FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chicago’s Top Business Communities Join Forces to Redefine the Future of Leadership and Innovation
Executives’ Club of Chicago and Chicago Innovation launch partnership to empower leaders, spark ideas, and fuel growth across the city
CHICAGO, IL, September 11, 2025 — The Executives’ Club of Chicago and Chicago Innovation today announced a strategic partnership uniting the city’s senior leadership community with its innovation ecosystem. Together, the organizations will create measurable impact and position Chicago as a model for how leadership and innovation intersect to shape the future.
The partnership will be anchored by leadership development, mentorship, and dynamic programming that brings executives and innovators together in new ways. It reflects a shared vision to position Chicago as a city where business leadership and entrepreneurial creativity combine to tackle challenges, spark ideas, and shape the future.
“Chicago is a city that doesn’t wait for the future — we build it,” said Dorri McWhorter, President & CEO of the Executives’ Club of Chicago. “By linking the power of executive leadership with the creativity of innovation, we’re creating a continuum that equips leaders to thrive, whether they’re just starting out or leading at the highest level.”
“For more than two decades, Chicago Innovation has celebrated the big ideas and bold leaders shaping our region,” said Luke Tanen, President & CEO of Chicago Innovation. “Teaming up with the Exec Club allows us to extend that energy into deeper relationships and lasting impact. Together, we can ensure Chicago continues to be a global hub where leadership and innovation fuel one another.”
Through this partnership, leaders across Chicago will gain new opportunities to connect, learn, and grow — from mentorship that bridges generations, to programs that blend executive insight with entrepreneurial energy, to communities that celebrate both leadership and innovation. The result is a more vibrant, more connected experience for members of both organizations, and greater momentum for Chicago’s business community as a whole.
More than a partnership, this is a signal of what’s possible when leadership and innovation move together. In Chicago, leadership and innovation aren’t separate pursuits — they are shared commitments that shape the future of our city and our world.
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About Chicago Innovation
Chicago Innovation, established in 2002 as the Chicago Innovation Awards, has grown from a single awards ceremony to a year-long series of events and activities with a mission to educate, connect and celebrate all innovators in the Chicago region. The organization’s expansion has included the Chicago Innovation Women’s Mentoring Co-op to support female innovators, the Illinois Student Invention Convention to teach innovation to K-8th grade students, Ageless Innovators to combat ageism through intergenerational co-mentorship, The Ladder to support Black and Latine innovators in Chicago, the Climate Change Initiative to support innovators who are combating climate change, and Chicago Innovation Fellows, a leadership development program for innovators at mid to large organizations. For more information, visit www.chicagoinnovation.com. To follow on LinkedIn, visit www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-innovation
About the Executives’ Club
The Executives’ Club of Chicago is the city’s premier resource for connecting, developing, and growing best-in-class leaders to strengthen themselves and their organizations. The Executives’ Club of Chicago is where the relationships that build a better Chicago begin. This is where the future meets. For more information about the nexus of Chicago business, visit www.executivesclub.org.
Media Contacts:
Katy Broom
Head of Brand & Communications
Executives’ Club
kbroom@executivesclub.org
Luke Tanen
President & CEO
Chicago Innovation
luke@chicagoinnovation.com
