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Samir Mayekar

Managing Director, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at UChicago; Former Chicago Deputy Mayor

Samir Mayekar is a multifaceted leader with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, public service, and academia. He currently serves as the Associate Vice President and Managing Director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, a position he assumed on November 6, 2023.3 Additionally, he holds the role of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.2

Mayekar's career highlights include:

  1. Public Service:

    • Deputy Mayor of Chicago (May 2019 - May 2023), focusing on economic and neighborhood development.13
    • Served in the Obama Administration as part of the White House's national security team.3
  2. Entrepreneurship:

    • Co-founder and former CEO of NanoGraf Corporation, a lithium-ion battery technology company.13
  3. Academia:

    • Visiting Scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (July 2023 - Present).1
    • Lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago.45
  4. Education:

    • MBA and BA from Northwestern University.12

Mayekar is known for his innovative approach to urban economic development and high-tech innovation. He played a key role in initiatives such as INVEST South/West in Chicago.3 His diverse experience makes him well-suited to lead the Polsky Center's efforts in technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and fostering connections between the university and the broader community.3

He is also active in Chicago's civic community, serving on boards of organizations like the Metropolitan Pier and Exhibition Authority and Lyric Opera.23 Mayekar has received several fellowships and honors, including the Marshall Memorial Fellowship and the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans.12

Highlights

Sep 6 · linkedin

We were pleased to host Bloomberg Chicago Bureau Chief Isis Almeida in Hyde Park at the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago yesterday. Isis shared her global journey to becoming a journalist (and how she became a polyglot speaking 4 languages). She also shared a few insights:

  • Future of media is definitely trending more vertical with content for phones and generating multiple platforms worth of content for a single story (e.g. so it can resonate across TV, social media, web-based platforms, and print).

  • "News is not made in the newsroom" and the importance of reporters being out in the field meeting contacts and getting leads.

  • Bloomberg has the "right to win" in a few areas (finance, markets, money, power), and for companies - especially startups - to get coverage, it's important to target the right publication based on understanding their audience.

  • AI can be a powerful tool to automate certain stories (e.g. analytics/data-based pieces like pushing out commodity pricing alerts), but most journalism needs human review and fact-checking to be credible and maintain trust with readers.

It's always nice having a range of leaders join us for lunchtime discussions - thank you Isis and Bloomberg!

Aug 31 · linkedin

Had a nice visit this week from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay Deputy Director Milind Atrey who leads their innovation and entrepreneurship work. IIT-Bombay is one of the best universities in the world - it was my dad’s ticket to a brighter future (and America). Looking forward to finding for areas for collaboration!

Related Questions

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Samir Mayekar
Samir Mayekar, photo 1
Samir Mayekar, photo 2
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Location

Greater Chicago Area