The Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility hosted Leading for Good 2026 on Thursday, March 19, convening a dynamic community of leaders committed to advancing social and environmental impact. 

Across the day, 44 speakers and more than 200 attendees brought the 2026 theme—Forging the Future: Innovation, Collaboration, and Courage—to life.  

In a moment defined by both uncertainty and possibility, the conversation moved beyond vision to action. Leaders across sectors demonstrated how breaking boundaries, building unlikely partnerships, and leading with courage can drive meaningful, lasting impact for people and the planet.

"The future is not forged by people who wait for permission; it’s forged by people who show up with the courage to collaborate and innovate."

 

Dion Dawson, Chief Dreamer and President, Dion’s Chicago Dream

The day began with an energizing call to action from Dion Dawson, who challenged attendees to rethink how progress happens. Innovation, he emphasized, begins before certainty. Collaboration often emerges in unexpected places. And courage requires faith, especially in moments of ambiguity.  

Attendees were encouraged to move beyond protecting their expertise and instead step into the intersection where new ideas and unexpected partnerships take shape.

Opening remarks set the tone for a day grounded in purpose, partnership, and impact. 

“We have unlimited potential; we just have to stop operating in silos.” 

 

Susana Mendoza, Illinois State Comptroller

Moderated by Karen Weigert (Baumhart Center), the opening plenary featured Tarek Elmasry (McKinsey), Kate Maehr (Greater Chicago Food Depository), Susana Mendoza (Illinois State Comptroller), and Andrea Sáenz (The Chicago Community Trust). 

The conversation brought the day’s themes—innovation, collaboration, and courage—into sharp focus, exploring how leaders can drive impact in a rapidly changing world with transparency, curiosity, partnerships across sectors, and inclusionary innovation.

“Our job is not to be first, but to be correct and first. First with the correct information.”

Sean Lewis, Broadcast Journalist

Our morning breakout sessions invited attendees to explore how our themes of innovation, collaboration, and courage translate into practice across sectors.

Dollars in Motion: New Models for Philanthropy and Investing 

In this session moderated by Grace Hong Duffin (Comcast), panelists Joe Aguilar (Illinois State Treasurer’s Office), Allison Clark (MacArthur Foundation), and Fred Tan (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) explored how capital can drive meaningful impact. 

Their discussion emphasized that successful impact investing blends market returns with inclusivity, focuses on partnership and connection, and requires strategic empathy—providing feedback, support, and connections to help businesses thrive. 

Leading for Longevity: Scaling Impact Without Burnout 

In a conversation on burnout and sustainable leadership, Kathleen St. Louis Caliento (The Revel Group) and Lisa Coleman (Adler University) highlighted the power of human-centered systems and leading with clarity and compassion.  

They encouraged attendees to be more intentional with how they spend their time, and to demonstrate good habits and vulnerability through leadership: set clear boundaries, count the little wins along the way, and get to know your team so that you can move them forward. 

Credible Communications in an Age of Instant Influence 

Tracy Baim (Press Forward Chicago, The Chicago Community Trust), Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu (C1 Revolution), Sean Lewis (Broadcast Journalist), and Kimberley Rudd (Rudd Resources LLC), on a panel moderated by Kevin Hauswirth (HausCo), explored what it means to communicate effectively in an age of instant influence.  

They emphasized that credibility outweighs speed and noted the rising power of communities and individuals beyond traditional media. Their conversation stressed that good communication may feel instantaneous, but it requires preparation, strategy, trust, and transparency. 

Congratulations to each of our Innovator Awards winners for 2026! 

Read the full Innovator Awards Announcement here.

Afternoon breakout sessions dove deeper into the work of this year’s Innovator Awards winners, highlighting how organizations are translating purpose into practice.

Social Impact Award: Altana – Building Trust and Transparency in Global Trade 

Evan Smith (Altana) and Sarah Rae Murphy (AltitudeX Aviation Group) discussed how Altana is leveraging AI and federated data to create a “network of networks” that brings transparency, traceability, and trust to the global supply chain. 

These panelists emphasized that ESG considerations are no longer optional, but they are integral to corporate decision-making. By combining data systems with secure networks and AI predictions, Altana is enabling governments and companies worldwide to navigate complex supply chains ethically and efficiently.  

Environmental Stewardship Award: Elevate – Scaling Equitable Clean Energy Solutions 

Anne Evens (Elevate), Delmar Gillus Jr. (Elevate), and Ryan Strode (Crown Family Philanthropies) were in an afternoon discussion moderated by Mackenzie Siren (Chicago Climate Connect). This group highlighted how Elevate is advancing climate action through community-centered solutions. 

