This summer, four Driehaus alumni were named to Crain’s Chicago Business’ annual list of Notables in Finance. They are: Sheena Gray (LAS ’04, MBA ’18), Karen Larson (MBA ’14), Nicole Latimer Williams (BUS ’96), and Marianne Markowitz (MBA ’92).
The Driehaus alumni stand out not just for their extraordinary leadership in sectors as diverse as city government, higher education, and human resources, but for their commitment to giving back.
Whether they’re working to narrow the Black wealth gap or the gender lending gap; whether they’re expanding access to higher education or workforce development — for all four women, social good is woven into the work they do.
Driehaus got the chance to speak with a couple of the honorees. Read on for their reflections on their career journeys and how Driehaus fits in.
Karen Larson (MBA ’14)
When did you know that finance was the field for you?
I realized early in my career that I was drawn to the intersection of strategy and numbers. Finance gave me a way to both understand the bigger picture and translate it into actionable decisions. What sealed it for me was seeing how financial stewardship could directly impact people’s lives — whether through organizational growth, job creation, or community investment. That sense of purpose has kept me in the field.
How would you sum up your DePaul experience in one word?
Compass. My time at DePaul gave me clarity and direction — it helped me figure out what I wanted to pursue in my career.
Is there something that you learned at DePaul that you still think about today?
Adaptability. DePaul taught me to think critically and apply knowledge in new ways, which continues to guide how I approach challenges and opportunities.
HIRE360 is a relatively young organization — and you’ve been with it since the beginning. What has that experience taught you about managing growth in an organization? About the role of building systems from the ground up, rather than working within existing systems? How did you navigate the balance of opportunity and uncertainty?
Helping to build HIRE360 from the ground up has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. It taught me that growth isn’t just about scaling numbers — it’s about building the right systems and culture to sustain that growth. Starting from scratch gave us the freedom to design processes that truly serve our mission, but it also meant navigating uncertainty every day. I’ve learned to embrace that balance by grounding decisions in data while staying open to innovation. Growth requires patience, persistence, and trust in the team you’re building with.
What do you love about what you do? What do you wish more people understood about finance and operations?
I love that my work creates the foundation for impact. Finance and operations may not always be the most visible part of an organization, but they are the structures that make everything else possible. What I wish more people understood is that finance is not just about spreadsheets and compliance — it’s about enabling opportunity. Strong financial and operational systems give organizations the freedom to dream bigger and serve more people. At HIRE360, that means helping communities thrive by creating pathways to lifelong careers in the unionized construction trades.
Marianne Markowitz (MBA ’92)
When you founded First Women’s Bank, you did so with the goal of closing the “gender lending gap.” What contributes to this gap in who access capital?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that the issue isn’t just about a gap in who can access capital. It is often linked to a confidence gap. One of the barriers women often encounter is the fear they feel: fear of discussing financing, or a magnified fear of failure. Helping a client or prospect feel seen, heard, and validated can help close that confidence gap and set them on the path to accessing capital.
As the founder of a new bank, you’re an entrepreneur yourself. At the same time, part of your business is lending to fledgling businesses. What has that taught you about lending to entrepreneurs?
We are the first new bank to launch in Illinois in over 15 years. While we have graduated from the start-up stage, our recent experience raising capital and building a team to launch a bank from the ground up — during a pandemic no less — gives us the ability to understand the persistence required to succeed.
Our first-hand experience of the daily pressures faced by entrepreneurs makes us a uniquely empathic financing partner. We understand the significance of the end result, but also the importance of saving minutes along the way, the critical need for frequent communication and creative solutions.
The entrepreneurial journey is difficult for everyone — but maybe doubly so in industries with tight regulations and a high need for trust. What has the process of launching a bank taught you about entrepreneurship?
Banking is a highly regulated, capital-intensive space where trust is everything. When we launched First Women’s Bank, we weren’t just trying to build a compliant institution – we were reimagining what a bank could be and how it should show up for women and small businesses. That required a fundamentally entrepreneurial mindset: relentless problem-solving, bold vision, and a deep belief in the mission, even when the odds felt stacked against us at times.
At the same time, I’ve learned that being an entrepreneur means you need to be both visionary and incredibly detail oriented. You must imagine the future while operating within a highly structured system. That tension can be challenging, but it’s also where real innovation happens.
When you think back on your career, what were some of the major turning points? How would you advise today’s students?
One of the most transformative moments in my career was realizing that I didn’t have to choose between using my skills and living my values, they could be aligned. When that happened, everything shifted. Work became more fulfilling, and I felt like I was contributing to something much larger than myself.
That doesn’t mean every step in your career will be perfectly aligned. Early on, I had roles that challenged me to grow and develop my skills, even if they didn’t fully reflect my personal mission. But over time, I kept coming back to that alignment. And when I finally stepped into roles, like launching First Women’s Bank, where purpose and expertise met, it was life changing.
For students, especially those just starting out, my advice is this: get clear on what matters most to you. Not just in terms of what you want to do, but in the kind of impact you want to have. Your values are your compass. They help you make decisions when things are uncertain, and they give you the strength to say yes or no when it really counts.
So be patient but be intentional. Ask yourself: Does this opportunity move me closer to the kind of leader I want to become? And don’t be afraid to take risks that align with your purpose, even if they’re outside the traditional path. That’s where the most meaningful growth happens.