Diane Swonk

As one of the most sought-after economists in the world, Diane Swonk is called upon by policymakers and business leaders from Washington to Tokyo. One of the most quoted economists in the financial press, she sits on several advisory committees to the Federal Reserve Board, its regional banks, and the Council of Economic Advisers for the White House. Most recently, she was appointed to serve on the Congressional Budget Office's panel of economic advisers. An expert on the U.S. economy, she speaks about trade issues, regulation, taxes, the effect of government policy on the domestic market, and many other issues affecting business.

The Passionate Economist. Swonk is a senior managing director and chief economist for Mesirow Financial, a diversified financial services firm based in Chicago. She joined Mesirow Financial after 19 years with Bank One Corporation and its predecessors, most recently as director of economics/chief economist and senior vice president. She started her career with the legacy First Chicago Corporation in 1985 and quickly moved up the ranks, proving herself as a regional economist with her forecast for a renaissance in the Industrial Midwest just one year later. During her tenure there, Swonk designed the bank's regional model, published several nationally acclaimed studies, managed the Bank One Corporate Economics Group and published her first book: The Passionate Economist: Finding the Power and Humanity Behind the Numbers. She is seen regularly on national and international television and her commentary can be read in top financial news publications throughout the world, and Chicago magazine once said, "her name seems the very heartbeat of the business pages."

The Best of the Best. Swonk has earned many awards over her career. She was designated "Business Leader of the Year" by the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago, named a "Fellow" of NABE for her outstanding contributions to the field of business economics, and listed as one of the top forecasters in the country by the Wall Street Journal. Today's Chicago Woman named her the "Top Woman in Finance in Chicago" and the Chicago Sun Times recently crowned her one of the most influential women in business in Chicago.

Swonk has served on several boards including the National Association for Business Economics (NABE). Swonk was the youngest to serve as president in the association's history and continues to dedicate much of her time to improving the quality and timeliness of economic data, a critical aspect of policymaking. She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in economics with top honors from the University of Michigan. She also received a master's degree in finance and strategic planning with top honors from the University of Chicago. She currently serves as a Clinical Professor for DePaul University's highly rated evening MBA program.