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.

Deborah Douglas

Jessica Yellin

Bethany McLean

Myra Greene

Ted Fishman

Adam Benforado

Barbara Starr

Felicia Lawrence

Geoff Brigham

Keisha Howard

David Brancaccio

Stephanie Gosk

Jon Greenberg

Valerie Lies

Kavita Shukla

Laura Washington

Kate Grossman

Mellody Hobson

Jud Snyder

Anne Munition

Meredith Stricker

Shannon Heffernan

Heidi Stevens

Jamil Smith

Jason Henrichs

Nick Turner

Karen Jordan

Terri Hemmert

Eve Ewing

Charles Duhigg

Mark Caro

Ben Johnson

Amanda Seales

Francis Slakey

Melissa Clark

Peggy Kusinski

David Gregory

Michal Lev-Ram

Dave Holmes

Dan Abrams

Robin Givhan

Jessica Grose

Poppy Harlow

Dorri McWhorter

Jessica Clemons

Tom Brokaw

Michael Slaby

Dustin Yellin

Carol Coletta

Louisa Chu

Mats Lederhausen

Mick Dumke

Janet Bodnar

Padma Lakshmi

Ana Belaval

Tricia Eck

Kelly Rizzo

Eddie Aruzza

Paris Schutz

Anil Dash

Laura Desmond

Anne Thompson

Andrew Barber

Odette Yousef

Kelly Leonard

Ali Velshi

Cheryl Corley

Ji Suk Yi

Jane Harman

Jessica Wohl

Kelly Grier

Carolina Sarassa

Ally Love

Linda Cohn

Debbie Millman

Phylicia Rashad

Kate Sullivan

Charles Jenkins

Desiree Rogers

Sandee Kastrul

Michael Arndt

Linda Lutton

Chuck Salter

Brian Babylon

Steve Edwards

Bob Morgan

Jenan Mohajir

Sonny Garg

Campbell Brown

Val Warner

Jay Smooth

Molly Wood

Gretchen Carlson

Soledad O'Brien

Touré

Eric Becker

Cindy Mori

Kevin Pang

Andee Harris

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The History of Slavery in Objects

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Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Focuses on Finding Solutions for Ocean Conservation

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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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Howard Schultz on His Potential 2020 Run

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Howard Schultz on the State of Our Nation

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