Lanesha Minnix is currently Executive Vice President and General Counsel for BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company). She was formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), a Fortune 50 integrated...

Karen Freeman-Wilson began serving as President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League in January 2020. She brings a passion for equity and social justice to the organization, which works to advance economic, educational, and...

SYLVIA PUENTE, FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO, LATINO POLICY FORUM Sylvia Puente is a pioneering public policy expert, civic and Latino community leader. She has extensive knowledge of social issues, diverse communities, government, and governance. She...

Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell- is the Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Linda-Denise ascended to this role in 2021, after an extraordinary career as a professional dance artist and educator. Ms. Fisher-Harrell is the first alumni...

Head of Talent and Culture Morningstar, Inc. Bevin Desmond was head of talent & culture for the Chicago investment research giant. Desmond also oversaw the data & development centers in Mumbai, Shenzhen, and Madrid. She...

Cassandra Hill became dean of the Northern Illinois University College of Law on July 1, 2020. Prior to joining NIU Law, Dean Hill served as an administrator and faculty member at Thurgood Marshall School of...

Jennifer is the President & CEO of Chicago Children’s Museum and has worked in the field of informal education for 35 years, beginning as an intern at Chicago Children’s Museum in 1991. After various roles...

Brooke Flanagan has served as Executive Director for Steppenwolf Theatre Company, America’s premier ensemble theatre, since 2020. Together with Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis, she is responsible for stewarding the company’s artistic growth,...

Kelly Graves CEO, FCB Chicago An agency leader with over 20 years of experience, Kelly recognizes the powerful role that creativity can play when it comes to solving the most challenging business problems. Known for...

Marcella believes in the transformative power of higher education, a commitment grounded in her family’s experiences. She grew up in New York City, the second daughter of parents who appreciated education all the more because...