The Darden Group, LLC is an Executive Construction Management company assisting leadership teams in strategy, process, and management of large complex commercial projects. In 2022, The Darden Group achieved 100% diverse participation in the construction of the $15 million manufacturing facility in Indianapolis that is a partnership of Cook Medical and Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana.
To welcome her to the GIPC Board, we asked Founder and President, Akilah Darden, questions regarding the company’s commitment to engaging diverse contractors and how the organization looks toward the future.
Tell us more about you!
I’m a proud mom of four who believes deeply in faith, family, and purpose. I’ve always been a dreamer who turned big visions into reality—whether that meant becoming a construction leader, writing a book with my kids, or pouring into my community. At my core, I’m someone who leads with heart, builds with intention, and wants to leave every space better than I found it.
What would you like your fellow GIPC board members to know about The Darden Group?
The Darden Group, LLC is a nationally and internationally award-winning construction management, consulting, and training firm rooted in purpose-driven innovation and community empowerment. We’ve managed over $2 billion in commercial construction and played a key role in exceeding diverse supplier goals on one of the largest hospital projects in the country—a $4.2 billion campus where nearly $400 million was spent with diverse vendors in just three years, including 1,600+ tradespeople of color on-site.
Our company specializes in transforming visions into reality while exceeding expectations—not just in brick and mortar, but in the lives we impact. Through our Construction Management Masterclass, we’ve trained and empowered diverse subcontractors and professionals to become business owners, amplifying economic mobility and workforce development.
We are also the creators of My Mom is a Construction Manager, an internationally recognized children’s book co-authored with my four children that showcases representation in STEM and construction, reinforcing our belief: “What they see is what they will be.”
As a mother of four, a business owner, and a passionate advocate for community transformation, I don’t just build buildings—I build capacity, careers, communities, and confidence. I bring this same commitment and intentionality to the GIPC board, aligning with our shared mission to create inclusive growth and opportunity for our region.
Looking back at the Cook Medical facility project, their leadership was told that hiring 100% diverse contractors was impossible. How did you convince them it was possible, and what steps did you take to recruit contractors?
When I heard “it’s impossible,” I smiled—because I’ve made a career out of turning impossible into possible.
I didn’t have to convince them with just words—I showed them what was possible with my experience building $2B in construction already. Showcasing vision, strategy, intentional action, and execution. I told them: If we build with community in mind, we won’t just build a facility—we’ll build futures. And they believed in that mission.
We started by changing the narrative. We didn’t ask, “Can diverse contractors do the work?” We asked, “What support do they need to succeed?” Then we removed the barriers—access, capacity, connections—and replaced them with education, accountability, and equity.
We went into neighborhoods, churches, community centers, neighborhood associations and even had a pre-bid meeting on the site. We built trust and formed partnerships. I hosted capacity-building sessions, walked contractors through insurance and bonding requirements, provided access to our Construction Management Masterclass, and held meetings in offices to work on 3-week lookaheads, scheduling, and project management to ensure each subcontractor was successful in their areas of opportunity. We didn’t just post an opportunity—we created a pipeline. We also hired 79 people new to construction with 46 being people of color from Marion County.
And guess what? We did it. A minority General Contractor, 100% diverse contractors: 97% minority and 3% women- and veteran-owned businesses. Not because it was easy—but because we led with courage, community, and the conviction that equity is not a risk—it’s a return on investment. Currently we are assisting the largest healthcare campus build in the country with nearly $400M in diverse spend (in three years) and over 1,600 people on the jobsite which equates to 30% diverse and 8% women!
What is The Darden Group looking forward to in the coming years?
We are looking forward to greater impact both in the Capital Infrastructure space and to provide more opportunities for Hoosiers both as companies and the workforce. At The Darden Group, we’re looking forward to scaling impact—not just projects. We’re expanding our Construction Management Masterclass to train even more professionals and subcontractors to become business owners, with a goal of creating generational wealth through the construction industry. We’re developing partnerships that don’t just check boxes—they open doors.
We’re also looking forward to deepening our investment in workforce development and education—reaching students earlier with tools, representation, and inspiration. Through our book My Mom is a Construction Manager, we’ve already impacted over 10 school districts with over 850 books sold. We’re just getting started.
We’re committed to working with visionary partners who believe in building with purpose—projects where community is at the center.
And personally, as a mother of four and a builder of billion-dollar projects, I’m excited to keep proving that you can lead with both heart and results.
We’re not just building structures—we’re building leaders, businesses, and legacies.
What advice would you give GIPC members who want to engage more diverse contractors and collaborators?
Be intentional about equitable opportunities. Find the right people to communicate the intentionality and most importantly, in this industry, it helps to know how to build to be able to gain trust and time to communicate with potential contractors and collaborators.
Start with intentionality, not charity. Engaging diverse contractors isn’t about checking a box (or sending an email/newsletter)—it’s about expanding your capacity, strengthening your outcomes, and building with excellence.
First, meet people where they are. Diverse contractors are out there, but they may not be in your traditional networks. Go beyond bid portals—show up in communities, attend local events, host listening sessions. Build trust before asking for bids.
Second, remove barriers, don’t lower standards. Many diverse businesses have the skills but not the access—so provide technical assistance (ask what is needed), simplify paperwork where you can (just like any new business to your process), and offer pre-bid walkthroughs or bonding education. Help prepare them to succeed. Whether diverse or not, starting new relationships takes time, communication, collaboration, and coordination.
Third, partner with purpose. Collaboration means shared vision and shared value. Don’t just look for subcontractors—look for strategic partners who bring cultural competence, innovation, and lived experience to the table.
Finally, hold your teams accountable. What gets measured, gets done. Set goals. Track your impact. And remember—when you engage diverse contractors, you’re not just building a project. You’re building equity, economic mobility, and a stronger regional economy. Please reach out to me, I can help!