Emerging Leaders Class of 2020

Jenna Anderson specializes in advising global industrial goods corporations on strategic issues and in developing cutting-edge marketing, sales, and pricing solutions. Previously, she worked at Boston Consulting Group, in finance at a boutique mergers and acquisitions firm, in Chicago Public Schools, and in exhibit design at the Chicago Children's Museum.

Now a consultant, TJ Augustine was formerly a vice chancellor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he oversaw information technology, distance and adult education programs, corporate partnerships, and technology commercialization. Previously, Augustine served as associate vice president for economic development and innovation for the University of Illinois System.

Before joining Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Brian Axelrad was chief investment officer at Beyond Capital Fund, a nonprofit social impact fund investing in social enterprises in India and East Africa. In this role, he oversaw investment decision-making and advised on portfolio and overall fund strategy.

Bobby Bacci is the founder and CEO of Prominence Advisors, a technology firm focused on helping the nation’s leading healthcare organizations do more with their data. He has led Prominence to support over 50 healthcare organizations, including seven of the top 10 hospitals in the United States, and fostered a culture that has been recognized as a great place to work by multiple outlets each year.

Jonathan Chaparro leads the Chicago region of Braven, an organization that works to empower underrepresented young people with the skills, confidence, experience, and networks necessary to transition from college to strong first jobs and meaningful careers. He is committed to expanding opportunities for the historically disenfranchised.

At Goldman Sachs, Regina Cross leads a team that works closely with family offices, foundations, and endowments to provide customized financial advisory, portfolio optimization solutions across all asset classes, and incorporates impact investing tailored to clients’ missions and values. Previously, Cross was the brand CFO for the US Affiliate Neuroscience Business Unit of Eli Lilly and Company.

Appreccia D. Faulkner is the founder and CEO of Global Strategists Association, an international nonprofit striving to increase global engagement among the African Diaspora. The organization promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in global affairs. She has hosted and curated several events designed to platform emerging and established women and leaders of color on today's issues.

Janice Giddens is a registered dietitian, and at the US Dairy Export Council, she leads collaborations with thought leaders to promote awareness of the link between agriculture, sustainable food systems, and health. Previously, as the nutrition manager at a food bank, she designed and implemented the rollout of a system that assessed the nutritional adequacy of 70 million pounds of food annually.

Mariam Huss is the CEO of Axxum Consulting, a management consulting firm providing services in change management, organization design, and program management. She has 15 years of experience in professional services and has held roles at IBM, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and the Hackett Group, and has served on the board of the Women’s Global Education Project, among others.

Jamia Jowers is the executive director of the What's Your Forté Foundation where she designs innovative programming to solve pressing challenges faced by Chicago's South and West side neighborhoods, as well as a security fellow with the Truman National Security Project, a Boren scholar, and president of the Chicago Refugee Coalition.

Dan Misch's work contributes to the innovation ecosystem of world-class laboratories, universities, and businesses in Chicago. He's an advocate for international collaboration and investments in advanced energy technology to strengthen US national security. Previously, Misch served in the US Navy as a Lieutenant and nuclear engineer on a ballistic missile submarine.

In his previous role as a manager in deal advisory at KPMG LLP, Matt Pelton led engagement teams that provided accounting advisory and finance integration services to clients involved in complex transactions and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He's a business school facilitator, supports local recruitment, and volunteers in entrepreneurship and education initiatives throughout Chicago.

As deputy director, Jon Quinn works with donors on the strategy and implementation of their charitable giving. In his time at RPA, he has supported donors' strategies around confronting climate change, worked with a number of foundations’ retooling strategy in post-bankruptcy Detroit, and managed a family foundation’s grantmaking focused on land conservation, among many other projects.

In addition to her role at Safe Rate, Shima Rayej is a managing partner at Persee Ventures, a venture technology firm. She previously served as a venture capital associate at OCA Ventures and a summer associate at Deutsche Bank's structured products group. From 2004 to 2010, she developed autonomous vehicle technology for the US Army's Future Combat System program.

In her role at KPMG LLP, Amanda Spikes leads the operations of the internal export controls and sanctions compliance programs for the United States and Americas region while devising, recommending, and implementing strategies to continuously improve their effectiveness. Prior to her current appointment, Spikes was a senior manager in KPMG’s trade and customs practice

Ed Weaver is an international tax partner at Grant Thornton, based in their Chicago office. He has over 13 years of experience advising multinational clients on international and domestic tax issues. He also serves as an associate board member at Ladder Up, a nonprofit organization that provides free tax return preparation for low-income individuals.

Nina Wieda teaches at Northwestern University in the Chicago Field Studies program, which helps undergraduates explore career options in fields ranging from social justice to business. Since 2016, Wieda has taught Business Field Studies, a class that introduces aspiring investment bankers, financial consultants, and private equity specialists to current topics at the intersection of business and society.

Austin Wright is an associate professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. His research on substate conflict largely focuses on the political economy of insurgent violence, examining how rebel groups adopt new technologies of war to undermine state rivals. He also studies the political economy of crime and corruption.

Abizer Zanzi is the chief of the general crimes unit of the US Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Indiana. He leads investigations and criminal prosecutions involving public corruption, human trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime, health care fraud, and child exploitation, and serves on the district’s public corruption task force and as the human trafficking coordinator.