With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Brian T. Edwards is currently the dean of Tulane University's School of Liberal Arts, the largest of the university's nine schools, encompassing 35 departments and programs in the social sciences, humanities, fine and performing arts. Previously, he was the director of the Middle East and North African studies program at Northwestern University.
Previously, Zach Egan was president, CIO, and fund manager at Columbia Wanger Asset Management, a globally recognized leader in small and mid-cap equities with peak assets under management exceeding $40 billion.
Josh Ellis founded SUM, a company that creates restorative outdoor experiences for groups throughout Chicagoland—from staff retreats to wellness outings and beyond. By offering safe, inclusive, and welcoming experiences, SUM helps people pause, connect, and recharge—while also making nature more accessible and enjoyable for those often marginalized in outdoor spaces.
Before working at KittyHawk, Lincoln S. Ellis led Green Square's strategy and business development practices and headed the firm's Chicago branch, Green Square's first office outside of Memphis. He created Columbia University's Columbia International Affairs Online (ciaonet.org), one of the first and most comprehensive databases for theory and research in economics and international affairs.
Christian W. Fabian is a corporate lawyer who focuses on cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He has led M&A transactions involving Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Russia, Mongolia, Germany, Latin America, and China, among others. He formerly worked at Mayer Brown as part of a core group of M&A partners responsible for maintaining the excellence of the firm's global M&A practice.
Joshua (J.P.) Fairbank is a co-founder of Nymirum and has sat at the intersection of entrepreneurship and investments for two decades. He's an adjunct assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he also received his MBA.
Alicia Farag is the co-founder and president of Locusview, which provides mobile and geospatial technologies to support integrity management, regulatory compliance, and cost reductions for the natural gas industry. Previously, they worked at the Gas Technology Institute, where they were responsible for the development and commercialization of mobile and geospatial technologies.
Ryan Farrell is a consultant at Edelman, the global communications firm. He advises senior clients at Fortune 500 companies, international NGOs and nonprofits on corporate positioning, narrative and messaging.
Previously, Mark Fastabend was the general manager at a foodservice equipment division within the Marmon Group. He's spent his career building businesses around innovative solutions that meet the needs of the global market, ranging from medical devices to food and beverages. Specializing in new product development, Fastabend led a team working to grow conceptual ideas into commercialized businesses.
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.
