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.

Jamil Smith

Sonny Garg

Laura Desmond

Anil Dash

Dustin Yellin

Michael Arndt

Rachel Bronson

Shannon Heffernan

Eric Becker

Kelly Grier

Michael Slaby

Jane Harman

Eddie Aruzza

Jon Greenberg

Celeste Headlee

Mick Dumke

Mellody Hobson

Carolina Sarassa

Jessica Malkin

Francis Slakey

Charles Duhigg

Mark Caro

Richard Stengel

Andee Harris

Chuck Salter

Brandis Friedman

Cheryl Corley

Bethany McLean

Phylicia Rashad

Janet Bodnar

Adam Benforado

Jenan Mohajir

Desiree Rogers

Katherine Lanpher

Lola Wright

Stephanie Gosk

David Gregory

Keisha Howard

Amanda Seales

Odette Yousef

Jason Henrichs

Linda Lutton

Deborah Douglas

Tom Brokaw

Poppy Harlow

Mats Lederhausen

Laura Washington

Geoff Brigham

Kate Grossman

David Brancaccio

Kelly Rizzo

Cindy Mori

Maryam Saleh

Bobby Ghosh

Anne Munition

Lin Brehmer

Karen Jordan

Bob Morgan

Valerie Lies

Dan Abrams

Felicia Lawrence

Michal Lev-Ram

Heidi Stevens

Kelly Leonard

Jessica Clemons

Melissa Clark

Louisa Chu

Eve Ewing

Linda Cohn

Terri Hemmert

Padma Lakshmi

Debbie Millman

Paris Schutz

Sandee Kastrul

Jessica Grose

Soledad O'Brien

Ally Love

Meredith Stricker

Kavita Shukla

Dave Holmes

Campbell Brown

Anne-Marie Slaughter

Brian Babylon

Carol Coletta

Andrew Barber

Dorri McWhorter

Tricia Eck

Gretchen Carlson

Anne Thompson

Ben Johnson

Ana Belaval

Barbara Starr

Neil Stevenson

Ted Fishman

Jessica Yellin

Gigi Pritzker

Robin Givhan

Jay Smooth

Peggy Kusinski

Ji Suk Yi

Recent Ideas

Forehead, Smile, Eyebrow, Eyelash, Jaw, Ear, Neck, Happy, Black hair, Houseplant

Extremely Online: A Conversation About the World of Gaming

Business and Finance

Skyscraper, World, Building, Natural environment, Font, Tower block, Horizon, Landmark, City, Poster

It Takes a Community: Building Opportunity Through Inclusion

Business and Finance

Face, Smile, Bookcase, Shelf, Tie, Shelving, Yellow, Publication, Book, Font

Anthony Fauci: The Man Behind the Medicine

Forehead, Smile, Chin, Jaw, Beard, Gesture, Font, Screenshot, Technology, Multimedia

Looking for the Perfect Beat with DJ White Shadow and Evan Ross

Forehead, Glasses, Head, Chin, Hairstyle, Photograph, Facial expression, Vision care, Eyewear, Human

How Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle Broke into Comedy

Forehead, Nose, Smile, Cheek, Skin, Glasses, Chin, Eyebrow, Mouth, Yellow

Jia Tolentino and Shea Serrano on Writing, the "Fast and Furious" Franchise, and Parenthood

Smile, Face, Hair, Head, Chin, Photograph, Facial expression, Product, Yellow, Coat

Revitalizing Tourism in Chicago After COVID-19

Forehead, Nose, Glasses, Head, Chin, Eyebrow, Photograph, Mouth, Jaw, Vision care

Chicago's Art Scene Faces a Reckoning

Forehead, Face, Hair, Head, Chin, Photograph, Facial expression, Human, Smile, Jaw

Exploring Equitable Change in Chicago

Business and Finance

Hair, Forehead, Face, Nose, Cheek, Head, Chin, Hairstyle, Smile, Eyebrow

Exploring the Systemic Injustice of Period Poverty

Business and Finance

Forehead, Hair, Face, Nose, Chin, Eyebrow, Hairstyle, Mouth, Photograph, Eye

Innovating Health Solutions to COVID-19

Forehead, Nose, Glasses, Skin, Smile, Chin, Vision care, Eyelash, Yellow, Iris

Sam Irby on Quarantine and Comedy

Face, Forehead, Smile, Nose, Head, Chin, Eyebrow, Photograph, Facial expression, Human

Restaurants, Theaters, Festivals, and Covid-19

Business and Finance

Forehead, Glasses, Chin, Bookcase, Smile, Shelf, Photograph, Vision care, Eyebrow, Book

