Linda Darragh's professional and volunteer experience has focused on enhancing entrepreneurship in Chicago for three decades. In 2018, she was awarded the 'Entrepreneurial Champion Award' by 1871.
As the Larry Levy Executive Director of the Kellogg Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative, Ms. Darragh oversees one of four strategic initiatives at Kellogg. In this capacity, Darragh has updated and enhanced the curriculum, expanded the faculty and increased engagement opportunities for students and alumni. Darragh also teaches the GIM course 'Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Emerging Markets'.
Previously, Ms. Darragh was the Director of Entrepreneurial Programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Ms. Darragh's accomplishments included organizing global immersion programs and launching the Global New Venture Challenge. She taught the New Venture Lab and Social Entrepreneurship Lab courses and was also a coach for the New Venture Challenge and the Social Venture Challenge.
Ms. Darragh started her academic career as an adjunct professor at Kellogg and later became Assistant Director of Entrepreneurship.
As Vice President of the Women's Business Development Center, she piloted innovative lending programs and organized Springboard: Mid-West, a nationally recognized investor forum for women entrepreneurs. The forums raised more than $85 million for participants.
Ms. Darragh is a co-founder and current Board member of Impact Engine, a venture capital and private equity investment firm focused on growing companies that generate positive outcomes in education, health, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
Ms. Darragh has been a long-time board member of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center/1871 and a board member for the Golden Apple Foundation.
In her free time, Ms. Darragh will be on the golf course or paddle tennis court, skiing or in her garden.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
INTL-473 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Emerging Markets
The purpose of this course is to understand the impact of history, culture, politics and economics on the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Class sessions explore various frameworks that evaluate global entrepreneurship as well the importance of various stakeholders and factors that foster successful ecosystems – universities, accelerator/incubators, venture capital, banks, labor laws, intellectual property rights, etc. This year, students will research the ecosystems in Peru and Colombia.
EMBA Capstone Course
The purpose of this experiential learning course is to provide EMBA students an opportunity to apply their Kellogg knowledge and experience. Students work with local growth stage companies. Students interview key stakeholders, analyze company data and then develop a strategic plan focused on a specific issue.
Global Initiatives in Management (GIM) is an international experiential learning course designed to provide students with an introduction to the unique business opportunities, management practices and market dynamics of a specific region or global industry. The course combines in-class lectures, reading discussions and case studies during the winter quarter with ten days of international field research over spring break. Immersed in the culture and language of their host countries, students will have the opportunity to meet with local business and government leaders, conduct interviews and collect data for their group research projects, and experience some of the unique social and cultural facets of the region. Final presentations and written research reports are due in spring quarter after completion of the overseas portion of the class. Each class section is taught by a faculty member with deep knowledge of the region or industry and supported by an advisor from the Kellogg staff who assists students in planning the field experience. Students are financially responsible for their travel costs, and financial aid is available to those who qualify.
