Meet the people behind our Community of Curiosity
The people behind Chicago Ideas, from staff to the Brain Trust to volunteers, come from a massive range of backgrounds to contribute to our mission of accessibility and ideas for everyone.
Chicago Ideas Team
The Chicago Ideas team focuses on producing world-class events, video and written content, and community outreach aimed at inspiring connection and action around big ideas.
Brad Keywell
Founder & Chairman, Chicago Ideas and Founder & CEO, Uptake
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot
Co-Chairperson, Chicago Ideas; 56th Mayor of the City of Chicago
Megan McDonald Paulson
Executive Director
Sarah Ruth
Executive Producer
Ross Peabody
Ticketing Director & Technology Manager
Alexa Reghanti
Production Coordinator
Brain Trust
What makes Chicago Ideas Week programming so compelling and so distinctly Chicago? The Chicago Ideas Brain Trust is a community of subject-matter experts selected to help shape the CIW program with their unique insights and expertise. Direction from the Brain Trust enables Chicago Ideas to gauge general interest in timely themes, dive deeply into specific topic areas, book exciting and relevant speakers, broaden the CIW audience, and create experiences that impact the entire CIW community.
Israel Idonije
Athlete & Entrepreneur
Sonya Jackson
Founder & Principal, Mantra for Good
Susan Crown
Chairman & Founder, Susan Crown Exchange (SCE), Chairman & CEO, Owl Creek Partners
Kim Keywell
Director, Keywell Foundation
Wendy Abrams
Founder, Cool Globes, Inc.
Leslie Bluhm
Co-Founder, Chicago Cares
Lester Coney
Executive Vice President, Office of the Chairman, Mesirow Financial
Jenna Kostelnik Utley
Executive Producer, The Oprah Winfrey Network
Adam Waytz
Professor, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Jacolyn Bucksbaum
Co-Founder, The Focus Foundation
Moran Cerf
Professor, Neuroscience & Business, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Andrew Barber
Creator & Owner, Fake Shore Drive
Lola Wright
Spiritual Director
Orrin Murray
Director of Technology and R&D, UChicago Impact
Meredith Stricker
Executive Director, The Soufan Center
Paul "DJ White Shadow" Blair
DJ, Producer & Music Director, W Hotels
Eric Williams
Founder & Creative Director, The Silver Room
Brooke Skinner Ricketts
CMO, Cars.com
Harriet Seitler
CMO, OWN
Holly Copeland
Senior Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability & Impact, Horizon Therapeutics
Heidi Mitchell
Writer
David Burstein
Founder, Run for America & Generation18
Matthew Summy
Regional Vice President, External Affairs, Comcast
Bob Teitel
Partner, State Street Pictures
Jamil Smith
Senior Writer, Rolling Stone
Jay Porter
CEO, Revere
Mel Safford
Founder, Body Worship Workout; Sr. Director, Programming & Experience at WW
Xavier Ramey
Founder & CEO, Justice Informed
Sona Gajiwala Jones
Strategic Advisor
Joe Shanahan
Founder and Owner, Metro Chicago/Smartbar/GMan Tavern
Chicago Ideas Youth Advisory Committee
The Chicago Ideas Youth Advisory Committee supports the Chicago Ideas Youth program by helping to drive strategy and programming throughout the year. The Committee is made up of entrepreneurs, community leaders, philanthropists and friends of Chicago Ideas who all have a belief that sparking inspiration in Chicago's youth can help push them towards a successful future
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Adrienne Irmer, Advocate for social justice & racial equity
Cathy Kahn, Independent Project Consultant
Caty Lamadrid, Principal & Founding Partner, Inova Energy Group
Euler Bropleh, Founder & Managing Director, VestedWorld
Lucy Moog, 43rd Ward Committeeman
Michael Shield, Youth Advisor
Sheila Gutman, Youth Advisor
Shelly Murphy, Director of Client Relationship Services, InterContinental Exchange
Join today and experience Chicago Ideas year round
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