Winter 2019
February 13, 2019
Priya Shah is the Founder and Executive Director of The Simple Good, a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect the meaning of good from around the world in order to empower at-risk youth to become positive activists through art and discussion.
What career experiences led you to your current role?
At a young age I volunteered in developing countries where I witnessed the gap between business and the social sector. This led me to pursue degrees in Accounting & Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. My studies provided continued opportunities for international travel, which deepened my understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives. These experiences shaped my purpose, motivated me to work with youth, and created opportunities to help better communities in Chicago and around the world.
What is it you do on a daily basis?
As a Chicago creative and entrepreneur, I have directed my energy toward building a network of artists and collaborators dedicated to igniting social awareness and change through art and imagination. By uniting communities under a universal truth, I hope to bridge understanding across all walks of life in order to bring down obstacles separating us in working towards improving the lives of our children and, in turn, our future. In March 2015, I was asked to present my journey at TEDx River North where I delivered a passionate talk called, "How the Simple Things Create Hope."
Since then, I have received a number of honors, including being selected as an Ariane de Rothschild Fellow at Cambridge University, Brand Ambassador for Marc Fisher's #MAKEYOURMARC Women in Philanthropy, winner of MADE Magazine's Impact List 2016, and Chicago Women's Magazine Changemaker. Most recently, I am the Executive Producer for a documentary film on my journey of bringing The Simple Good to post-genocide Rwanda called Project: Building Hope, which is to be released Fall 2019.
What do you like most about your job?
The best part of my job is that not only am I able to empower communities around the world but am continually forced to challenge myself both professionally and personally. I learn new things and improve myself every day by developing and applying skill sets across a vast range of industries such as marketing, accounting, and branding to a humanitarian cause.
What advice would you give a student considering a similar career?
For anyone interested in pursuing a career in social entrepreneurship, I recommend pursuing education that challenges both sides of your brain—the tactical and the creative. Entrepreneurship takes a lot of execution and creativity; often both are needed at the same time. I studied business, pursued the arts, and studied abroad while in university, which allowed me to understand the application of business in a wider context—this is knowledge I still use every day. Get involved early with causes you care about—you’ll find that your passions will fuel your current skill sets to make a greater impact very quickly.