Biography
About Sophia
Sophia leads the firm's nonprofit practice and is Cofounder of PlanPerfect, a software platform for nonprofit strategic planning and enterprise risk management. Drawing on her experience as a CEO, trustee, donor, volunteer, consultant, and professor of social impact, she brings a deep understanding of nonprofit governance, leadership, and organizational effectiveness.
From 2016 to 2021, Sophia served as an adjunct professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where she also directed Kellogg Board Fellows, connecting top MBA students with Chicago-area nonprofits for board service and teaching courses on nonprofit board governance.
From 2006 to 2016, Sophia served as vice president and then president and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the world’s leading public gardens. During her tenure, attendance increased by 52 percent to more than one million annual visitors, fundraising reached nearly $240 million, and operating results strengthened significantly. Under her leadership, the Garden became recognized as a model for environmental conservation, urban agriculture, workforce development, and community-based education, while completing major capital projects and launching a joint Ph.D. program in plant biology and conservation with Northwestern University. She received the Openlands Conservation Leadership Award and the Chicago Horticultural Society Medal.
Earlier in her career, Sophia spent nine years at The Field Museum, most recently as vice president of exhibitions, education, and the library. She also held curatorial roles at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Sophia serves on the board of trustees of Wellesley College and is a director of the Winterbotham Collection at the Art Institute of Chicago. Her prior board service includes the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), and The Arts Club of Chicago, where she served as president. She is a Level II USA Triathlon–certified coach and Dare2Tri’s 2022 Volunteer of the Year.
Interviews and Speeches
Operational Sustainability: Are Botanic Gardens an endangered species? - Smithsonian NMNH
Why the Botanic Garden's chief has an un-botanical office, Crain's Chicago Business
From Overwhelmed to on Track: Strategic Planning That Actually Works, 2025
Sophia Shaw, President & CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden
Openlands 2016 Annual Award Luncheon
Sophia Shaw, Chicago Tonight, WTTW, 2007
Using AI to Simplify Your Nonprofit’s Strategic Planning, 2025
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) Keynote 2013
WTTW Chicago Tonight Interview with Sophia Shaw
Essays and Articles
"Planning: Strategy, Risk Management, and Succession — The Leadership Tools That Build Resilient Institutions"(December 8, 2025)
"Nonprofits may fill in the gap left by federal abandonment. But that isn’t desirable." Chicago Tribune Editorial (May 2025)
"When the Power Goes Out: Strategic Planning Shapes Operational Decisions" Nonprofit Hub (September 2025)
“How to Create a Diverse Board of Directors and Empower It to Thrive,” With Jenny Fisher and Angelique Power, Kellogg Insight (September 2019)
“Plan to live a full life because we very well may make it to 100”—my mom (January 8, 2019)
“Elevate College Access and Success Program (Board Meeting Role-play Exercise),” Kellogg Case Publishing and Harvard Business Publishing (December 2, 2018)
It is a Myth that Nonprofit Organizations Don’t Need to Make a Profit (October 14, 2018)
Gardening and Mental Health (February 28, 2017)
Running: Steps I Took to Find “the Zone” (February 27, 2017)
Five Succession Planning Steps to Overcome Founder’s Syndrome (February 21, 2017)
“Cultivating the Power of Plants to Sustain and Enrich Life: How Public Gardens Can Realise our Purpose by Focusing on the Basic Human Needs Universal to Diverse Audiences,” chapter 8 in Plant Conservation Science and Practice: The Role of Botanic Gardens, Stephen Blackmore and Sara Oldfield, editors, Cambridge University Press (with Jennifer Schwarz Ballard, 2017).
“The Positive Effects on Mental Health of Visiting Botanic Gardens,”Sibbaldia, the journal of botanic garden horticulture published by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (November 2015)
“Gardening and Mental Health,” Sibbaldia, the journal of botanic garden horticulture published by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (November 2015)
“Mentoring Is Critical to Keep Minorities in STEM,” Entrepreneur online (July 9, 2015)
“Life Lessons From the C-Suite: Chicago Botanic Garden’s Sophia Shaw,” (March 9, 2015)
“It’s Time to Teach Climate Change in School. Here’s How,” The Guardian online (September 2014)
Profiles
"Reimagining Nonprofit Strategy" YPO Impact in Action Podcast (November 2025)
Sophia Shaw on Philanthropy in Phocus with Tommy DiMisa (April 4, 2025)
“Meet Sophia Shaw” Bold Journey (December 23, 2024)
“Cancer Center Switches Focus on Fundraising as Problems Mount,” Katie Thomas, The New York Times (September 25, 2018)
“An Evolving Collection,” The Art Institute of Chicago Member Magazine, July/August 2018, p. 43
“65 Years, 65 Faces of IES Abroad—Sophia Shaw,” IES Abroad (October 2015)
“Sophia Shaw Leaving Botanic Garden,” Crain’s Chicago Business (June 16, 2015)
“Women in CSR: Sophia Shaw Siskel,” Chicago Botanic Garden,” Triple Pundit (October 29, 2013)
“Executive Profile: A Bold Plan for Growth,” Chicago Tribune (July 1, 2013); section 2 cover story
“One CEO’s garden ethic,” WBEZ 91.5 Chicago (Chris Bentley blog April 6, 2013)
“100 Women to Watch 2012,” Today’s Chicago Woman (TCW)(July 2012)
“History Abounds in Arts Club Naming Sophia Siskel to Board Chair,” Crain’s Chicago Business (October 31, 2011)
“Growing Together,” Northwestern Magazine (Spring 2011)
“Botanic Garden plans $250 mil. of new growth,” Crain’s Chicago Business (April 12, 2010)
“In Winter Gardens, A Marriage of Botany & Stark Beauty,” The New York Times (January 8, 2010)
“Focus: Women to Watch,” Crain’s Chicago Business, May 5, 2008, p. 36.
"Garden Variety," University of Chicago Magazine (October 2007)
“Great Chicago Families,” Chicago Magazine (February 2005)
“Field of Opportunity: Sophia Siskel ’99 Leads Chicago’s Field Museum Into 21st Century,” Kellogg World Alumni Magazine (Summer 2003)
“Museum’s Goal: Saving the World’s Wild Places,” The New York Times (November 5, 2002)
“Forty Under 40,” Crain’s Chicago Business (November 4, 2002)
“Frontlines,” Chicago (October 2002)