Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Nicole R. Robinson has spent her career building bridges between communities, individuals, government, and business leaders. Today Nicole serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the YWCA of...

Darlene Oliver Hightower, J.D., is President & CEO of Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), an independent nonpartisan regional planning and policy organization. Darlene leads the organization’s strategic vision, shaping ambitious goals that will strengthen the impact...

Mariana Souto-Manning, PhD, became Erikson’s fifth President in September 2021. Mariana has served as professor of education at Teachers College, Columbia University and held additional academic appointments at the University of Iceland and King’s College London....

ELIZABETH (Liz) THOMPSON CEO, Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education Group As President of The Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education Group (The CAFE Group), Liz Thompson is deeply engaged in the nonprofit and philanthropic communities. The...

Andrea Sáenz (pronounced ahn-dray-a sigh-enz) is the president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust. The Trust, one of the nation’s largest and oldest community foundations, has a strategic focus on closing the Chicago region’s...

Melissa T. Merrick, PhD, is President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America), the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect. She has more...

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...

Gayla Brockman moved to Chicago in 2016 to become the third President and CEO of the Michael Reese Health Trust and hit the ground running. Within three years she turned a quiet, private foundation into...

Cindy Moelis is President of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation.  She oversees the Foundation’s strategic direction, including partnerships and investments. Throughout her career in government and philanthropy, Cindy has worked to promote social justice, youth development,...