Chicago Council on Global Affairs Announces the 2023 Class of Emerging Leaders

June 27, 2022

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs announced its 2023 class of the Emerging Leaders program today. Selected from a pool of highly competitive applicants, the class includes 16 of Chicago’s best and brightest from some of its most prominent organizations including BMO Financial Group, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Mayer Brown, United Airlines, William Blair, Northern Trust, and Chicago Public Schools, among others.   

Over the next year, they will engage in a rigorous program to further their knowledge of U.S. foreign policy and strengthen leadership skills. Participants will deepen their understanding of global affairs and policy through a year of skills trainings, site visits, and discussions with a wide array of policymakers and influencers.  

“With the Russian-Ukrainian war, economic disruption, and nuclear aggression rising, it’s never been more important to engage in shaping our global future,” said Council President Ivo Daalder. “The Council is honored to stride into our next 100 years alongside these individuals and provide opportunities for them to dive deeper into global challenges, grow professionally, and learn how to turn their ideas into impact.”  

This is the 14th year of the Emerging Leaders Program. The 2023 class will participate in briefings with Council experts to explore global security, global cities, economic inequality, food insecurity and other topical global issues defining U.S. engagement abroad. They will meet with policymakers in Washington, D.C., attend Council events, and train in policy analysis and presentation skills.  

This year's class participants are:  

  • Seth Anderson, Principal and Corporate Counsel, Kearney 

  • Erica J. Borggren, Vice President of Customer Solutions, ComEd 

  • Constance L. Bowen, Head of Workplace Strategy and Project Management, Northern Trust 

  • Ashley Bromagen, Director, Public Affairs, Beam Suntory  

  • Meredith Burlew, Director of Rotary Grants, the Rotary Foundation  

  • Arthur Colby, Director, DaVita 

  • Erin Delawalla, Regional Client Solutions Manager, Resource Environment Solutions, LLC 

  • Christopher Graves, Principal, LaSalle Language Academy, Chicago Public Schools 

  • Adam Gypalo, Vice President, Resolute Public Affairs 

  • Andrew R. Harrison, Head, U.S. Digital Partnerships, BMO Financial Group 

  • Jayesh Kannan, Research Analyst, William Blair 

  • Nadav Klugman, Partner, Mayer Brown LLP 

  • Gabriella M. Kusz, CEO, Global Digital Asset and Cryptocurrency Association 

  • Matthew Meltzer, Co-Founder and Partner, Meltzer Hellrung  

  • Mika Clark Tupy, Chief of Staff to the President, United Airlines  

  • Asha Iman Veal, Associate Curator, Museum of Contemporary Photography 

The class of 2023 marks the third awarding of the David and Marilyn Vitale Scholarship. Each year, this distinguished honor is reserved for a selected Emerging Leader who exhibits outstanding qualifications for the program. Thanks to the Vitales’ generous financial contribution, Christopher Graves will receive support for the cost of participating in the program and will have the opportunity to engage with the Vitales during the program year.  

Emerging Leader program alumni include Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Sean Casten (D-IL), Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals Michael Scudder, architect and 2019 TIME 100 honoree Jeanne Gang, President of Heartland Alliance Evelyn Diaz, Cook County Board Commissioner Bridget Gainer, Founding Executive Director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab Roseanna Ander, and Illinois State Representative and current Chicago mayoral candidate Kam Buckner.  

The Emerging Leaders program was established in 2008 and has graduated 263 participants to date. The application for the class of 2024 opens in November. More information about the Emerging Leaders program is available at globalaffairs.org/EL.