Karina Ayala-Bermejo has served as President and CEO of Instituto del Progresso Latino (Instituto), a leading community-based organization that provides education and social and legal services for nearly 8 years. She has 35 years of combined professional...
Michelle leads the People and Organization practice for North America and is a leader of the global Women@BCG team. Michelle is a core member of BCG’s healthcare practice and previously led BCG’s Great Lakes &...
Anna Valencia was first sworn-in as City Clerk of Chicago on January 25, 2017 overseeing one of the largest offices in the City serving 1.2 million Chicagoans and generating more than $130 million annually. As...
Chef Carrie Nahabedian started her career in cooking in the Ritz Carlton Hotel fine dining restaurant “The Dining Room” during high school in the northern suburbs of Chicago. From the first day, she walked into...
Anne M. Vogel was appointed Region 5 Administrator in April 2025. As regional administrator, Vogel oversees EPA’s work across the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin and 37 Tribal nations. Prior to...
Rana Jewel Wright is Partner, President of the Oakmark Funds, and Chief Legal & Administrative Officer at Harris Associates LP, a $100 billion global investment adviser and adviser to the $60 billion Oakmark Funds. A...
Sujata K is a seasoned leader with over twenty years of nonprofit experience, dedicated to enhancing the impact of philanthropy for foundations and social change organizations. Her career is marked by a commitment to addressing...
Kate Maehr was appointed chief executive officer of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the food bank that serves Cook County, Illinois, in 2006. Since her appointment, the Food Depository has increased the annual distribution of...
Beth Swanson is a dynamic leader in the public, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors, dedicated to improving the lives of young people. As CEO of A Better Chicago, she oversees the organization’s efforts to fight poverty...
With more than 30 years of local/national broadcast journalism experience, Sally Ramirez returned to Chicago in 2023 to restructure and lead the newsrooms at two of Chicago’s most prestigious media properties: NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ-TV)...
