With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Michelle Adeniyi is driven by a simple belief: lasting change in global health begins with listening to communities. As a program officer for global health at Crown Family Philanthropies, she helps shape partnerships that strengthen community health systems and expand equitable access to care.
Chime Asonye is the Founder of Nigerian Mental Health, the country’s largest multidisciplinary community of practitioners, comprising over 50 organizations advancing policy, research, wellness, and disability inclusion. He's worked on US campaigns, including as the regional get-out-the-vote director for the Kamala Harris presidential campaign.
Sarah Boyle currently serves as the deputy director of strategic planning in the Office of the Superintendent at the Chicago Police Department. She is responsible for managing and implementing high-profile projects that include organizational development, increased technology capacity, and strengthening city-wide partnerships.
Kemena Brooks serves as Chief of Staff at the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA). In this role, she supports executive leadership in advancing agency-wide priorities and managing cross-departmental initiatives. She also oversees CHA’s real estate development department, leading efforts to plan, preserve, and deliver affordable and mixed-income housing across the city.
At DT Institute, Abbie Castiglione partners with local communities to build more open, informed, and peaceful societies. She has brought over a decade of experience in strategy, finance, operations, and donor engagement across sectors. Previously, she helped transform a startup into a nationally recognized research and policy center at the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab and Education Lab.
As a global human capital and compliance attorney, Andrew Cockroft delivers workforce solutions to companies worldwide across nearly every major industry. Widely regarded by his peers as a skilled advocate, he has been named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Labor and Employment Litigation for the past five years.
Vikas K. Didwania serves as complex litigation counsel at the Illinois Attorney General's Office. He helps lead the state's efforts to protect Illinoisians from federal overreach. Previously, Vikas served as a Senior Policy Adviser for Criminal Justice at the White House, overseeing criminal justice policy development, implementation, and communication on behalf of the president.
As Ferrara’s sustainability manager, Vanessa Flores Andersen plays a central role in shaping the company’s sustainability vision and transforming it into action. She leads cross-functional initiatives that move the organization toward a more responsible future—while overseeing a multi-million-dollar capital budget for resource-efficiency upgrades across manufacturing sites.
Joe Frost is a team leader and broker with Aon’s Cyber Solutions Technology E&O and Cyber Broking team in Chicago, where he also serves as the Middle Market Leader for the Midwest Region. In this capacity, he manages a team of eight professionals and advises clients on cyber, professional liability, technology, and media risks.
Brian Gill oversees government relations, legislative, and policy agenda at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. Through developing and maintaining key relationships with stakeholders, elected officials, and government agencies, Gill works to influence conservation, operations, funding, economic impact, sustainability, tourism, and other priorities on the local, state, and federal levels.
