With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
After nearly 20 years in leadership roles at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), Benjamin Bader now leads the global workplace function for HERE Technologies, managing real estate across nearly 40 countries. Bader shapes and executes HERE's real estate strategy, working closely with key stakeholders to align business needs with financial goals, mitigate risks, and deliver data-driven solutions.
Now at Rivian, Rebecca Delaney was the youngest engineering team leader for the design firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill’s (SOM) sustainable engineering studio. She led multidisciplinary sustainable-engineering teams for projects including the design competition for the world's tallest office tower, a LEED Gold high school for CPS, and a boutique high-rise art museum in New York.
Joshua (J.P.) Fairbank is a co-founder of Nymirum and has sat at the intersection of entrepreneurship and investments for two decades. He's an adjunct assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he also received his MBA.
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.
Christian Hagen has over two decades of consulting experience, specializing in leveraging digital technologies and analytics to optimize supply chains, revolutionize operations, and secure competitive advantages for clients. He's advised many of the world’s largest organizations across multiple industries – including retail, consumer products, high-tech, financial services, and government.
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.
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.
Julia Lane develops and executes growth strategies across the University of Chicago’s science, engineering, and innovation landscape. This includes developing new institutes, building global and domestic partnerships, and working with stakeholders to translate discoveries into impact. She works across sectors including quantum engineering, artificial intelligence, and energy technologies.
Before joining Brooks, Chris Lyons was a vice president and general manager at Prince Castle, a foodservice equipment business within the Marmon Retail Technologies Company. In this role, he led a business focused on developing proprietary technologies for some of the largest global brands in the restaurant industry with an emphasis on automation and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.
Before William Blair, Jim O'Connor worked at MVC Capital as managing director after nine years with Motorola, Inc. He was also a White House Fellow for the US Treasury Department, worked for the Committee on Ways and Means at the US House of Representatives, and was a volunteer teacher in South Africa. He was named one of American Ventures Magazine’s “40 under 40."
