With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Dan Misch's work contributes to the innovation ecosystem of world-class laboratories, universities, and businesses in Chicago. He's an advocate for international collaboration and investments in advanced energy technology to strengthen US national security. Previously, Misch served in the US Navy as a Lieutenant and nuclear engineer on a ballistic missile submarine.
Matt Pelton is an audit & assurance (A&A) managing director at Deloitte & Touche LLP and serves as the US A&A sustainability offering leader for the technology, media, and telecommunications industry. He focuses on advising executive teams of multinational companies and investment firms on global regulations, sustainability standards and frameworks, and strategic communications.
As deputy director, Jon Quinn works with donors on the strategy and implementation of their charitable giving. In his time at RPA, he has supported donors' strategies around confronting climate change, worked with a number of foundations’ retooling strategy in post-bankruptcy Detroit, and managed a family foundation’s grantmaking focused on land conservation, among many other projects.
In addition to her role at Safe Rate, Shima Rayej is a managing partner at Persee Ventures, a venture technology firm. She previously served as a venture capital associate at OCA Ventures and a summer associate at Deutsche Bank's structured products group. From 2004 to 2010, she developed autonomous vehicle technology for the US Army's Future Combat System program.
In her role at KPMG LLP, Amanda Spikes leads the operations of the internal export controls and sanctions compliance programs for the United States and Americas region while devising, recommending, and implementing strategies to continuously improve their effectiveness. Prior to her current appointment, Spikes was a senior manager in KPMG’s trade and customs practice
Ed Weaver is an international tax partner at Grant Thornton, based in their Chicago office. He has over 13 years of experience advising multinational clients on international and domestic tax issues. He also serves as an associate board member at Ladder Up, a nonprofit organization that provides free tax return preparation for low-income individuals.
Nina Wieda leads the Chicago Field Studies program at Northwestern University, guiding undergraduates as they explore career paths in fields such as law, business, and public service, while developing as professionals and responsible citizens. Her research focuses on experiential learning and adapting teaching methods to the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence.
Austin Wright is an associate professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. His research on substate conflict largely focuses on the political economy of insurgent violence, examining how rebel groups adopt new technologies of war to undermine state rivals. He also studies the political economy of crime and corruption.
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.
