With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Veronica Glick is a partner in Mayer Brown LLP’s National Security and Cybersecurity practices, where she advises global institutions on responding to cyber-attacks and the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Previously, she represented the State Department at the White House National Security Council's response group for global cyber incidents.
Matthew Halek is a public servant and national security leader who served as a Special Advisor for Innovation in the Pentagon. Working at the intersection of defense, technology, and congressional politics, he was the chief legislative strategist for department-wide efforts to catalyze American innovation in support of US national security.
Tony Hayes serves as vice president at IDA Ireland, the Irish Government's inward economic development agency. Based in Chicago, he works across the Midwestern and Southern regions to identify and secure industrial-related foreign direct investment as well as act as a trusted advisor to a wide base of existing clients.
Melissa Kessler is a regulatory and scientific affairs professional with nearly 20 years of experience ensuring compliance for cosmetics, food, feed, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs. She works at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) as the global director of regulatory affairs, where she leads key nutrition and food science policy strategies and advocacy at the global, federal, and state levels.
Loukas Kozonis is an attorney, CPA, and civic leader bridging law, business, and public service. He's the founding partner of Kozonis Law, Ltd., a boutique law firm focused on real estate, corporate governance, and tax matters. He also serves as a director of a Chicago-based real estate firm that owns and manages retail and mixed-use properties throughout the Midwest, among other roles.
Marc Lacher is a managing director and wealth advisor with William Blair’s private wealth management group. He leads a team that provides bespoke financial planning and investment management services to high-net-worth, multinational, and global-oriented investors. He works to leverage the firm’s resources to implement asset allocation strategies that meet clients’ complex multigenerational needs.
Flavia Lorenzon, the Council's 2026 Hart Fellow, works to support countries and territories in strengthening social protection systems and building equitable, people-centered emergency preparedness and response. With over a decade of experience, she has worked with UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Paulina Muñoz is a senior assistant general counsel with Chicago Public Schools' legal department, where she negotiates and advises complex legal and policy matters that support the district's mission to provide equitable, student-centered public education. She previously researched international criminal law, focused on accountability and global legal institutions.
Lauren Ostrowski is a global nonprofit leader with more than 20 years of experience in international programs, higher education administration, and organizational strategy. As Associate Vice President for Global Academic Administration at IES Abroad—one of the world’s leading nonprofit study abroad organizations—she oversees academic programs across a portfolio of international centers.
Before his role as executive director, Brian Peckrill served as the fellows’ program director, where he was responsible for designing and implementing forward-thinking, ethics-focused experiences for top MBA students, as well as fostering an active and engaged alumni community of young business leaders as they embark on and manage their careers.
