Events

A Day with Sheila Gujrathi:
The Mirror Effect: Transforming the Next Generation of Diverse Leaders

Thursday, Oct. 9, 3 - 4:20 p.m.

Ford Engineering Design Center, The Hive (Room 2-350)

Join us as Dr. Sheila Gujrathi shares her stories of navigating the complex and competitive world of biotechnology as an underrepresented leader.

Sheila Gujrathi, MD, is a biotech entrepreneur, executive, and champion for underrepresented leaders. Over the past 25 years, she’s had the privilege of developing life-changing medicines for patients with serious diseases while building and running private and public biotech companies—including some exciting exits. Today, she’s a founder, chairwoman, board director, strategic advisor, and consultant to start-up companies and investment funds.

Dr. Gujrathi was the co-founder and former CEO of Gossamer Bio and former chief medical officer of Receptos. Her journey started at Northwestern University, where she earned both her MD and biomedical engineering degree in the accelerated honors medical program, and took her from the academic halls of Harvard, University of California, San Francisco, and Stanford to the corporate offices of companies like McKinsey, Genentech, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Dr. Gujrathi’s new book, The Mirror Effect, will be published in November. Advance copies will be given to the first 15 students to arrive at Dr. Gujrathi’s 3 p.m. talk. A book signing will follow the talk. 

REGISTER FOR A DAY WITH SHEILA GUJRATHI

Individual students and student groups interested in attending breakfast or lunch with Dr. Sheila Gujrathi can email Bruce Ankenman and include the words "Meet with Dr. Sheila Gujrathi" in the subject line.

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Past Events

A Day with John Inazu: Learning to Disagree: Finding Common Ground in a Divided World

Tuesday, October 8, 2025

John Inazu is an author, first amendment scholar, and Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University Law School. Inazu shared his stories of finding the surprising path to navigating the difference between empathy and respect.

Read more about the John Inazu event.

A Day with Julie Lythcott-Haims: I Designed My Life – Now It's Your Turn!

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Former Stanford Dean, New York Times best-selling author, mother of twentysomethings, and expert on how to become a successful adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims shares stories from her own curious life as well as her work helping young adults from around the world navigate the turbulent waters of "adulting."

Read more about the Julie Lythcott-Haims event.

A Day with Cody Keenan: Finding the Silences: Building Calm into the Chaos

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Cody Keenan is a communications expert that formerly served as the White House director of speechwriting and is the New York Times bestselling author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.

Join us as Cody shares stories from his time at the White House and beyond, and learn how he tries to manage the chaos of life — from the highest levels of power to the everyday.

A Day with Dr. Karen May: The Human Side of Tech

Organizational Psychologist; Former VP of People Development, Google

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Join us as Dr. Karen May shares stories of leading the People Development team at Google from 2010 to 2020. With her team of 250, she helped Google grow from 22,000 employees to 130,000 in curious and intentional ways.

Karen's interest in mindfulness and meditation has informed all of her work, including her latest project as an advisor for Wisdom Ventures, which invests in entrepreneurs and early-stage companies that promote healthy connections, enhance wellbeing, and serve humanity in just and equitable ways.

Read more about the Karen May event.

A Day with Arshay Cooper:
How Can We All Row Together

Thursday, January 19, 2023

In celebration of the launch of the Personal Development StudioLab, join us as Arshay Cooper, author of A Most Beautiful Thing, shares his life-changing experience on the first all-Black high school rowing team at Chicago’s Manley High School and how it may serve as motivation for young people of color to pursue their dreams.

Cooper is also the protagonist of the critically acclaimed film “A Most Beautiful Thing,” and a Golden Oar recipient for his contributions to the sport of rowing.

Read more about the Arshay Cooper event.

Two Worlds of Wealth
Susan Garcia Trieschmann

Monday, May 1, Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Join us as Susan Garcia Trieschmann, CEO of Save Small Shops and founder of Curt's Café and Food For Thought, shares her inspiring story of overcoming poverty through entrepreneurial venture and then giving back to the community in a big way.

After operating Curt’s Café, a non-profit that employs and trains formerly incarcerated young people, for 10 years in Evanston and Highland Park, Illinois, Trieschmann is now writing another business plan — one focused on helping the graduates of Curt’s Café start and run their own businesses.

Read more about the Susan Trieschmann event.

Flash Forum: AC/VC

Matt Abrams (BSCE,95), How to Keep Charged in a High Energy Industry. Matt discusses his struggles as an undergraduate student and beyond.

Flash Forum: Cody Keenan

Cody Keenan, Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama, shared stories about finding balance in a demanding environment and living life with intention.

Flash Forum: Jim Wetherbee

Jim Wetherbee, Naval Aviator, Test Piot; Captain, US Navy (retired), Former Astronaut; NASA, Director, Flight Crew Operations, NASA, speaks to Northwestern Engineering students about living in the moment and bringing your best to whatever you do.