How Journalism Has Changed the White House

Nose, Smile, Head, Eyebrow, Vision care, Eyewear, Jaw, Yellow, Happy, Eyelash

How to Make Love Work

Personal Growth

Gesture, Sharing, Fun, Event, Smile, White-collar worker, Conversation, Suit, Art, Formal wear

Jason Rosenthal on Loss, Family, and New Beginnings

Personal Growth

Forehead, Smile, Eyebrow, Eyelash, Jaw, Ear, Neck, Happy, Black hair, Houseplant

Extremely Online: A Conversation About the World of Gaming

Business and Finance

Skyscraper, World, Building, Natural environment, Font, Tower block, Horizon, Landmark, City, Poster

It Takes a Community: Building Opportunity Through Inclusion

Business and Finance

Face, Smile, Bookcase, Shelf, Tie, Shelving, Yellow, Publication, Book, Font

Anthony Fauci: The Man Behind the Medicine

Forehead, Smile, Chin, Jaw, Beard, Gesture, Font, Screenshot, Technology, Multimedia

Looking for the Perfect Beat with DJ White Shadow and Evan Ross

Forehead, Glasses, Head, Chin, Hairstyle, Photograph, Facial expression, Vision care, Eyewear, Human

How Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle Broke into Comedy

Forehead, Nose, Smile, Cheek, Skin, Glasses, Chin, Eyebrow, Mouth, Yellow

Jia Tolentino and Shea Serrano on Writing, the "Fast and Furious" Franchise, and Parenthood

Smile, Face, Hair, Head, Chin, Photograph, Facial expression, Product, Yellow, Coat

Revitalizing Tourism in Chicago After COVID-19

Forehead, Nose, Glasses, Head, Chin, Eyebrow, Photograph, Mouth, Jaw, Vision care

Chicago's Art Scene Faces a Reckoning

Forehead, Face, Hair, Head, Chin, Photograph, Facial expression, Human, Smile, Jaw

Exploring Equitable Change in Chicago

Business and Finance

Hair, Forehead, Face, Nose, Cheek, Head, Chin, Hairstyle, Smile, Eyebrow

Exploring the Systemic Injustice of Period Poverty

Business and Finance

Forehead, Hair, Face, Nose, Chin, Eyebrow, Hairstyle, Mouth, Photograph, Eye

Innovating Health Solutions to COVID-19

Forehead, Nose, Glasses, Skin, Smile, Chin, Vision care, Eyelash, Yellow, Iris

Sam Irby on Quarantine and Comedy

Face, Forehead, Smile, Nose, Head, Chin, Eyebrow, Photograph, Facial expression, Human

Restaurants, Theaters, Festivals, and Covid-19

Business and Finance

Forehead, Glasses, Chin, Bookcase, Smile, Shelf, Photograph, Vision care, Eyebrow, Book

How Journalism Has Changed the White House

Nose, Smile, Head, Eyebrow, Vision care, Eyewear, Jaw, Yellow, Happy, Eyelash

How to Make Love Work

Personal Growth

Gesture, Sharing, Fun, Event, Smile, White-collar worker, Conversation, Suit, Art, Formal wear

Jason Rosenthal on Loss, Family, and New Beginnings

Personal Growth

Furniture, Product, Blue, World, Curtain, Coat, Interaction, Entertainment, Television program, Spokesperson

Rahm Emanuel on Why Mayors Run the World

Trousers, Microphone, Coat, Yellow, Tie, Suit, Spokesperson, Event, Employment, Job

The History of Black Generational Wealth

Business and Finance

Podium, Microphone, Yellow, Spokesperson, Entertainment, Lectern, Public speaking, Fashion design, Music artist, Smile

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

Business and Finance

Footwear, Shoe, Furniture, Leg, Blue, Fashion, Interaction, Comfort, Red, Chair

The History of Slavery in Objects

Forehead, Glasses, Chin, Microphone, Blue, Fashion, Curtain, Entertainment, Audio equipment, Spokesperson

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

Trousers, Furniture, Leg, Blue, World, Debate, Chair, Spokesperson, Suit, Entertainment

The 1619 Project Contributors Dissect the Ways the Legacy of Slavery Lives On

Podium, Microphone, Blue, Lectern, Entertainment, Yellow, Spokesperson, Public address system, Performing arts, Audio equipment

Nikole Hannah-Jones Addresses the Legacy of Slavery

Trousers, Leg, Chair, Adaptation, Microphone, Event, Suit, Spokesperson, Job, Entertainment

