Ann Drake ’84 MBA on Making Change Happen | Kellogg Full Circle Campaign

Why It Matters

Drake’s message positions purpose‑driven leadership as a competitive advantage, urging business leaders to act now on global challenges and measurable philanthropy.

Key Takeaways

• Kellogg alumni prioritize team-oriented, impact-driven leadership in business.
• Globalization demands leaders who drive rapid, responsible change.
• Philanthropy should be immediate, measurable, and mission-focused for impact.
• Graduates must act, not remain passive bystanders in societal challenges.
• Future success hinges on purposeful, collaborative problem solving across sectors.

Summary

Ann Drake, a 1984 MBA graduate, appears in Kellogg’s Full Circle Campaign to argue that the school’s hallmark is leadership that serves both the team and the greater good. She frames this ethos as essential for navigating today’s fast‑moving, globalized environment and for shaping the next generation of business leaders.

Drake stresses three core ideas: leaders must be results‑oriented for collective benefit, philanthropy should be pursued now with visible outcomes, and individuals have a responsibility to act rather than remain bystanders. She links these concepts to the broader need for rapid, responsible change in a world where globalization amplifies both challenges and opportunities.

Notable moments include her assertion, “We live in a world that we can’t stand around and be bystanders,” and her call to “do philanthropy while you can see it happening.” These remarks underscore a sense of urgency and personal accountability that she believes defines Kellogg alumni.

The implications are clear: businesses and alumni networks are urged to embed purpose‑driven, collaborative problem solving into their strategies. By championing immediate, measurable impact, Kellogg graduates can position themselves as leaders who not only adapt to change but actively shape it.

Original Description

Ann Drake ’84 MBA, a distinguished Kellogg alumna and namesake of the Ann McIlrath Drake Executive Center, shares why philanthropy and leadership are essential to Kellogg’s future. Ann exemplifies what it means to be a Kellogg Leader and underscores the active role alumni play in keeping Kellogg at the forefront of business education.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Ann says. “We can’t be bystanders. We need to make things happen.”

Join Ann and Kellogg in shaping what’s next and investing in impact that matters.

Give today: https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/alumni/give/full-circle-campaign/ways-to-give/