Meet IU McKinney Alumna Chaka Coleman
09/22/2025
Chaka Coleman, J.D. ’22, grew up in southwest Florida in a family that encouraged critical thinking. She’s now founder and president at Obvion Consulting in Indianapolis.
Did you work before coming to law school? If so, please tell me a little about that, if you would.
I served as the deputy city clerk for the City of Fishers. I learned a ton about the inner workings of municipal government and how a citizen-led government makes a difference in the quality of life for residents.
What brought you to IU McKinney?
I wanted to attend law school but did not want to move my family, so I decided that McKinney would provide the opportunity to study close to home, which is ultimately where I wanted to work.
Any lawyers in the family? What made you want to become a lawyer?
I do not have any lawyers in my family, but I always wanted to be a lawyer. The age-old adage regarding "liking to argue" was always attributed to me, but I think that I just had a father who required me to engage in critical thinking, which I suppose can seem argumentative. I also remember watching the show Night Court as a kid and loved the witty banter between the judge and the attorneys. I thought to myself, "I get to meet new people every day? That is what I want to do when I grow up!"
Can you share a little of your career trajectory?
During law school I clerked at a real estate and business litigation firm. I quickly realized that business litigation was probably not for me but stayed with the firm after law school. I then joined with an attorney who lobbied the General Assembly and embarked on that path until leaving the firm and launching my own lobbying firm.
Was practicing this area of the law always an ambition of yours?
I used to laugh with my dad about being a lobbyist for an "evil empire" when I was young. We were a very politically astute family, and I was always interested in government affairs. Oftentimes during law school, you can be distracted from your purpose with all the opportunities that are presented to you, but I am glad that I ended up right where I was supposed to be. He would be so happy to see that everything we ever dreamed about I accomplished.
What do you enjoy most about your present role?
I love working on tough issues with the legislature. We often forget that they too are only humans who hold the distinct privilege of serving the public. Also, as a multi-client lobbyist I get to learn about an array of issues, which keeps the job interesting.
What during your time as a student at IU McKinney prepared you for what you’re doing now?
I was a fellow in Professor Cynthia Baker's Program on Law and State Government, which is an excellent way to help prepare students to address emerging issues and come up with innovative ideas to solve them. I recently had to reach out to one of my expert panelists on an issue I am lobbying on, so the relationships you gain during that experience truly do come full circle.
What’s next for you?
For the first time in my life, I feel like there are no limits to what I can do. I am building a rocket ship. The sky is the limit in an airplane, and I am going to the moon!
