connect. Dots don’t have to come from books or classes—they can come from anywhere if you live with curiosity and take time to notice details in common experiences.

Andy Kennedy is a Tech 25 winner who is helping to grow and improve the tech landscape of Indiana. He was nominated by his CEO, Mike Reynolds. To learn more about the Tech 25 Awards, click here.

Visit the Indianapolis Business Journal website to see the full listing and celebration of the 2020 Tech 25 honorees in the joint CTO of the Year and Tech 25 Awards supplement. You can also watch a video of the livestream from the CTO of the Year and Tech 25 Awards virtual event.