With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Reza Yassari directs the spinal oncology unit at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, in addition to being a professor of neurosurgery and the director of the residency program. He was a fellow at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics and previously taught at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, as faculty in the spine division.
Tracey Yearwood joined enSanity Productions after previously working with the Chicago Urban League, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and various national cable news networks. She produced segments for the Oprah Winfrey Show and was an Ethel Payne Fellow in South Africa in 1998. She has studied in Italy and earned her BS in communications from Northwestern University.
Melissa Zaikos co-founded Intrinsic Schools in 2013. Previously, as chief of elementary schools, Pershing Network for Chicago Public Schools, she oversaw the performance and management of over 100 autonomous schools within the school system. She was also a Broad resident, funded by the Broad Foundation, leading strategic projects at CPS, and a manager for Deloitte Consulting.
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.
Endy Zemenides is the executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), a national Greek-American advocacy organization dedicated to promoting human rights and the rule of law internationally, in addition to building bridges between communities in the United States. Before joining HALC, Zemenides practiced law in Chicago, specializing in municipal law and government relations.
Shawn Zhou is a strategy consultant with a passion for addressing global healthcare needs. In his previous role at Deloitte Consulting, Zhou led projects for multi-national life sciences companies on their R&D, business development, and commercial strategies. Recently, he worked with a pharmaceutical company to improve access to care for patients who struggle to afford medications.
Kristin Ziemke is an educator and the author of Amplify: Digital Teaching and Learning in the K-6 Classroom. Since establishing her own consulting company in 2011, Ziemke has worked with schools around the world to develop learning experiences that redefine school. Recognized as an international expert, she leads teams to develop curriculum that is student-centered, personalized, and authentic.
With over 18 years of experience, Ghanem Zureikat has become a recognized authority in fire and life safety product certification and building inspection services. Zureikat’s industry influence extends beyond his current role as he is actively involved in professional networks and contributes to advancing best practices and shaping industry standards.
