Chicago Ideas is a nonprofit platform built on one core belief

When audiences of every background have the same access to thought leaders and innovative ideas – people have the power to spark change in the world.

Who are our thought leaders? We thought you'd never ask.

Paul "DJ White Shadow" Blair

Luis Ahn

Fawzia Mirza

Ramesh Srinivasan

Margaret Gould Stewart

Tim Ferriss

Shradha Agarwal

Bashir Salahuddin

Radha Agrawal

Edward Norton

Nick Kokonas

Massimo Lepore

Shannon Watts

Colin Powell

Shane Battier

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot

Dick Costolo

LeVar Burton

Charlamagne Tha God

Jose Antonio Vargas

Janet Comenos

Jamie Metzl

Brandon Boyd

Hillary Sale

Francoise Baylis

Emily Bear

Rahm Emanuel

Helene Gayle

Cedric Alexander

Bing Gordon

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson PhD

Liz Phair

Brian Wallach

Yusef Salaam

David Lynch

Cameron Esposito

Alec Baldwin

Bryan Cranston

Questlove

S.E. Cupp

Chicago Ideas is a nonprofit platform built on one core belief:

Chicago Ideas is a nonprofit platform built on one core belief

When audiences of every background have the same access to thought leaders and innovative ideas – people have the power to spark change in the world.

About the Organization

About the People

Who are our thought leaders? We thought you’d never ask.

Chuck Salter

Deborah Douglas

Anne-Marie Slaughter

Steve Edwards

Stephanie Gosk

Adam Benforado

Dorri McWhorter

Peggy Kusinski

Brandis Friedman

Neil Stevenson

Phylicia Rashad

Monica Eng

Kevin Pang

Kavita Shukla

Mellody Hobson

Eric Becker

Jessica Wohl

Rachel Bronson

Andee Harris

Gretchen Carlson

Anne Thompson

Kelly Grier

Ally Love

Jessica Clemons

Michael Arndt

Charles Duhigg

Bethany McLean

Dan Abrams

Karen Jordan

Amanda Seales

Desiree Rogers

Sonny Garg

Melissa Clark

Heidi Stevens

Cindy Mori

Meredith Stricker

Jane Harman

Molly Wood

Eve Ewing

Jay Smooth

Jessica Yellin

Kelly Leonard

Mark Caro

Carolina Sarassa

Brian Babylon

Poppy Harlow

Jud Snyder

Keisha Howard

Dustin Yellin

Jessica Grose

Odette Yousef

Paris Schutz

Eddie Aruzza

Maryam Saleh

David Gregory

Laura Desmond

Louisa Chu

Debbie Millman

Anil Dash

Linda Lutton

Jamil Smith

Mats Lederhausen

Val Warner

Kate Sullivan

Barbara Starr

Katherine Lanpher

Francis Slakey

Bob Morgan

Michal Lev-Ram

Myra Greene

Linda Cohn

Anne Munition

Ben Johnson

Michael Slaby

Ali Velshi

Mick Dumke

Jon Greenberg

Celeste Headlee

Robin Givhan

Jessica Malkin

Andrew Barber

Jason Henrichs

Kate Grossman

Gigi Pritzker

Laura Washington

Sandee Kastrul

Campbell Brown

David Brancaccio

Valerie Lies

Geoff Brigham

Carol Coletta

Dave Holmes

Ana Belaval

Kelly Rizzo

Cheryl Corley

Jenan Mohajir

Touré

Padma Lakshmi

Felicia Lawrence

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The History of Slavery in Objects

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Helene D. Gayle on the History of Chicago's Wealth Gap

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Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Focuses on Finding Solutions for Ocean Conservation

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Pete Holmes Explores the Meaning of Life

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Bring Your Imagination to Life

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Hebru Brantley on the Story Behind Nevermore

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Xavier Ramey Sits Down with Charlamagne Tha God to Talk Black Men & Mental Health

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Xavier Ramey Sits Down with Charlamagne Tha God to Talk Black Men & Mental Health

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Howard Schultz on His Potential 2020 Run

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Former Starbucks Chairman & CEO Shares His Thoughts on What Happened in Philadelphia

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Howard Schultz on the State of Our Nation

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