Why the leaders and companies that stay close and connected to their communities win.  

There is a common misconception in business that leadership requires distance. That effectiveness comes from remaining above the fray, measuring every decision in terms of efficiency or return and limiting engagement to moments of transaction. After decades of practicing law in Columbus, I have learned that approach rarely produces lasting success. When we talk about legacy, it isn’t about building; it’s about people. 

The most successful leaders I know across business, law, and civic life never stop being part of the community that shaped them. They stay engaged. They stay accessible. They understand that community is not a backdrop to success; it is the engine that drives success.

Leadership with community heart is not a concept; it’s how the strongest leaders in this city operate. At Amundsen Davis, it shapes every decision we make and every relationship we build. Organizations that invest in their communities before they need anything from them earn something you cannot buy: trust. That trust becomes credibility when your reputation is tested and resilience when the market shifts, a crisis emerges or the landscape changes overnight. The businesses that endure in Columbus are not simply the ones with the flashiest strategies; they are the ones their communities refuse to let fail. That is not luck, it’s the result of intentional, sustained investment in the people and places around you. Leadership with community heart is how you build an organization that belongs somewhere, and belonging is what makes businesses last.

“Community is not a backdrop to success. It is the engine of it.”

— Larry James, Columbus managing partner, Amundsen Davis

Why Community-Centered Leadership Works

I know that here in Central Ohio, leadership is relational. Our region is built on connections between employers and employees, institutions and neighborhoods, legacy organizations and emerging enterprises. Leaders who recognize this understand relationships are much more than transactional or episodic interactions. They invest in them consistently, long before there is a problem to solve or an opportunity to pursue.

I’ve seen this firsthand through my 16 years as president of the King Arts Complex and a decade overseeing the reconstruction of the Lincoln Theatre. These weren’t just extra activities; they were essential to my evolution as a professional. If I didn’t have this involvement outside of the law, my life and my career would not be complete. Any lawyer or business leader who gets engaged beyond their immediate practice becomes a better professional for it. 

When leaders invest consistently in their communities, through board service, civic engagement, mentorship and genuine participation, they hear concerns sooner. They recognize shifts earlier. They understand the context in which decisions must be made. As a result of connecting for understanding, leaders who lead with community at heart gain clarity that cannot be found in legal briefs, reports or dashboards.

That clarity builds trust. And trust, in business, is a form of capital that is invaluable.

Relationships Are Not Adjacent to the Work, They Are the Work

At Amundsen Davis, we know that legal leadership stems from consistency, credibility and commitment to community. That philosophy shows up in our daily practice. 

I often remind younger professionals that real-world challenges never arrive neatly packaged. Clients don’t bring clean fact patterns, and organizations rarely face problems in isolation. Earning the trust required to ask the right questions and receive candid answers is the foundation of effective counsel.

That trust is built by showing up in ways that have nothing to do with transactions. It grows from listening without agendas and understanding context. When we, as leaders, take the time to understand the experiences and goals of the people we serve, we become more than service providers; we become partners.

For companies, this means rethinking community involvement. Engagement is not something to be postponed until success is secured. It should not be framed as ‘giving back;’ something to be done after growth has been achieved. It sharpens judgment and strengthens reputation in real-time.

How Companies Can Lead With Community Heart

Leadership with community heart is not a program; it is a practice. Organizations that apply it effectively tend to share a few core disciplines:

Collaborate broadly. Diverse perspectives reduce blind spots and improve outcomes. 

• Be present. Engage consistently, not episodically or only when visibility is beneficial.
• Listen before acting. Context leads to better decisions and fewer missteps.
• Invest in people. Mentorship and development build strength and continuity.
• Play the long game. Durable reputations are built over years, not in quarters.

These practices do not slow growth; they stabilize it.

The Long View

When Amundsen Davis expanded into Columbus, it chose to build upon deep local roots, longstanding relationships and a history of civic engagement. That decision reflected a belief that leadership is earned over time and that in Columbus, trust must be earned, not assumed. The same principle applies to any company or organization building its future in Central Ohio. Short-term strategies may deliver quick results, but they are fragile. Leadership grounded in community creates something far more durable: credibility, loyalty and trust.

As Columbus continues to grow and redefine itself, the leaders who will shape its next chapter will be the ones who showed up consistently, listened carefully and invested deeply in the community around them.

Leadership with community heart, it’s what makes our team at Amundsen Davis proud to serve.

By Larry James

Columbus managing partner, Amundsen Davis | Columbus, Ohio
Larry James is the managing partner at Amundsen Davis Columbus, bringing decades of legal experience and deep community involvement across Central Ohio and beyond. His work reflects a commitment to thoughtful leadership, collaboration and stewardship within the region’s business and civic institutions.