The Economic Club of Chicago

Watch Chicago Bears President & CEO Kevin Warren discuss his experience coming into the Bears with an outside perspective and how he navigates leading a family business: https://lnkd.in/gt7Tadq7

CNN founder Ted Turner passed away today at 87. Watch him address the Club in 1998 here: https://lnkd.in/gu6FqSCq 

Watch Eli Lilly Chair & CEO, David Ricks, share what he had to do differently at his company in order for it to succeed. Watch the full program here: https://lnkd.in/eccqbQDt

Chicagoans have the wind in their face. At the Spring Leadership Dinner at The Economic Club of Chicago, someone at our table described Chicago as a city where you feel the wind in your face, not the wind at your back like in other places. I have lived here long enough to know it is true. But Chicago also has another name: The City That Works. That is not because things are easy, but because people figure it out. They take the meeting, make the call, pull someone in, and get on with it. That is what stayed with me from last night. If we want the next generation to care about this city and civic life, we cannot ask them to watch from the sidelines. We have to invite them into the work, into the room, into the responsibility. Grateful to Isis Almeida as my cohost, and grateful for a table of leaders that stayed personal, honest, and constructive. Chicago needs more of that energy right now. • Haven Allen • Sulin Ba • Jennifer Baumann • Kevin Conlon • Scott Dickes • Alan Lev • Kellie O'Connell • Steven Sherman • David Stone • RICHARD SYPNIEWSKI • Kathleen Yosko #Chicago #Leadership #CivicEngagement #EconomicClubOfChicago #KOIOS

Co-hosting the The Economic Club of Chicago's Spring Leadership Dinner with Michon Ellis last night was such a great experience. We covered everything from what "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" means 250 years after America's founding, to what we would love AI to actually do for us. I would like it to fold my laundry! Thank you to CEO David Snyder for joining our table (no pressure on a first time host!) and to all of the members who engaged in discussion and debate on these important topics. And thank you to Michon for being a wonderful co-host and guide for the evening! Karen (Spigner) Case Adam Grais John Head Robert Jordan Tom Kehoe Jordan Matthews Terri McNally Fred O'Connor, M.M., MSFS, CFP®, AEP®, CAP® Jenny Yang

Last night, I cohosted a The Economic Club of Chicago Spring Leadership Dinner with my new friend Kym Hubbard, who facilitated the room with passion and a deft ability to share personal stories at the right moment. The evening felt like a family talking over Thanksgiving dinner. A lot of intense, passionate debates that stemmed from genuine hope for the city. We had a great mix of people at the table, and talked about so much. Instead of just me recapping it I'll share a tiny bit I took from everyone in the room. Muriel Clauson Closs, PhD, delivered a master class on AI and shared her experience building and selling an AI business here. She also provided my line of the night when she asked, “I didn’t know we loved billionaires so much.” Shlomo Crandus brought a pragmatic view of what makes this city great and a perspective on what holds it back. He also was warm and engaging. Michael Gray every leadership dinner needs a Michael, who is ready to make the night interesting and will cut through the pageantry for real conversation. He's a passionate cyclist like me and loves Chicago, but is willing to speak hard truths. Howard Learner wrote a love letter to Chicago in real time. It was wonderful! Also, a great reminder of why Chicago is the dopest big city we have. Diane Primo every leadership dinner also needs a Diane. She navigated critique and praise in a way that cut through the noise. Kristen Prinz spoke with passion about her experience in Chicago while keeping her points grounded and substantive. Aalap Shah leaned into the hot seat and offered memorable insights on the realities of being a founder in Chicago. Susan Silver talked about why she stayed in Chicago after living out east and in the south. She gave us the language that defined the night, calling Chicago a complete city. I loved it! Saverio Spontella is smooth and a master in the art of listening, but when he spoke, it was measured and contributed to the conversation. Howard Tiffen, a UK native who adopted Chicago over 30 years ago, brought a fantastic and thoughtful perspective to the table. He challenged our thinking around elected vs appointed school boards and spoke about a willingness to take on a big challenge. These are the nights that make it all come together and remind us why we're members of The Economic Club, why we live in Chicago, and why hearing different ideas and perspectives matters. Thank you all for an incredible evening! 

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert discussed leadership lessons growing up in a large family and as a young auditor, inside the WNBA’s accelerated business strategy, the latest on the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, and more when she spoke to #EconClubChi in February. Watch the full program here: https://lnkd.in/g7UM7zua

Kaili Emmrich and I had the pleasure of hosting a team building dinner for The Economic Club of Chicago on how to revitalize the city we all love while brainstorming a colorful recaps of ECC events member exchange disguised as historical stories. Stay tuned #econclubchi Mariah DiGrino Nidhi Verma Jay Stewart Nancy Stern Bob Heidenrich James F. Kinoshita, CFA, CTFA Lucas Martin Kelly Pope Vince Sparrow Jim Terman