LINDA DARRAGH

Emeritus Board Member

Linda Darragh's professional and volunteer experience has focused on enhancing entrepreneurship in Chicago for three decades. Linda has now retired, but she cherished her career in the academic and non-profit worlds.

As the Larry Levy Executive Director of the Kellogg Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative, Darragh rebuilt the entrepreneurship program at Kellogg.  Darragh updated and enhanced the curriculum, expanded the faculty and increased engagement opportunities for students and alumni. Darragh retired from this position in 2022.

Prior to joining the Kellogg faculty, Linda was the director of Entrepreneurship Programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She also served as the Vice President of the Women's Business Development Center where she piloted innovative lending programs and organized Springboard: Mid-West, a nationally recognized investor forum for women entrepreneurs, in 2001 and 2003.

In 2018, she was awarded the 'Entrepreneurial Champion Award' by 1871 and in 2021 received the Richard J. Daley award from the Illinois Venture Capital Association for an individual who has given direct and extraordinary support to the State of Illinois by participating in or being an advocate for the venture capital and private equity industry.

Linda co-founded Impact Engine as an accelerator in 2012 with Jamie Jones. She currently serves as a board member for an Impact Engine venture capital fund. She is also an active Board member of the Golden Apple Foundation.

Linda received a Master's degree from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor's degree from Queen's University.

In her free time, Linda will be on the golf course, pickleball courts, in her garden or playing with her grandchildren.