Former governor enjoys being partner at Baker & Daniels

Being governor, says Evan Bayh, is similar to being CEO of a large company; there are matters of vision, strategy and the coordination of a wide variety of concerns. "You never can tell when something is going to happen that you need to jump into with both feet," he says.

Such experience informs the former Indiana governor's current practice of law as a partner with Baker & Daniels in Indianapolis. Having left the state's top post about a year ago, Bayh now concentrates on business law as part of the firm's corporate finance team.

"I've been asked for advice and contacts involving mergers and development strategy overseas, and even things like how to create a job training program for a company's employees to make sure they're up to date with the latest skills," he says.

One company, he says, wants to expand through acquisitions in other states, and so officials were interested in Bayh's perspective on the business climate in those other states and how potential acquisitions might fit with the company's current interests. Another company is interested not only in training current employees but in hiring people off public assistance rolls when possible.

"There's a perfect example of an intersection between good public policy and good business practice," Bayh says.

Although his current work involves no dealings with government, Bayh brings a few observations from his eight years as governor.

"It's important to surround yourself with good people with good judgment and good experience, and I think that is one thing that clients look for," he says. "They know I've had a wide variety of experiences in a lot of different settings, and perhaps I can be a useful part of their management team--growing their business and helping to create jobs here in Indiana."

There is also the importance of coordinating strategy: "I call it the unintended consequences," Bayh says. "Sometimes businesses or individuals will think about taking an action without being completely aware of what consequence that might have in areas they hadn't thought about."

That's where the CEO analogy comes in. "As governor, you have to see the broad picture. You have to think about the entire state and everybody in the state," he says.

Despite a busy law practice, Bayh has had more time over the last year to spend with his wife, Susan, and their twin sons, now 2. "People talk about the terrible twos, but I find it's a great age so far," he says.

"We waited a while; we were married 11 years before we had children," he says. "I wanted to be a good father, not just become a father."

Life is also a little less high-profile, although Bayh still gets recognized frequently. "Most people come up and say hello ... they want to know how the family's doing, or they thank me for my years as governor," he says. "Sometimes they're surprised to see me with a ball cap on, or my tennis shoes, but that's kind of nice too. It's important to remember our public officials are human beings just like all the rest of us."

Bayh had the distinction, in 1988, of being elected the nation's youngest governor at 32. "Sometimes I look at my first official picture when I was in office, and it looks like my high school yearbook," he says with a chuckle.

Now, after two terms in office and a year with Baker & Daniels, Bayh says he continues to be impressed with the importance of a healthy business sector. "If we get the finances right and have a climate that promotes investment and growth, I think the future looks very bright for both the state of Indiana and the United States of America," he says.