Loyola University > Baumhart Center > Events > Leading for Good 2023
Leading for Good 2023

Join us on April 5 at Leading for Good for an incredible day focused on “(Co) Creating a Future for All.” Engage with transformational leaders across sectors as they share real examples and deep conversations on working together in new ways as we strive to create a better future.
Heather McGhee, the best-selling author of The Sum of Us, will anchor to a day focused on inspirational and specific ways to create thriving communities, in an inclusive economy, on a healthy planet. Supported in partnership with the Institute for Racial Justice.
Speakers
This year’s conference will feature an exciting lineup of leaders who are at the forefront of business strategy and social purpose. Below is just a sample of who will be speaking with more to be announced in the coming weeks. Click the drop-down to view our current roster.
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Andrea Saenz Chicago Community Trust |
Stephanie Morimoto Asutra |
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Tuan Huynh VietFive |
Joey Mak Chicago:Blend |
See more speakers
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Heather McGhee Best-selling Author |
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Andrea Saenz President and CEO The Chicago Community Trust |
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Stephanie Morimoto Owner and CEO Asutra |
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Tuan Huynh Founder VietFive |
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Joey Mak Executive Director Chicago:Blend |
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Wendy DuBoe Chair Institute for Nonviolence Chicago |
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Joanne Rodriguez Founder and CEO Mycocycle |
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Nancy Tuchman Founding Dean School of Environmental Sustainability |
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Daniel Cervantes SVP, National Expansion Skills for America's Future |
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Tonika Lewis Johnson Photographer and Social Justice Artist Folded Map Project |
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Karen Freeman-Wilson President and CEO Chicago Urban League |
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Liam Donnelly CEO WasteNot |
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Brandis Friedman Anchor/Correspondent WTTW |
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Kim Evans EVP, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion, and Social Impact Northern Trust |
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Dr. Mark C. Reed President Loyola University Chicago |
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Cherita Ellens President & CEO Women Employed |
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Erin Amico President & CEO Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum |
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Paige Graham SVP, Social Impact & Sustainability Edelman |
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Carl Jones Jr. VP of Government and External Affairs Comcast |
Agenda
Our agenda features a variety of timely and relevant topics that are sure to inspire deep conversations.
View the Agenda
9:00 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
- Dr. Mark C. Reed, President, Loyola University Chicago
- Wendy DuBoe, Advisory Board Member, Baumhart Center
- Daniel Cervantes, SVP, National Expansion, Skill's for America's Future
9:30 a.m.
Panel: Sustainability Leaps: Taking Action Together
At long last, it seems that everyone is talking about sustainability but how are organizations actually making the internal decisions and cultural shifts to deliver? How are we building bridges and opening more pathways to concrete climate action by and for all? Hear from leading practitioners on how and why things are getting done and the work still ahead.
- Paige Graham, SVP, Social Impact & Sustainability, Edelman
- Joanne Rodriguez, Founder & CEO, Mycocycle
- Tonika Lewis Johnson, Photographer and Social Justice Artist, Folded Map Project
- Erin Amico, President & CEO, Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
- Moderator: Karen Weigert, Director, Baumhart Center
10:30 a.m.
Innovation Pop-up: VietFive Coffee
Hear from the founder, Tuan Huynh, an award-winning creative director and community organizer based out of Chicago, Illinois, about the story behind VietFive Coffee. VietFive Coffee serves authentic Vietnamese coffee, grown and harvested in the place of his birth and roasted in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to serving coffee, VietFive provides access to marginalized communities and ex-felons by providing career opportunities through industry networking, creative workshops, community-centered events, and employment opportunities.
10:45 a.m. - Break
11:00 a.m.
Impact in Action: Innovator Awards
The Innovator Awards is a nationally significant award series that recognizes companies who are at the forefront of social innovation in business. The awards celebrate companies across three categories of innovation: Purpose and Profit, Environmental Stewardship, and Social Impact.
- Social Impact Award recipient: Kathleen Caliento, President and CEO, Cara Collective
- Environmental Stewardship Award Recipient: Jimmy Samartzis, CEO, LanzaJet
- Parkinson Award Recipient: Jeff Hogue, Chief Sustainability Officer, Levi Strauss & Co.
- Moderator: Megan Christenson, Sr. Portfolio Manager, REDF Impact Investing Fund
11:50 a.m.
Innovation Pop-up: WasteNot
WasteNot Compost is the nation’s only zero-emissions compost collection service for homes, businesses, and events. Liam Donnelly began WasteNot in 2015 out of a desire to do better. While lugging his sixth bag of trash to a cafe’s dumpster, he knew there was a simple solution: composting. Out of necessity, WasteNot started as a zero-emissions company, utilizing a bike and trailer to service members across the city. WasteNot went from operating on a bike to a 100% electric fleet, allowing all WasteNot members to Compost Without Compromise™. Liam is also an alum of Loyola University Chicago’s School of Environmental Sustainability.
12:15 p.m.
Keynote: The Sum of Us, featuring Heather McGhee
12:45 p.m.
Post Keynote Panel: An Economy for All
- Moderator: Brandis Friedman, Anchor/Correspondent, WTTW
- Andrea Sáenz, President & CEO, Chicago Community Trust
- Karen Freeman Wilson, President & CEO, Urban League
- Carl Jones, Jr., VP, Government and External Affairs, Comcast
1:45 p.m. - Break
2:00 p.m.
Panel: Entrepreneurs and Intra-preneurs Needed: New Ways to Impact
Change is accelerating across the economy, both inside organizations and through new entities. Hear from impact leaders in multiple different roles – some they applied for and some they created – about the skills and approaches they use on the path to greater impact. Leave inspired to accelerate your path to impact.
- Stephanie Morimoto, Owner & CEO, Asutra
- Kimberly Evans, EVP, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion and Social Impact, Northern Trust
- Joey Mak, Executive Director, Chicago:Blend
- Moderator: Cherita Ellens, President & CEO, Women Employed
2:45 p.m.
Closing Remarks
3:00 p.m.
Reception
Event Details & Registration
Date: April 5, 2023
Time: The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
Location: Loyola's Schreiber Center, 16 E. Pearson Steet, Chicago, IL 60611