Innovative Executives League™

A community of innovators, entrepreneurs, and intrapreneurs with a growth mindset and a passion for innovation.

An exclusive forum carefully curated to provide visionary leaders with actionable solutions, insights, and connections to like-minded executives.

Insights

Insights

Become part of an innovation think tank. Discuss pressing topics, compare and contrast ideas, and have a professional sounding board.

Solutions

Solutions

Gain access to unique expertise and solutions to business challenges through roundtable discussions, workshops, and guest speakers.

Connections

Connections

Network with creative visionaries, discuss and debate strategies with domain experts, and rapidly expand your network of business relationships.

Why Join the League?

Why Join the League?

Join 1000+ senior leaders to network, exchange ideas, and share solutions at our private roundtable events.

  • Discuss challenges and receive guidance without any selling, demos, or PowerPoint presentations.

  • Develop meaningful connections with leaders from 250+ companies, ranging from early-stage startups to billion-dollar enterprises.

  • Attend intimate and highly interactive events offered monthly in a variety of formats; in-person, online, and hybrid.

Member Rules

All League members must agree to adhere to our Rules of the Road.

Member Rules
  • No selling allowed. The focus of our events is on the content and making valuable connections. No one wants to get stuck in a drip campaign. 

  • No free rides. When attending events, we expect everyone to participate by sharing resources, knowledge, or opinions. 

  • Chatham House Rules. Participants can use information and knowledge, but identities must remain confidential.

Meet the Founder

Meet the Founder

Patrick Emmons
Founder/CEO, DragonSpears

Because of his passion for Chicago, Patrick founded the Innovative Executives League™, a non-profit focused on connecting senior leadership organizations to increase innovation adoption. Over the past 4 years, this group has become a center of innovation and support for over 1000 members in the Chicagoland area.

Meet the Advisory Board

Jennifer Purrenhage

Jennifer Purrenhage

Director, Technology (Digital Transformation), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Dean Haacker

Dean Haacker

Chief Information Officer, Metropolitan Capital

Ann Madea

Ann Madea

Chief Information Officer, Simmons Bank

Dan Mannisto

Dan Mannisto

Chief Technology Officer, Vy Solutions LLC

Brian Martin

Brian  Martin

Head of AI in R&D, Abbvie

Jason Osterhage

Jason Osterhage

President & Chief Executive OfficerEverwise Credit Union

Rae Lewis

Rae Lewis

Chief of Staff to CEO, Aeris IoT SaaS

Join the League

Apply or refer a colleague for membership.