Panelists emphasized that sustainable environmental progress depends on working within communities, not just for them, and that diverse voices strengthen both innovation and implementation.  

Parkinson Award for Purpose and Profit: Northern Trust – Activating Capital for Measurable Impact 

During this session with panelists Shana Hayes (Northern Trust), Tina Tchen (The Obama Foundation), Mike Paull (Northern Trust), and moderator Jamie Jones Ezefili (Northern Trust), conversation focused on how organizations can align profit and purpose for long-term impact. 

Using Northern Trust and The Obama Foundation as examples, panelists highlighted the importance of prioritizing partnership over prominence and taking the long view to balance immediate needs with enduring outcomes.  

“No place in the world does it like Chicago does it. There is no other place where every sector collaborates in the way that we do.” 

 

Tina Tchen, The Obama Foundation 

Telling Chicago's Story

Lisa Nucci’s (Choose Chicago) presentation sparked smiles, laughter, and a shared pride in Chicago. Through her conversation, she explored what it means to build a brand for a city, underscoring the importance of listening to the community and centering the voices that define it.

Bold Moves: Building Big Plans Together

The Fireside Chat between Tina Tchen (The Obama Foundation) and Karen Weigert (Baumhart Center) explored the growing importance of community engagement in large-scale city initiatives. Drawing on her experience across multiple cities, Tchen reflected on what makes Chicago unique: “No place in the world does it like Chicago does it. There is no other place where every sector collaborates in the way that we do.”

This conversation highlighted that the city’s strength lies not just in its institutions, but in its culture of partnership, where for-profits, non-profits, government, and communities work together to shape a more inclusive and impactful future.

This session spotlighted the story behind Fillmore Linen Service—an innovative West Side business creating quality jobs through sustained and unprecedented collaboration between community organizations, anchor institutions, and local leaders. This panel brought together the key players to share the story: Cliff Barber (Fillmore Linen Service), Dr. David Ansell (Rush University Medical Center), Brenda Palms (North Lawndale Employment Network), Jennifer Steans (Financial Investments Corporation), and moderator Ayesha Jaco (West Side United). 

The conversation explored what it takes to build pathways to employment in historically underinvested communities. Barriers to employment often extend far beyond job availability—including stigma around criminal records, untreated mental health challenges, and limited access to transportation, housing, and food. Yet at their core, Palms noted, “is a community that wants to work.” 

The solution lies in connection and collaboration. By aligning resources and rethinking how support systems are designed, initiatives like Fillmore Linen Service are paving the path that others can follow.

Samuel Rodriguez (EY; Baumhart Scholars MBA ‘27) closed the day with a reflection on the power of bringing leaders across sectors together to explore what it means to lead with purpose. 

• Collaboration is the catalyst for impact. The most effective solutions are built across sectors, not within silos. 
• Human-centered leadership drives lasting change. Clarity, empathy, and compassion are not soft skills—they are essential to building resilient teams and organizations. 
• Trust is built through transparency and action. Whether in communications, investing, or partnerships, credibility comes from consistency, honesty, and follow-through. 
• Community voice is critical to effective solutions. The people closest to the challenges must be involved in shaping the strategies that impact them. 
• The next generation of leaders is already shaping the future. Investing in emerging leaders and bringing diverse perspectives to the table strengthens impact.

Thank you to Scott Hoesman for emceeing this event for the third year in a row.  

Thank you to our Baumhart Scholars MBA alum and scholars, Loyola staff, and volunteers who helped bring this event to life and continue to advance the Baumhart Center’s mission: Liliana Andarcia, Jessica Ayala, Taylor Ball, Clifton Ballard, Kat Birkenbeuel, Kalina Chkoumbova, Jasmine Gilstrap Hunter, Jonathan Goodell, Josh Hamel, Tayo Hill, Lauren Knight, Jeremy Levin, Karyn Linn, Mitch Looman, Luna Luna, Natalie Pine, Susan Plattner, Chloe Pooler, Katherine Sain, Beth Thompson, Grace Varghese, Shelby Volosin, Sarah Vonck, Matthew Wegh, and Katie Weil. 

And thank you to our sponsors who made this day possible.

• Leading for Good 2026 
• Innovator Awards 
• Innovator Awards Announcement 
• Baumhart Center 
• Baumhart Scholars MBA