ThinkChicago by World Business Chicago

ThinkChicago by World Business Chicago & Illinois Tech Career Services partnered again for our annual Spring Break activation, designed to connect college students to Chicago companies. Yesterday we visited Northern Trust to learn about the innovative work being done and gained valuable insights into multiple topics: the financial services industry, career paths, and work/life balance. Followed by a historic tour of the company building and its evolution. ?? A huge thank you to Juan F. Ortiz, James A. Byrd, Jr., CTFA, Roberto Serrano, and the Northern Trust team for their hospitality and for sharing their expertise with us. Abe Gomez, Nathan Albertini, and David Encarnacion Special S/o to the students who attended and asked thoughtful and engaging questions! Great discussions! Also, a huge Thank you to #IllinoisTech partners Nicholas J. Mancari + Natalie Champagne for all of your support! Abin Kuriakose Nicole McCarthy

We had an incredible time at Campus 1871 on February 20-21, 2025! ?? This immersive experience brought together university students and recent grads to explore Chicago's vibrant tech community. Highlights included: - Keynote Address by Umama Kibria - Classroom to Career Panel Discussion w/ Billy N., Drushya Musham, Megha Balamurugan, and Makunde G. - Innovation Studio & Showcase - Personal Branding Workshop w/ Prismatic’s Debra Giunta & Gisselle Hernandez - Lighting Talks w/ Industry Pros: Paige Michals, Salvador Due?as, Sarah (Buop) Vicino, Ernesto "Neto" Alvarez, and Ashley Gonzalez - Mentorship & Networking Lunch w/ Vocal Culture Garden, Discovery Partners Institute, Parker Dewey, and ICAway International Student Careers: Finding CPT, OPT, H-1B Jobs - Company Meet & Greet: Networking with industry leaders like BuiltWorlds, Discover Financial Services,TransUnion,Tusk Logistics, Why of AI, Wevise, ClearCOGS, Science On Call, TelesHealth, and more! A huge thank you to all the participants, speakers, and partners for making this event a success! ?? Special S/O to Jessica Prath and the entire 1871 team for their hard work and dedication. Looking forward to seeing the amazing things these future tech leaders will achieve. ?? #Campus1871 #TechCommunity #Innovation #Networking #FutureLeaders

THINKChicago is thrilled to partner with 1871 on this exciting new activation for college students! Sign up today to claim your spot at Campus 1871! Click Here to Reserve Your Spot: https://lnkd.in/gazuuVye

Thank you to all who attended our last flagship event of the year:) #THINKChicagoLaunchpad was held at Google Chicago on November 8th and hosted over 130+ attendees from 45+ different Chicago neighborhoods. Community College students and alumni from all seven City Colleges of Chicago campuses participated in a one-day career development activation complete with #ResumeReviews, #MockInterviewPractice, and #ProfessionalHeadshots. Students also attended company information sessions and connected with reps from with hiring companies and community organizations. Sending a Special Thank You to our Keynote Speaker Bianca H. for inspiring our attendees with your story! Also, special thanks to Khari Matthew Humphries, Ayoka Noelle Mota Samuels, and Abin Kuriakose for kicking off the day with your encouragement & wisdom. This type of work would not be possible without phenomenal partners like Google, who was an incredible host:) And last (but certainly not least) Thank you to our amazing 40+ volunteers from innovative companies like Google, McDonald's, City Colleges of Chicago, and World Business Chicago that made this event such a powerful learning experience our attendees! This event would not have possible without the incredible team behind the scenes. Thank you Ayoka Noelle Mota Samuels Lateef Idris Eric B. Lugo Tana Francellno Joanna Madigan Abin Kuriakose Kayla C. Arantxa Valverde and our wonderful THINKChicago Ambassadors My Pham Reihaneh (Rojin) Bozorgi Kristine M. Alyssa Louise G. Sunanda Ganpati Balkunde Nazir McBride

TechRise?(an organization that provides capital, networking, and knowledge to early-stage, overlooked founders across Chicagoland) is hosting its Finale Pitch Competition on Thursday, November 21st. 6 of the top startups who pitched in TechRise Season 4 will take the stage for the chance to win a $100,000 Grand Prize. This year, TechRise is excited to offer students interested in entrepreneurship a Behind-the-Scenes opportunity to participate in a TechRise pitch workshop, watch the 6 Finalists pitch during their Tech Rehearsal, and ask questions from the perspective of a VC judge. Join us at Morgan Mfg. from 10:30-1:00pm on November 21st for this exclusive opportunity! View the event schedule and RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/g_TZ6fc7 Please reach out to?[email protected]?with any questions. We hope to have you there!

THINKChicago Student Ambassadors convened this past Saturday for their Fall Retreat! The day was filled with good energy, great questions, and amazing ideas on amplifying our work in Chicago's tech ecosystem:) We accepted 40 students from 18 different schools across Chicagoland. The retreat was the beginning of a journey full of collaboration, networking, personal growth, professional development, and so much more! I can't wait to see the amazing things they will accomplish this year. Special Thanks to Abin Kuriakose and Kayla C. for their help in making the day run smoothly!

UIUC Technology Entrepreneur Center is hiring two new positions! Apply and join our efforts to continue making Illinois the best campus for entrepreneurship. ? The Student Innovation Programs Coordinator will foster our vibrant entrepreneurial community, providing the guidance needed to turn their innovative ideas into successful ventures. It’s a fantastic role for someone dedicated to nurturing the next generation of innovators. Apply:?https://lnkd.in/gX_zT2Wh ? Regional Entrepreneurship Programs Coordinator will build new programs that support the formation of startups on campus and connect them with the robust opportunities available in Chicago.? Apply:?https://lnkd.in/g_3YhS_X Contact Stephanie Faraci, Senior Associate Director of Technology Entrepreneur Center at?[email protected]?with any questions!

#THINKChicagoNEXT, held July 16-17, was a huge success bringing together college students from across Chicagoland to explore the dynamic tech sector. A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors ComEd, Microsoft, Salesforce, and 1871, whose support was instrumental in making this event possible. Your commitment to fostering talent and innovation in the Chicago area is truly commendable:) Together, we're not just shaping the future of technology, but also empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators. #THINKChicago #WorldBusinessChicago Manleen Rajput Abin Kuriakose

Day 2 of #THINKChicagoNEXT was a success! Thank you to our Day 2 host 1871! We would also like to send a special thank you to the companies who led site tours yesterday: Gensler, Invenergy, Relish Works, and Four Star Mushrooms Students ended the day with workshops in AI, Prompt Engineering, and Emotional Intelligence led by NuCoord and Prismatic! Thank you to all who attended and to our presenting sponsors who helped make this event a reality! ComEd ~ Microsoft ~ Salesforce ~ 1871

ThinkChicago by World Business Chicago kicked off its brand new summer flagship program #THINKChicagoNext today with a very special guest, Mayor Brandon Johnson! Students from over 30+ colleges/universities gathered at Salesforce Tower Chicago to hear from our city’s leading innovators, connect with local companies, network, and attend career development workshops. Sending a huge THANK YOU to our anchor partners University of Illinois System, City Colleges of Chicago, and our sponsors Salesforce, ComEd, Microsoft, and 1871! We’re excited for Day 2!!! See you tomorrow!