EMILY DRAKE, OWNER AND CEO

Before you know it, Emily has you feeling like you can do anything. Some say it’s because she’s a licensed mental health counselor, but it’s really just who she is. She asks the questions that get you to the answers that lead you to believe in possibilities, including that your investment in the humans who work with you is more than worth it. An ardent supporter of diversity in leadership, Emily is as happy to lift others up as she is to speak up, and thrives on work with women in particular. Emily is a daily listener of The Daily Gist, reader of Block Club Chicago, and follower of experts like Priya Parker, Cal Newport, and Brené Brown. She has a BA from Augustana College and an MA from Northeastern Illinois University.

TODD CONNOR, FOUNDER

A three-time entrepreneur, Navy veteran, author, and new dad, Todd started The Collective Academy in 2014 to find a way to have the fulfillment conversation for himself. Over the course of five years, he grew the organization’s list of clients along with Emily and remains an active voice in client engagements and envisioning frameworks and strategies for growth. Todd is also founder of Bunker Labs, which supports military-connected entrepreneurs and small business owners, and Emerson House, a country manor retreat center. His second book, The Third Shift Entrepreneur, was published in 2020. He has a BA from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

CHRISTINE VREM-YDSTIE, HEAD OF CLIENT SERVICES

There are people who like to make others’ lives easier, and Christine is committed to doing that for The Collective Academy team. As Head of Client Services, she produces and plans events and ensures the back office runs smoothly. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her in-person, you can find her on-stage and on-screen, and recently behind the camera too, as an actress and director. Christine has a BA from Barnard College.

ERIKA HAALAND, OPERATIONS MANAGER

An experienced program director, operations manager, and educator, Erika's professional adaptability has allowed her to work with many incredible organizations, and The Collective Academy is no exception. As Operations Manager, she strives to create environments of collaboration through organization and compassion. When she's not working for TCA, she is facilitating social skills groups for neurodiverse teens, managing a therapy practice, and trying to keep up with her three-year old daughter. She has an MFA in Acting from the University of California, Irvine and a BS in Theatre from the University of Evansville. 

KEVIN JOHNSON

As a coach, Kevin is committed to building courageous leaders. Pulling from his experience leading learning and development programs within PricewaterhouseCoopers, Kevin now helps organizations around the world increase their capacity for curiosity and retain and grow incredible employees. Kevin is an author, speaker, and avid supporter of the arts in Chicago. He has an MA in Education from Wright Graduate University.