The Women Driving Chicago's Digital Renaissance: Part 2

by Amina Elahi
September 6, 2012

In this monthly series, Built In Chicago will highlight some of the most important players in our digital ecosystem: the women. From entrepreneurs to technologists, investors to academic leaders, and corporate innovators to developers, women play important and diverse roles in dozens of local organizations. Every month, we'll introduce you to five women worth knowing. Through these exclusive interviews, get to know these women through their likes, experiences, and maybe even their secrets.

Know a female leader worth profiling? Send your nomination to Amina Elahi ([email protected]). Include her name, title, organization and a 140-character description of why she deserves to be featured.

Andrea Moran

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WHAT DO YOU DO?
CEO and Co-founder of Marengo Hampshire Partners, a human capital acquisition firm for emerging to multinational companies.

HOW DID YOU BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR?
Fundamentally, innovation was always more exciting to me than renovation. I like to roll my sleeves up and figure it out.  

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?
That everyone puts on their pants the same way

READ MORE

 

Linda Darragh

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WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am the new executive director for entrepreneurship and innovation at Kellogg School of Management.

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?
Listen to multiple viewpoints.

YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE ON A DAILY BASIS?
There is never enough time for everything—the challenge is to prioritize.

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Constance Freedman

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WHAT DO YOU DO?
I’m the Managing Director of Second Century Ventures—the Venture Capital arm of the National Association of Realtors. We primarily invest in [early stage technology] companies with applicability in multiple industries, including real estate, where we can roll up our sleeves and help the companies grow.

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?
If you don’t get the answer you want, just keep asking people until someone tells you the one you want to hear.

YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE ON A DAILY BASIS?
Ending the day. There are always more great people to talk to, things to learn and new ideas to explore.

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Vanessa Rollings

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WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am the CFO and a Managing Director at Sandbox Industries. We manage venture capital funds, as well as build and grow businesses.

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?
My first boss told me, “The graveyard is full of people who thought they were indispensable.” It's important to be confident, yet humble.

YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE ON A DAILY BASIS?Managing my time and finding the right balance to be successful in my professional and personal life is tough – both parts are important.

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Sarah Gray

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WHAT DO YOU DO?
I'm a playful inventor at heart. I’m a professional programmer, a project maker, a technical advisor and a group facilitator.

HOW DID YOU BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR?
I’ve always loved building bite-sized projects that scratch an itch. I think of myself less as an entrepreneur than someone bootstrapping a life.

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?
My father convinced me to study technology. He understood the generative power that coding and technology could bring me.

READ MORE

 

nominate someone

Nominate your favorite woman for future installments of The Women Driving Chicago's Digital Renaissance by emailing Amina Elahi ([email protected]). Include her name, title, organization and a 140-character description of why she deserves to be featured.

 

The Women Driving Chicago's Digital Renaissance:

Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

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