With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Elizabeth Andrews has lived and worked across Africa, Asia, and Europe for the past 15 years representing award-winning newsrooms, startups, international nonprofits, and the United Nations. Currently, she's building and leading philanthropic strategy and partnership work at mHUB, a Chicago-based innovation center focusing on climate tech, med tech, and sustainable manufacturing.
At Trident DMG, Logan Booth provides multi-disciplinary counsel on business-critical issues at the intersection of law, policy, and commerce. In addition to his civilian career, he's an officer in the US Navy Reserve serving in the intelligence and public affairs communities, and he's licensed to practice law in both Illinois and New York.
Shaska Chirinos helps cover PRI’s United States market and works closely with many of the world’s leading investors to guide the development of their responsible investment programs. Additionally, she is a Sustainability Accounting Standards Board FSA Credential Holder and serves on the strategic asset management committee at the International Water Association.
Dion Dawson is the founder and chief dreamer of Dion’s Chicago Dream, a nonprofit social enterprise combating food insecurity through logistics and last-mile delivery in the Midwest. His system has provided millions of pounds of fresh produce annually to food-insecure recipients in the Chicago region, with numerous community jobs created through one powerful movement.
In addition to managing regional staff at the Federal Executive Boards, Edgar Delgado is responsible for uniting top federal executives within the region, providing platforms for leaders to unite under a shared vision of government service that's efficient, collaborative, and community-focused. He's a United States Air Force (USAF) veteran where he deployed numerous times.
Johannes Favi is a committed community and human rights advocate. As deputy director of the Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants (ICDI), he oversees strategic planning, fundraising, and development efforts. Favi has played a key role in advocacy for immigrant rights, including efforts that led to the Illinois Way Forward Act abolishing immigrant detention centers in Illinois.
Upon graduating from Benito Juarez Community Academy, Aida Flores was awarded a Gates Millennium Scholarship. She graduated from Georgetown University, earned a master’s degree in teaching from National-Louis University, and a second master’s in school leadership from Harvard University. She went on to help found the first dual language college prep school in Massachusetts.
As a visionary cultural strategist and global operator, Anas Ghazi has expanded firms across six continents, launched 22 pioneering data partnerships, and generated over $1 billion in revenue through digital transformation and AI-driven innovation for major global brands. He's currently an adjunct professor and career chair at Northwestern University’s Master of Science in Communication program.
At the Cook County Land Bank Authority, Kenneth Gilkes Jr. spearheads strategic planning and policy execution to enhance operational efficiency in asset management. Previously, he managed economic development funds for the City of Chicago and oversaw a $1.8 million budget for the U.S. House of Representatives 2nd Congressional District of Illinois.
As the executive director of Project C.U.R.E. Chicago, Katie Hanlon is working to make Project C.U.R.E. the world's largest distributor of donated medical supplies and equipment to under-resourced countries. Hanlon is passionate about empowering and equipping communities, specifically women and children, with the tools needed to build a healthier community, and ultimately, a healthier world.