Poverty: It's Time to Take Action

Suit trousers, Shoe, Leg, Human, Tie, Bottle, Water bottle, Coat, Interaction, Suit

Ronan Farrow & Rich McHugh on Exposing Harvey Weinstein

Chair, Cap, Headgear, Entertainment, Event, Baseball cap, Suit, Conversation, Hat, Spokesperson

Vine, but Make an Impact: How Two Early Creators Built Sustainable Careers

Clothing, Smile, Leg, Thigh, Dress, Interaction, Television program, Music artist, Chair, Entertainment

In Conversation: Hannah Hart and Ji Suk Yi

Face, Shoe, Leg, Coat, Human, Black, Chair, Interaction, Spokesperson, Entertainment

YouTube Personality "Lisbug" Sits Down to Chat the Meaning of Influence

Face, Outerwear, Coat, Furniture, Leg, Chair, Human, Interaction, Community, Spokesperson

DeRay McKesson Chats Influence & Impact at Chicago Ideas

Sleeve, Coat, Gesture, Font, Blazer, Automotive design, Spokesperson, Suit, Event, Formal wear

Jason Rosenthal on How to Rediscover Your Purpose

Coat, Sleeve, Suit, Gesture, Font, Tie, Entertainment, Audio equipment, Blazer, Spokesperson

Justice Richard Bernstein on Relentlessly Pursuing His Passion

Leg, Table, Tie, Lighting, Coat, Bottle, Interaction, Entertainment, Performing arts, Event

Yusef Salaam on What He Learned From Adversity

Clothing, Jeans, Trousers, Shoe, Furniture, Blue, Leg, Product, Chair, Lighting

Brian Wallach & Sandra Abrevaya on the Power of Hope

Microphone, Sleeve, Spokesperson, Gesture, Collar, Beard, Audio equipment, Public speaking, Blazer, Public address system

Jason Rosenthal on How to Rediscover Your Purpose

Jeans, Smile, Sleeve, Chair, Font, Fedora, Comfort, Event, Cap, Baseball cap

Brad Keywell on Killing Your Idea for the Better

Shoe, Trousers, Leg, Fashion, Lighting, Entertainment, Chair, Thigh, Sneakers, Boot

How the Cannabis Industry is Changing the Economy

Business and Finance

Hair, Footwear, Shoe, Hairstyle, Leg, Fashion, Thigh, Yellow, Dress, Interaction

Gretchen Carlson Talks About Confronting Your Fears

Personal Growth

Clothing, Shoe, Furniture, Leg, Human, Coat, Bottle, Water bottle, Entertainment, Chair

Mark Pincus and Bing Gordon on Reinvention

Personal Growth

Face, Head, Furniture, Smile, Leg, Product, Fashion, Bottle, Interaction, Water bottle

Kat Cole on What Makes a Leader

Personal Growth

Head, Trousers, Hand, Arm, Microphone, Gesture, Dress shirt, Chair, Social group, Spokesperson

Jeremy Zimmer and Kareem "Biggs" Burke on Challenging the Status Quo

Personal Growth

Shoe, Furniture, Tie, Chair, Entertainment, Youth, Event, Spokesperson, Suit, Performing arts

Learning How to Parent in the Digital Age

Clothing, Footwear, Shoe, Furniture, Leg, Fashion, Entertainment, Chair, Interaction, Thigh

Changing the Lens of Representation

Joint, Shoe, Hairstyle, Leg, Coat, Human, Fashion, Bottle, Water bottle, Interaction

Janet Comenos and Changing Cancel Culture

Business and Finance

Face, Shoe, Furniture, Leg, Coat, Bottle, Human, Fashion, Tie, Interaction

Hillary Sale on Corporate Responsibility

Business and Finance

Glasses, Hand, Shoulder, Human body, Sleeve, Standing, Gesture, Audio equipment, Gadget, Technology

Ryan Craig Asks: Is College Worth It?

