Phyllis Lockett

Phyllis Lockett has been dedicated to transforming education in the U.S. for more than a decade. She is currently the CEO of LEAP Innovations, a 501(c)(3) social enterprise headquartered in Chicago. LEAP Innovations leads the nation in developing and scaling personalized learning practices, technology and innovations in classrooms throughout the US. Before starting LEAP, Phyllis was founding president and CEO of New Schools for Chicago, where she helped raise more than $70 million to bring quality public schools to communities of high need. She served as executive director of the Civic Consulting Alliance (CCA), a pro bono consulting firm for government agencies, and held marketing, sales and business development roles with Fortune 500 companies, including IBM, Kraft Foods and General Mills. Born and raised on Chicago’s south side, Phyllis is a graduate of the Chicago Public School system, and both of her parents were Chicago Public Schools teachers. She earned a Master of Management degree from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University.