LinkedIn just released its "Next Wave" list, a look at the top professionals across a range of industries who are 35 or younger. And three local names cracked the list.
Now in its second year, LinkedIn's Next Wave list recognizes 120 professionals who are "transforming their industries" and making a "lasting impact on today and tomorrow’s business landscape." The Chicagoans on the list are:
- Emily Miller, co-founder and COO of Rumi Spice, an economic partnership that sources high-quality saffron directly from rural Afghan farmers. Chefs at Michelin-rated restaurants around the world use saffron from Rumi Spice, including Daniel Boulud and Eric Ripert. Miller also served in the US Army and was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, and has advocated for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and served as the first LGBT board member of KnightsOut.
- Phil Alexander, founder and CEO of ConceptDrop, an on-demand design service that connect businesses with freelance designers. ConceptDrop's algorithm matches projects--ranging from power points to info graphics to newsletters--with the best available designer in its network, and the project is turned around in 24 hours. ConceptDrop has worked with brands like Pepsi, Patrón, Sears, DTZ, and JP Morgan, and this year it was named to 500 Startups, a Silicon Valley early-stage venture fund and seed accelerator.
- Jessica Foust, director of culinary innovation at McDonald's. Foust is a dietician and chef that's helping remake McDonald's recipes and change the narrative around the world's biggest fast food chain. She's working to push nutrition at McDonald's and add more healthy options to the menu. McDonald's has recently taken proactive steps toward healthier eating like removing preservatives from chicken nuggets.
“LinkedIn has unique access to what is going on under the hood of the professional world and through our Next Wave list, we are identifying the leaders who are defining the future through their incredible and innovative work,” Daniel Roth, executive editor of LinkedIn, said in a statement. "This is an exceptionally inspirational group and I'm going to be following all of them; you should, too."
Other names on the LinkedIn Next Wave list include Don Burnette, the co-founder of Otto, a self-driving truck startup that was acquired by Uber, and Connie Chan, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz.
LinkedIn determined the 120 names by taking a close look at its own data, examining things like which profiles were most viewed by members in the same industry, a profile's social engagement performance, and the frequency that candidates appeared in the news. LinkedIn also used an editorial eye to narrow down the winners, and polled last year's winners and other experts.
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