With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Hassen Al-Shawaf advises BMO Financial Group (BMOFG) on a range of tax matters, including cross-border and related-party transactions, financial products, corporate reorganizations, and acquisitions. He represents BMOFG before the IRS and in transactions with counterparties. Previously, Al-Shawaf practiced tax law at a Chicago-based international law firm and worked at a public accounting firm.
Paul Bauerschmidt serves as the head of technology for digital assets at Millennium Management, a global multi-strategy investment firm. Previously, he led new growth initiatives in OTC markets as executive director of OTC products at the CME Group, owner of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and also held leadership positions in corporate development and technology.
Zachary Brown previously served as a supervisory financial analyst at the US Department of the Treasury, and before that as a principal at Milliman, where he led a team implementing risk management overlay strategies for banks, asset managers, insurance companies, and pension plans. In this role, he was a named portfolio manager on over a dozen mutual funds with over $20 billion in assets.
Daniel Bryant is the former founder and chief executive officer of Sheridan Road Financial, an investment consulting and management company that services middle-market companies and their executives. Before founding Sheridan Road, he was a senior investment banker at several investment banks, including Robertson Stephens in San Francisco and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in Chicago.
With 20 years in financial services, Olga Camargo excels in advising diverse industries on operations, retirement plans, and innovative payroll solutions. Recognized nationally for her leadership in diversity, she's a trusted advisor to growing businesses and policymakers.
Brendan Carroll is a senior partner at Victory Park Capital Advisors (VPC), which he co-founded in 2007, where he's responsible for strategic initiatives and firm operations. He's a frequent speaker at industry conferences, serves on the board of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, and was named a 2023 Notable Leader in Finance by Crain’s Chicago Business.
Ainsley Cathcart is head of global anti-money laundering risk management oversight at Citigroup, where she is a senior vice president and leads a global team responsible for developing innovative strategies to identify and mitigate risks related to financial crimes. Cathcart is a certified anti-money laundering specialist with 10 years of experience at top financial institutions.
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.
Prior to his time at Equator Capital Partners, Paul Christensen was a faculty member of the finance department at Northwestern University and the president and COO of ShoreCap Management, an international private equity company based in London. He also led Shorebank Enterprise Group, an economic development organization in Cleveland, and worked for McKinsey & Company in Pittsburgh.
At Goldman Sachs, Regina Cross leads a team that works closely with family offices, foundations, and endowments to provide customized financial advisory, portfolio optimization solutions across all asset classes, and incorporates impact investing tailored to clients’ missions and values. Previously, Cross was the brand CFO for the US Affiliate Neuroscience Business Unit of Eli Lilly and Company.
