Joanie Friedman is a designer of leadership programs, a facilitator, and a strategic consultant. Grounded in human-centered design, Joanie engages teams to reweave their social fabric and helps leaders to unlock their potential and build the relationships required for collective impact.

Joanie brings more than two decades of experience in leadership development. She spent 19 years at the University of Chicago, where she served most recently as the Executive Director of Civic Leadership. During her tenure, she was the visionary force behind several of the university’s most impactful community-facing initiatives, including the Civic Leadership Academy, the South Side Arts and Humanities Network, and the Civic Actor Studio. Drawing on her professional performing arts background, she grew the Civic Actor Studio in partnership with Court Theatre, creating a unique leadership program that uses theater-based practices to help leaders explore their power, presence, and influence.

Notably, Joanie designed and led the Community of Care project in partnership with Cook County’s Justice Advisory Council. This initiative, which engaged 150 violence prevention organization leaders, won a National Association of Counties award for its innovative approach to strengthening the local community ecosystem through collaborative leadership and cross-sector connection.

Joanie holds a bachelor of arts from Brown University and a master of education from DePaul University. She serves on the board of 3Arts, a nonprofit organization that invests in Chicago artists, supporting sustainable careers and strengthening the city’s cultural landscape.