Session 2 Speaker Bios

Founder & Director, Austin African American Business Networking Association Inc.

Malcolm Crawford is a longtime businessman and resident in the Austin Community in Chicago, IL.

He is most notably, the founder and director of the Austin African American Business Networking Association Inc., (AAABNA) a twenty-year established grassroots business networking and business advocacy organization.

 AAABNA has been instrumental in giving voice to area business owners who provide quality products and services to the Austin community. Malcolm was part of the team that created and development the B.E.E.R. concept, a series of Black Economic Empowerment Rallies which have been implemented throughout the Chicagoland area adding revenue to community businesses.

Malcolm currently serves at the Business Development Chairman of the Chicago Police Department 15th District creating innovative crime prevention strategies such as the Austin POWER 5k. as a way for residents, community organization and law enforcement to work together and showcase the best of the community.

Malcolm currently serves on the board of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce and has been featured in Crain’s Chicago Business as well as the Chicago Tribune WVON Radio and ABC 7. He has also served as a columnist for the Austin Weekly News. 

Malcolm is extremely proud of his most recent accomplishment, receiving the official cultural designation of "Soul City" and formally recognizing the Soul City Corridor as a black business district along Chicago Avenue in the Austin Community.

Philanthropist & Startup Founder/Advisor

Aaron is a transformational leader with 30 years of success in a wide variety of businesses. Aaron was most recently the chief executive officer at Rand McNally where he led the restructuring of Rand McNally’s business. In addition to his experience at Rand McNally Aaron spent 15 years at HERE Technologies. Among his many roles at HERE Aaron led their largest business unit with 3,500 team members and employees in 60 countries. He also served as the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, building on his early career experience as a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group.

Aaron earned his MBA in 2001 from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management where he graduated with multiple academic awards. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with dual majors in Russian and Russian Studies from The University of Iowa.

Today Aaron splits his time between philanthropic efforts, founding/advising early-stage startups and exploring as much of the world as he can on foot.

President & CEO, South Shore Synergy, LLC

Shelley A. Davis is a leader with more than 25 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations strengthen their governance, plan for leadership transitions, organizational culture, and build long-term sustainability. Her work is anchored in a deep belief that access, equity, and opportunity should be within reach for all families and communities.

Shelley began her career in crisis intervention counseling and policy advocacy before moving into philanthropy, shaped by graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago and early career positions at The Field Foundation, The Ford Foundation, and The Joyce Foundation. These experiences cemented her commitment to stewarding resources responsibly and partnering with communities to create lasting change.

She has held significant leadership roles across the sector, including Vice President at the Chicago Foundation for Women and inaugural Executive Director of the Forest Preserve Foundation. Most recently, as President and CEO of The Coleman Foundation, Shelley led a $200M institution through its first strategic plan, governance strengthening, and focused grantmaking of over $10M annually to advance entrepreneurship, health, and disability inclusion.

Today, Shelley serves as a fractional nonprofit executive and governance advisor through South Shore Synergy, where she supports organizations navigating succession planning, leadership transitions, talent systems, and culture change. She also serves as Senior Consultant to the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois, helping grantee organizations enhance executive leadership and board effectiveness.

Shelley’s civic leadership includes serving as a Trustee of Lawrence University and as a Partner with SVP Chicago. She previously served for a decade as an Illinois Commissioner of Juvenile Justice and as Chair of the Albert Pick Jr. Fund (2016–2025). She is also a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and the Chicago Chapter of the Private Directors Association.

She occasionally lectures at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business’s Rustandy Center for Social Innovation, where she mentors graduate students on how nonprofits and philanthropy influence public policy.

Recognized as a Top Philanthropist by Better Media Group and named to Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Black Leaders and Who’s Who lists (2022–2024), Shelley brings both expertise and heart to every engagement. She lives in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood with her husband and two young adult children and finds joy in storytelling, biking, swimming, yoga, and travel.

Executive Director, Imagine Englewood If

Michelle “Chellee” Rashad is passionately rooted in the Greater Englewood community. She serves as the Executive Director of Imagine Englewood If and is a founding member of the We Grow Chicago Collective.

With over a decade of experience in youth development, community strategy, and nonprofit leadership, Chellee leads transformative work. Her leadership centers on the Peace Campus, a community resource ecosystem created through the transformation of 16 formerly vacant properties into safe spaces that empower youth, strengthen families, and deepen community connection.

Chellee is a distinguished member of Toastmasters International and an award-winning public speaker. Her leadership has taken her across the country and around the globe to connect with changemakers and share strategies for community transformation. Her work has been featured in major outlets including ABC, WGN, the Chicago Tribune, and The Guardian.

A proud Howard University graduate grounded in truth and service, Michelle leads with joy, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the power of collaboration and community.

CEO, Inflowio

Monali Shah is a transformation catalyst at the intersection of technology, social impact, and personal growth. With leadership roles at Google, HERE Technologies, Nokia, and NAVTEQ, she has pioneered advancements in AI, digital mapping, smart cities, and mobility. She has served on boards including ITS America, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Smart Mobility Initiative, and the University of Michigan Transportation Institute.

Through her company, inflowio, Monali now helps leaders, teams, and organizations find clarity in the midst of complexity and build the courage to move forward. Whether she’s coaching an executive, advising an organization looking to grow its impact, or speaking to thousands, Monali bridges vision and action, head and heart, innovation and humanity.