We Cultivate Meaningful Connections

Complex challenges require bold ideas and partnerships. By harnessing the power of connection among leaders from corporate, public and nonprofit sectors, we build bridges that enable innovative and collective action for a stronger Chicago.

Leadership Greater Chicago is where civic-minded leaders from the private, nonprofit and public sectors come together to take on the region’s toughest challenges. Through deep collaboration and real action, we spark conversations that matter, forge lifelong connections and develop true changemakers poised to shape Chicago’s future—because lasting impact happens when all sectors are at the table.

Our Programs

Signature Fellows Program

The Signature Fellows Program is a 10-month premier civic leadership development program designed to equip leaders with the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to address complex socioeconomic issues. Leveraging the city as our classroom, participants engage directly with decision makers across private, public, and nonprofit sectors to explore critical community challenges and opportunities. This transformative journey shapes perspectives, opens hearts and minds, and inspires collective action. By applying to be a part of this program, you could join an influential network of over 1,600 dedicated Fellows committed to driving positive change and creating lasting impact.

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Our Programs

The Daniel Burnham Fellowship

The Daniel Burnham Fellowship® is a six-session, accelerated civic onboarding program designed for senior executives ready to leverage their roles as decision makers to shape Chicago’s future. This invitation-only fellowship is designed to urgently impact the region’s economic progress and workforce development efforts and support newly relocated or promoted executives in the Greater Chicago region. Launched in 2019, this program continues to foster a powerful network of nearly 200 Daniel Burnham Fellows, dedicated to making a lasting impact.

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Our Programs

LGC Leadership Series

This off-the-record discussion series is designed to educate professionals from all sectors on a spectrum of socioeconomic issues impacting the region and create an empowered community that will drive unity and positive change. Featuring a new theme and dynamic line up of speakers each year, Fellows and guests of Leadership Series Sponsors are exclusively invited to attend.

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OUR FELLOWS

Meet Our Current Class and Cohort

LGC Signature Fellows Class of 2026
LGC Signature Fellows Class of 2026
The Daniel Burnham Fellowship 2025
The Daniel Burnham Fellowship 2025
From Our Fellows & Partners
For me, the LGC experience…is a real boot camp in terms of learning about the community and the issues facing the city.Austan Goolsbee (LGC Fellow since 2007)
Austan Goolsbee (LGC Fellow since 2007)
This program will change your leadership trajectory. It did mine.Andrés Tapia (LGC Fellow since 2008 and Daniel Burnham Fellow)
Andrés Tapia (LGC Fellow since 2008 and Daniel Burnham Fellow)
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago supports the LGC Leadership Series because it gives our employees the opportunity to get a deeper understanding of the issues facing Chicagoland and what can be done to address them. It is also a great networking opportunity for employees.Cedric D. Thurman (LGC Fellow since 2008 and Daniel Burnham Fellow) – FHLBank Chicago
Cedric D. Thurman (LGC Fellow since 2008 and Daniel Burnham Fellow) - FHLBank Chicago

Our LGC Fellows Network

We support lifelong civic engagement and collaborative activation among our over 1,400 Signature Fellows and nearly 200 Daniel Burnham Fellows through our exclusive online networking platform. Here, Fellows can connect and collaborate on socioeconomic topics across industries, beyond program years, and more.

Fellows Login