Susan Abrams
Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
2021
Susan Abrams is Chief Executive Officer of Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, the third largest Holocaust museum in the world. Under Susan’s stewardship as CEO, the Museum has become a global leader in connecting the history and lessons of the Holocaust to the present day, equipping audiences with the knowledge, skills and courage to take a stand for humanity. The Museum has used breakthrough technology, including interactive holograms and virtual reality film experiences, to change the trajectory of Holocaust memory and education and was awarded the National Medal by the Institute of Museum & Library Services, the highest honor for a museum. Susan believes that powerful storytelling combined with interactive technology turns the lessons of history into experiences that build empathy, a quality vital to standing up against injustice. Susan is an award-winning producer of films and exhibitions, and the author of The New Success Rules for Women (Random House, 2000).
Abrams also has held leadership positions at Northwestern University, Chicago Children’s Museum, and JCC Chicago and worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company and an Analyst at Goldman Sachs. She has an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a BSE from the Wharton School and a BA from the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Summit was more than empty words – it made clear that a solution-driven approach is the only way to fight hate. That’s why the working group activities, which are results driven are going to be critical in defeating violent extremism. The Summit brought together the best minds in government, private sector, academia, and civil society. Being surrounded by these experts sparked new ideas – some of which I’ve already implemented or have written about.