Business and Finance

Shoe, Trousers, Leg, Furniture, Coat, Performing arts, Suit, Entertainment, Thigh, Spokesperson

Adapting Your Approach to Accomplish Your Mission

Footwear, Shoe, Coat, Fashion, Human, Bottle, Table, Water bottle, Spokesperson, Suit

Daley Ervin on How to Ask for Money

Business and Finance

Furniture, Shoe, Leg, Fashion, Entertainment, Smile, Table, Lighting, Tartan, Performing arts

The Strength Saeed Jones Found in a Hard Childhood

Personal Growth

Shoe, Furniture, Smile, Leg, Human, Black, Fashion, Flash photography, Thigh, Style

How Liz Phair Uses Her Truth to Answer Life's Big Questions

Trousers, Audio equipment, Entertainment, Spokesperson, Event, Music artist, Font, Stage equipment, Performing arts, Formal wear

Transforming Work Through Tech Access and Training

Business and Finance

Footwear, Shoe, Trousers, Jeans, Leg, World, Entertainment, Chair, Font, Event

Exploring the Changing Nature of America's Workforce

Business and Finance

Jeans, Trousers, Smile, Coat, Performing arts, Interaction, Entertainment, Comfort, Suit, White-collar worker

David Kalt on How to Scale Your Business

Business and Finance

Hair, Furniture, Hairstyle, Shoe, Leg, Bottle, Human, Fashion, Interaction, Entertainment

What Needs to Change Online? Chicago Ideas Youth Weigh In

Microphone, Spokesperson, Audio equipment, Entertainment, Blazer, Music artist, Public speaking, Speech, White-collar worker, Event

Explore the Relationship of Data and the Internet with Ramesh Srinivasan

Business and Finance

Smile, Sleeve, Gesture, Audio equipment, Entertainment, Spokesperson, Event, Formal wear, Speech, Public speaking

How Leadership Can Impact the Tech World

Business and Finance

Furniture, Leg, Organ, Fashion, Bottle, Entertainment, Interaction, Fun, Table, Chair

Dick Costolo and How Algorithms Changed Twitter

Business and Finance

Chair, Font, Entertainment, Display device, Suit, Event, Projection screen, Stage, Stage equipment, Advertising

How Covering the White House has Changed in 2019

Furniture, Leg, Coat, Performing arts, Entertainment, Tie, Interaction, Table, Water bottle, Event

Why Helene Gayle Believes We Need to Invest in Communities

Microphone, Public address system, Musician, Audio equipment, Music, Music artist, Entertainment, Microphone stand, Performing arts, Idiophone

Why Helene Gayle Believes We Need to Invest in Communities

Face, Trousers, Furniture, Product, Microphone, Interaction, Chair, Spokesperson, Coffee table, Event

JD Vance on the Factors that Shape Our Identities

Personal Growth

Face, Shoe, Smile, Leg, Bottle, Table, Coat, Performing arts, Entertainment, Water bottle

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot Talk about "Gutsy Women"

Personal Growth

Furniture, Bottle, Entertainment, Chair, Table, Water bottle, Event, Sitting, Job, Tie

READI Chicago's Reality Allah on Violence, Trauma, and Redemption in Chicago

Personal Growth

Furniture, Leg, Bottle, Coat, Yellow, Entertainment, Tie, Table, Spokesperson, Water bottle

Richard Edelman on the Social Responsibility of Leaders

Clothing, Hair, Joint, Head, Smile, Shoe, Furniture, Leg, Blue, Bottle

Cleo Wade on Expressing Activism Your Way

Hair, Hairstyle, Furniture, Leg, Human, Fashion, Bottle, Dress, Interaction, Thigh

Shannon Watts Wants You to Raise Your Voice

Shoe, Leg, Bottle, Human, Coat, Table, Yellow, Sunglasses, Water bottle, Thigh

Jose Antonio Vargas on Immigration Law Reformation

Hand, Human, Sleeve, Lighting, Entertainment, Gesture, Music artist, Music, Performing arts, Spokesperson

Suzanne Muchin on How to Perfect Your Pitch

Fashion, Chair, Comfort, Red, Thigh, Event, Eyewear, Entertainment, Fashion design, Conversation

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Focuses on Finding Solutions for Ocean Conservation

Fashion, Street fashion, Fashion design, Eyewear, Event, Formal wear, Electric blue, Waist, Entertainment, Jewellery

The New Ethics of Biogenetics According to Francoise Baylis

World, Gadget, Font, Audio equipment, Technology, Stage equipment, Stage, Event, Electronic device, Entertainment

Dustin Yellin and Culture as Our Greatest Hope

Glasses, Hand, Microphone, Coat, Laptop, Gesture, Audio equipment, Spokesperson, Computer, Suit

Designing for a Sustainable Future

Bina Venkataraman Sees Hope in the Future

Glasses, Hand, Vision care, Sleeve, Purple, Gesture, Eyewear, Fashion design, Stole, Jewellery

The New Ethics of Biogenetics According to Francoise Baylis

Hairstyle, Shoe, Furniture, Leg, Table, Fashion, Comfort, Entertainment, Eyewear, Coffee table

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Focuses on Finding Solutions for Ocean Conservation

