20 Under 40 | India Yarborough
Written and compiled by LAUREN JURGENSEN | Photos by JOHN BURNS
Founder & CEO | Local Lens PR
India’s journey in Topeka began as a business reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. She went on to serve as vice president of marketing and communications for the Greater Topeka Partnership, bringing Topeka’s people and stories to a national stage.
In 2025, India launched Local Lens PR. She also serves as the chair of Club Blue for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka, where her leadership helped grow its annual fundraiser, netting more than $20,000 this year to support local kids. A graduate of Leadership Greater Topeka and an Omni Circle Emerge Academy alumna, India is passionate about community connection.
What advice would you give to young professionals?
That where you start doesn’t have to be, and almost certainly won’t be, where you end. Feeling stuck isn’t permanent, and building a growth mindset will take you far. All that to say, your career is more like a jungle gym than the ladder so many of us grew up hearing about. Sometimes you start climbing one ladder, decide to pivot and swing sideways, and suddenly find yourself on the monkey bars. Be open to lateral movement when it’s the right fit, as often as you’re open to upward progress.
What podcast has inspired you lately?
There are two podcasts that consistently inspire me: “How to Be a Better Human,” which covers topics like how to communicate better, how to be a better friend and how to see the humanity in everyone you meet, and “The Moth,” which features personal stories told live by everyday Americans on stages across the country.
What qualities do you believe are essential for effective leadership?
Courage and humility. As leaders, we must have the courage to be honest with ourselves and others, even when speaking up or being transparent proves to be extremely difficult and shakes us to our core. We must also be humble enough to know when it is time to lead from behind and modest enough to understand that we can’t make a sustainable, lasting impact alone.
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