Emerging Leaders Class of 2021
The Emerging Leaders Class of 2021 spent a year examining key issues that affect the world and impact the global city of Chicago.
Emerging Leaders at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs become part of a network of globally fluent leaders who will continue to raise the bar for Chicago as a leading global city.
Class of 2021
Gender and Adolescent Health Consultant
Suchi Bansal is a gender and adolescent health consultant and previously a senior health research specialist at the Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Ci3) at the University of Chicago. Ci3 is an innovative and interdisciplinary research center aimed at improving the health and well-being of young people in Chicago and across the world.
Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
Barbara Barreno-Paschall was previously a commissioner with the State of Illinois Human Rights Commission following her appointment by Governor JB Pritzker. As a commissioner, she adjudicated complaints of discrimination filed under the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Business Development Manager, Parker Hannifin Corporation
Brandon Bodor serves as a business development manager with Parker Hannifin Corporation, a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. Prior to this role, he held a variety of cross-sector roles focused on national security and national service. From 2012 to 2014, Bodor was appointed by former Governor Pat Quinn to serve as executive director of the Serve Illinois Commission.
Vice President of Business Evolution Strategic Development, AbbVie
Claudia Carravetta is the vice president of business evolution strategic development at AbbVie, a biopharmaceutical company based in North Chicago. In this capacity, she develops and drives public affairs strategies and advances policy solutions to improve access to innovative medicines across Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.
Senior Vice President, Global Head of AML Risk Management Oversight, Citigroup
Ainsley Cathcart is head of global anti-money laundering risk management oversight at Citigroup, where she is a senior vice president and leads a global team responsible for developing innovative strategies to identify and mitigate risks related to financial crimes. Cathcart is a certified anti-money laundering specialist with 10 years of experience at top financial institutions.
Managing Director & Partner, William Blair
Manuel Chavez joined the firm William Blair & Company in 2010 and works in the healthcare group, focusing on pharmaceutical services and outsourced medical device manufacturing sectors. He's passionate about the healthcare industry and works closely with clients in providing strategic advice as they look to achieve their short and long-term objectives.
Partner, Head of Portfolio Services & Impact, Energize Capital
Lauren Densham supports public sector, higher education, and nonprofit clients in evolving their organizational strategy and processes to more effectively achieve their mission and better serve constituents. She has experience supporting leading public and private sector organizations with strategy development, organizational transformation, and sustainability initiatives.
Managing Director, Office of the General Counsel, Strategy & Operations, BMO Financial Group
Kay Fillingham is a managing director at BMO Financial Group, where she oversees the delivery of treasury products to clients in specialty industries, including Canadian cannabis entities, money services businesses, third-party payment processors, and virtual currency exchanges. Previously, she served in a range of national security, intelligence, and policy roles in the US government.
Founder & Principal Strategist, Remnant Strategy
Joi Freeman is the founder of Remnant Strategy consultancy where she works at the intersection of culture and commerce to help businesses navigate the ever-evolving global terrain. As a strategist, youth culture enthusiast, and advocate for voices of vulnerable populations, Freeman is regarded as a brand “fixer” who connects the dots between corporate strategy, brand marketing, and social impact.
Head of Strategy & Operations, BMO Financial Group
In her former role at BMO Financial Group as chief of staff, Sonia Gabrielson identified and facilitated business connections for all operating groups, including capital markets, personal and commercial banking, and wealth management. Gabrielson also engages in thought leadership activities to reinforce and expand BMO’s corporate missions.
Chief of Policy, City of Chicago
S. Mayumi "Umi" Grigsby is the chief of policy for the City of Chicago. She's also the chair and a commissioner on the Cook County Human Rights Commission and serves on the board of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. Previously, she was chief of staff at the Chicago Foundation for Women and the chief of policy and advocacy for the Office of the City Clerk of Chicago, under City Clerk Anna Valencia.
Manager, Programs of Scale, Rotary International
Rachel Hermes manages programs of scale at Rotary International. Rotary is a worldwide organization comprised of 1.2 million business and professional leaders that promote local community initiatives with global action. In her role, she leads Rotary’s five-year global grant model evaluation to understand the effectiveness of the estimated $80 million of grants awarded annually.
Vice President, Hydrogen and Low Carbon Fuels, Invenergy
In his previous role at engineering consulting firm Sargent & Lundy, Jon Horek advised clients and delivered projects in the electric utility, gas utility, heavy industry, institutional, and commercial building sectors. He broadly focuses his work on three trends transforming global energy infrastructure—efficiency, decarbonization, and resiliency.
Managing Director, Philanthropy, UNICEF USA
Beth McCostlin partners with philanthropists, their families, and UNICEF colleagues to pursue a better world for every child. Based in Chicago, she leads engagement across the Midwest to connect supporters with global impact. Before UNICEF USA, she worked in development at the Joffrey Ballet and served as a US Army Reserve Public Affairs Officer, including a deployment to Baghdad, Iraq.
Assistant United States Attorney, US Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois
Paul Mower is an assistant United States attorney in the violent crimes section of the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, where he prosecutes federal crimes involving gang violence, racketeering, illegal firearms, and narcotics. He is also a major-select in the US Marine Corps Reserve, where he serves as a civil affairs officer and civil-military operations planner.
Fractional Vice President of Strategy, HData
In her last role at Accenture, Allison Myers focused internally on Accenture’s efforts to grow and evolve its North American business. Previously, Myers was in a client-facing role within Accenture Strategy, focusing on energy, mobility, and built environment sectors, helping clients develop new strategies to solve challenges and opportunities related to new and emerging business models or technologies.
M&A Partner, Strategy and Transactions, Ernst & Young Parthenon
Chris Myers is a Chicago-based businessman, military officer, community servant, investor, and political activist. He's a partner in Ernst & Young’s merger and acquisition (M&A) consulting practice, where he specializes in international M&A transactions. He is also an officer in the United States Navy Reserves, where he currently supports Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25.
Director, Legislative Affairs and Policy; Commissioner, Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes, Illinois Department of Human Rights
Before joining Illinois' Department of Human Rights, Jason Rosensweig was assistant director for advocacy and international affairs at the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a global Jewish advocacy organization. He handled AJC's political advocacy, visiting dignitaries like ambassadors, and working with elected officials, community partners, and consuls general of the Chicago Diplomatic Corps.
Partner, Sidley Austin LLP
Kendra Stead has extensive experience in every phase of litigation and typically represents companies and professional services firms in commercial disputes, securities litigation, and professional liability actions. She counsels corporate clients regarding their contractual rights and obligations and regularly pursues and defends large-scale contract disputes.
Chief of Staff, Crime and Education Labs, University of Chicago
Meredith Stricker is also a senior fellow at The Soufan Center, a think tank focused on global security and emerging threats. She previously served as the founding executive director and led the organization’s research team and speaker series, building on years of experience with counter-terrorism and other security matters.
Chief of Staff, Chicago State University
As the senior advisor to President Zaldwaynaka Scott, Kim H. Tran facilitates critical processes and manages an array of issues in areas across the university such as academic affairs, budget, external affairs, foundation development, human resources, and risk management.