With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Kamran Bajwa specializes in complex international legal matters, particularly in the Middle East and emerging markets. He has advised major international NGOs on intercultural dialogue across the US, Europe, and the Middle East. He's lived in Dubai, Cairo, and Bahrain, and has worked in over 20 countries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Caralynn Collens previously served as executive director and COO of UI LABS, where she led the entire research and commercialization initiative, including the $320 million Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute. Before that, she was associate vice president for innovation and economic development at the University of Illinois.
Before working at KittyHawk, Lincoln S. Ellis led Green Square's strategy and business development practices and headed the firm's Chicago branch, Green Square's first office outside of Memphis. He created Columbia University's Columbia International Affairs Online (ciaonet.org), one of the first and most comprehensive databases for theory and research in economics and international affairs.
Aileen Furlong Caffrey leads premier programs and global air partnerships at Southwest Airlines. Previously, while under her leadership at United Airlines, Mileage Plus was named Best Elite-Level Program in the Americas for the second straight year at the Frequent Traveler Awards, as well as Best Frequent Flyer Program by Global Traveler magazine.
Before joining Boeing, Anthony P. Garcia was with the US Department of Justice. His last assignment was to the gangs and narcotics section in the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois. He also served as the US Department of Justice attaché assigned to the US embassy in Mexico City, Mexico, and worked in the Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs.
Jamie Jones works with students, alumni, and members of the community to apply business principles for positive societal and/or environmental impact. Before her time at Duke, she was at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where she launched the Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge and co-hosted the Impact Investing Summit.
Seth Kravitz is the former co-founder of Technori, a publication that celebrates entrepreneurship, and Bow Truss, a premium coffee roasting company. After falling in love with the Chicago entrepreneur community, Kravitz started mentoring at the Coleman Center at DePaul University, the Knapp Center at IIT, Excelerate Labs, and Code Academy.
William Krehbiel is the founder and CEO of Topography Hospitality, LLC, and co-managing partner of Ballyfin Demesne, a luxury hotel in Ireland. He previously founded and led A Better Chicago, a venture philanthropy fund supporting high-impact nonprofits serving low-income communities.
Nate Laurell is the former CEO of The Fresh Factory and current board chair, advising the company on all aspects related to continued growth and high-level strategic considerations. He has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, having founded and sold several companies in the finance, energy, and food industries.
Emilia Lopez is the former vice president in the strategy group at CapitalOne, based in the McLean office. She worked to support CapitalOne's lines of business in critical strategic efforts. Before joining CapitalOne, Lopez was a principal with The Boston Consulting Group in Chicago.