Entertainment, Spokesperson, Audio equipment, Public speaking, Speech, Event, Technology, Tie, Fashion design, Job

Jamie Metzl on Evolution of Technology

Trousers, Jeans, Smile, Coat, World, Chair, Spokesperson, Font, Suit, Sharing

Jose Antonio Vargas Explores What Immigration "Looks Like" Today

Footwear, Shoe, Coat, Product, World, Human, Chair, Interaction, Social group, Community

An Exploration of the Trump Administration's Impact on Immigration

Microphone, Chair, Gesture, Spokesperson, Suit, Event, Hearing, Speech, Jewellery, Conversation

In Conversation: Martha Minow & Newt Minow

Leg, Product, Human, Chair, Fashion, Bottle, Entertainment, Interaction, Television program, Spokesperson

How America's Shrinking Middle Class Will Affect the Economy

Business and Finance

Footwear, Trousers, Shoe, Furniture, Leg, Human, Entertainment, Chair, Performing arts, Interaction

Pete Holmes Explores the Meaning of Life

Clothing, Face, Shoe, Furniture, Leg, Human, Bottle, Fashion, Lighting, Interaction

David Lynch on Transcendental Meditation

Personal Growth

White, Light, Chair, Lighting, Font, Entertainment, Event, Performing arts, Display device, Shorts

Bring Your Imagination to Life

Face, Trousers, Shoe, Furniture, Chair, Interaction, Entertainment, Hat, Performing arts, Music artist

Bashir Salahuddin on Chicago's Creative Scene

Clothing, Shoe, Furniture, Leg, Fashion, Chair, Sneakers, Entertainment, Event, Baseball cap

Hebru Brantley on the Story Behind Nevermore

Footwear, Jeans, Trousers, Shoe, Leg, Chair, Fashion, Entertainment, Performing arts, Sneakers

Listening Between the Lines

Trousers, Furniture, Entertainment, Performing arts, Font, Stage, Spokesperson, Event, Coffee table, Fashion design

Curing Cancer with the First Gene

Collar, Audio equipment, Spokesperson, Blazer, Suit, Entertainment, Event, Public speaking, Speech, Public address system

The Power of Your Gene Sequence

Cheek, Gesture, Spokesperson, Audio equipment, Entertainment, Event, Font, Speech, Public speaking, Conversation

How Public Health Focuses on Empathy

Spokesperson, Bottle, Blazer, Font, Event, White-collar worker, Formal wear, Suit, Chair, Speech

John Carreyrou on Theranos as Silicon Valley Cautionary Tale

Hair, Trousers, Shirt, Chair, Purple, Performing arts, Entertainment, Event, Music, Curtain

Do What Feels Good: Q&A with Hannah Bronfman

Shirt, T-shirt, Entertainment, Microphone, Audio equipment, Font, Technology, Music artist, Electronic device, Event

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

Personal Growth

Microphone, Glasses, Public address system, Black, Musician, Music artist, Black-and-white, Style, Music, Audio equipment

What Is Love, Really?

Personal Growth

Microphone, Gesture, Font, Public address system, Spokesperson, Event, T-shirt, Elbow, Entertainment, Audio equipment

Do We Really Know the Truth about Men?

Personal Growth

Face, Jeans, Shirt, Music artist, Interaction, Font, Entertainment, Chair, T-shirt, Audio equipment

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

Personal Growth

Arm, Watch, Microphone, Gesture, Audio equipment, Finger, Performing arts, Entertainment, Spokesperson, Music artist

Full Talk: What Does It Mean To Be a Black Man Today?

Personal Growth

Blue, Curtain, Chair, Spokesperson, Entertainment, Public address system, Public speaking, Suit, Event, Stage equipment

Howard Schultz Sits Down with Mellody Hobson to Talk About What's Next

World, Coat, Suit, Curtain, Spokesperson, Audio equipment, Stage equipment, Microphone, Event, Speech

Of the People, For the People, We the People

Chin, Smile, Coat, Muscle, Dress shirt, Tie, Gesture, Suit, Audio equipment, Spokesperson

Howard Schultz on His Potential 2020 Run

Clothing, Shoe, Furniture, World, Blue, Leg, Television program, Television presenter, Entertainment, Interaction

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

Suit trousers, Trousers, Property, Furniture, Watch, Product, Tie, Spokesperson, Blazer, Suit

Howard Schultz on the State of Our Nation

Chicago Ideas Partners

Chicago Ideas is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, who ensure that ideas truly are for everyone.

Stay in the (west) loop

Get our newsletter