Linda Darragh
Adjunct Professor in Entrepreneurship
Linda Darragh's professional and volunteer experience has focused on enhancing entrepreneurship in Chicago for four decades. 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.
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 the fall of 2021 but will continue to teach a course on global entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Previously, Darragh was the Director of Entrepreneurial Programs at the Booth School of Business. Darragh taught several courses and coached for the New Venture Challenge and Social Venture Challenge, and launched the Global New Venture Challenge.
Darragh started her academic career in 1999 as an adjunct professor at Kellogg and later became Assistant Director of Entrepreneurship.
Darragh has always explored new avenues to bring together the Chicago entrepreneurial ecosystem to create avenues of opportunity, investment and community engagement. As the Finance Director of the Women’s Business Development Center, she organized Springboard: Mid-West 2001 and 2003, a nationally recognized investor forum for women entrepreneurs. The forums raised more than $85 million for participants. In 2011, through a Kellogg – Booth partnership, Darragh organized the first Impact Investment conference in Chicago and then launched Impact Engine as a for-profit social impact accelerator. Impact Engine has since grown into an impact venture capital and private equity firm investing in companies and funds that align financial and social returns. Darragh serves as a board member.
Darragh has been a long-time board member of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center/1871 and a board member for the Golden Apple Foundation and Injustice Watch. In 2021, she received the ‘Legacy Award from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers.
Darragh is blessed to have a wonderful husband, Alex, three children, their spouses and three grandchildren. In her free time, Ms. Darragh will be on the golf course or paddle tennis court or in her garden.
- Entrepreneurship and InnovationINTL-473 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Emerging MarketsThe 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 CourseThe 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.
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M.Sc.(Pl.), 1978, University of Toronto
B.A., 1976, Queen's University -
Director of Entrepreneurship Programs, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship, Clinical Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, Booth School of Business, University of Chicago, 2005-2012
Assistant Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship, Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, 2003-2005
Adjunct Professor, Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, 1999-2003 -
Co-Founder, Impact Engine, 2011-present
Vice President, Women's Business Development Center, 1989-2003
President, EconoTech, 1983-1988
Staff Member, City of Chicago, 1979-1983
Staff Member, Metropolitan Toronto Planning Department, 1978-1979 -
Legacy Award, Global Consortium for Entrepreneurship Centers, 2021
Richard J. Daley Award, Illinois Venture Capital Association, 2021
Richard J. Daley Award, Illinois Venture Capital Association, 2021
Legacy Award, Global Consortium for Entrepreneurship Centers, 2021
Entrepreneurial Champion Award, 1871/Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, 2018
Educator of the Year, Social Entrepreneurship Alliance
Chicago 50 on Fire, Chicago Inno
Chicago Tribune 'Blue Network' Top 100 Tech and Innovation Leaders, 2015
Illinois Technology Association, 2009
Finalist for the Most Outstanding Professor Award at Kellogg, 2004-05
U.S. Small Business Administration, Women, 2002
U.S. Small Business Administration, Financial Services Advocate (for Illinois and the Midwest), 1998
Illinois State Treasurer, 2002
Chicago Sun-Times Top 100 People Influencing Technology in Chicago, 2001, 2002, 2003
Global Initiatives in Management (GIM) (INTLX-473-0)
All FT GIM classes will hold a final, mandatory class session. Please refer to each class's syllabi for the date and time.
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.
Global Initiatives in Management (GIM) (INTL-473-0)
All FT GIM classes will hold a final, mandatory class session. Please refer to each class's syllabi for the date and time.
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.
Field Study (ENTR-498-0)
Field Studies include those opportunities outside of the regular curriculum in which a student is working with an outside company or non-profit organization to address a real-world business challenge for course credit under the oversight of a faculty member.
