Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) has selected Sherine E. Gabriel, MD, MSc, Rush University president, and 24 other C-level and senior executives for the second cohort of the Daniel Burnham Fellowship.
The fellowship, an accelerated civic onboarding experience for top executives new to Chicago or new to their role, is designed to inspire these leaders to mobilize and exert their combined influence and intellect to positively impact Chicago, its future and the continued economic progress of the region.
“I’m honored to be part of the Daniel Burnham Fellowship, and I look forward to collaborating with these fantastic Chicago leaders to drive change in our communities,” Dr. Gabriel said.
Through cross-industry learning and connections with renowned speakers and peers, the Daniel Burnham Fellowship participants leave with broadened perspectives and strategic opportunities that would otherwise remain unrealized.
The influential cohort of senior executives come from diverse industries and backgrounds in greater Chicago. “They will immerse themselves in an exclusive experience providing a deeper understanding of our region, its networks and the business community,” said Maria Wynne, Leadership Greater Chicago CEO and founding Daniel Burnham fellow. “We arm these leaders with the opportunities to connect and explore key issues affecting our region.”
By the year 2030, Chicago is projected to become the next megacity in the U.S., defined by a population of 10 million.
"In recognizing the changing landscape of Chicago’s civic infrastructure, we developed an opportunity for high level executives to connect with one another and explore key issues that affect the framework of our city, impact businesses and our communities," said Connie L. Lindsey, LGC board president and executive vice president and head of corporate social responsibility and global diversity and inclusion for Northern Trust.
On January 30, participants began the six-session series; topics include the history of Chicago through the lens of urban planning, the region’s workforce forecast, the building of strategic partnerships for economic development and innovative solutions to build an inclusive Chicago. Ultimately the call to action for these leaders is to drive and impact transformative change to make it possible for Chicago to reach its full potential.
In addition to Dr. Gabriel, the other executives participating in this cohort include:
- Josh Earnest, senior vice president and chief communications officer, United Airlines
- Jean Franczyk, president and CEO, Chicago Botanic Garden
- Dr. Helene Gayle, president and CEO, The Chicago Community Trust
- Verónica Gómez, senior vice president, regulatory and energy policy and general counsel, ComEd
- Michael Gonda, vice president, global communications, McDonald's Corp.
- José Ramón González, executive vice president and general counsel, CNA Insurance
- Barry Greenhouse, senior vice president and president, global supply chain and customer experience, W.W. Grainger, Inc.
- Steve Hamman, president, BCBSIL
- Teresa Harmon, managing partner, Chicago office, Sidley Austin LLP
- Brad Henderson, CEO, P33
- Greg Hughes, president, North America, Beam Suntory, Inc.
- Samir Mayekar, deputy mayor for economic and neighborhood development, City of Chicago
- Cindy Moelis, president, Pritzker Traubert Foundation
- Tracie Morris, chief human resources and inclusion officer, N.A., BMO
- Sam Nicita, executive vice president and chief information officer, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
- Lynn Osmond, president and CEO, Chicago Architecture Center
- John Palfrey, president, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Stephanie Platz, managing director, programs, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Doug Rose, executive vice president and chief human resources officer, First Midwest Bancorp
- John Russick, senior vice president, Chicago History Museum
- Judy Toland, vice president, head of scaled solutions, global business marketing, Facebook
- Roopa Weber, chief marketing officer, Ariel Investments
- Denis Weil, dean, Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Amy Yuhn, U.S. chief marketing officer, CIBC
The Daniel Burnham Fellowship is the latest addition to a portfolio that fulfills Leadership Greater Chicago’s longstanding mission to convene, connect and mobilize the region’s most promising leaders around key socioeconomic issues through dynamic education and experiences. This is the second cohort of the Daniel Burnham Fellowship, which launched in 2019. The inaugural fellowship included C-level executives from PwC, United Way of Metro Chicago, United Airlines, Advocate Christ Medical Center, AON and Lincoln Park Zoo.
About Leadership Greater Chicago
Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) is the region’s premier civic leadership development organization. LGC convenes, connects and mobilizes the area’s most promising leaders around key socioeconomic issues through dynamic education and experiential activities. These diverse individuals represent the most prominent corporate, nonprofit, government, and education organizations.