With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Shima Rayej is the co-founder and chief product officer at Safe Rate, an AI-native mortgage technology firm that helps borrowers navigate the complex process of shopping for a mortgage loan. Before Safe Rate, Rayej was the co-founder and managing partner at Persee Ventures, a fintech development firm helping banks, asset managers, and high-growth early-stage companies launch new products.
Maryiam Saifuddin is a strategy-oriented leader in healthcare analytics, passionate about using data to improve member experience and retention. At Centene, she leads a cross-functional team that translates complex insights into strategies that reduce churn and elevate care for more than five million Affordable Care Act members.
Birju Shah teaches and mentors students and executives on how to design, develop, and deploy AI and ML products and platforms. He is also the CEO of Loam, an AI-powered sustainability platform that helps CPG companies transition their supply chains to regenerative agriculture supply chains to accelerate the nation’s longevity plans for sustainable and productive agriculture.
Sean Shelby was previously a vice president at Isobar, a global digital marketing agency, where he partners with clients to create solutions integrating strategy, design, and technology into digital experiences. As a member of the Isobar US management team, he helps lead an agency powered by over 3,000 people in 63 offices across 37 markets.
Roger Shores founded Life 4.0, a consulting endeavor focused on his passion for spreading his proven business philosophies across various well-established start-up and non-profit organizations. He's a leader in Chicago civic and charitable affairs, including as an active member and past board chairman for the Chicago Youth Centers organization.
Kathleen Slingerland leads the regulatory affairs function at Farmless, an innovative company that brews planet-friendly proteins using microorganisms and renewable energy. Throughout her career, Slingerland has leveraged scientific knowledge and policy to advocate for safer and more sustainable food ingredients, chemicals, and materials.
Ted Souder is a former Google insider, former vice chair of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and current board director at 1871, one of the top-rated technology incubators in the world. Today, Souder speaks at events worldwide on the topic of digital transformation and its positive impact on business, community, and life.
