Venu Gupta

Venu Gupta is a dedicated advocate for fostering solidarity and political engagement among people of color from diverse backgrounds, with a focus on promoting antiracism and racial justice practices in political settings.

With over 20 years of experience as a coach and consultant, Venu supports individuals and organizations in aligning their values, missions, and communities for social change across various sectors like law, business, media, education, and nonprofit.

Venu Gupta has an extensive educational background, including a JD from Harvard Law School, an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, a BA in Economics from Tufts University (summa cum laude), and studies at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Having held key roles in esteemed organizations such as Solidarity Futures, I Grow Chicago, The 360 Group, Y of the North, and the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, Venu has been instrumental in transforming organizational cultures, strategies, and leadership through a race-forward lens.

Venu Gupta's accomplishments include significant increases in revenue and assets at Sargent Shriver, transitioning I Grow Chicago into a Black-led hub, and empowering Asian Americans in Illinois through enhanced civic power and engagement.

Throughout Venu's career, they have served in various leadership capacities, including CEO and Founder at Solidarity Futures, Scholar at Presidential Leadership Scholars, Interim Executive Director at I Grow Chicago, Director of Development, Midwest at Mother Jones, and Vice President of Development at Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, among others.

Venu Gupta's professional journey also encompasses roles such as Executive Director at Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms, Director of Diversity Education & Outreach at Northwestern University School of Law, Associate at Sachnoff & Weaver, Ltd., and Law Clerk to the Honorable David H. Coar at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, exhibiting a profound commitment to social justice and equity.