Faculty and Staff

Sabrina Rahman

About

Professor Rahman has more than 20 years of experience advising top companies and government institutions on strategy and culture. She is a trusted C-suite and board-level advisor, specializing in high-performing cultures, authentic leadership, operations, strategy, and innovation.

In 2008, she played a crucial role as a leader in the Federal Reserve's largest division, where she oversaw operations, strategic planning, and communications. During her tenure she championed inclusivity and spearheaded initiatives to improve the division's culture following the 2008 financial crisis.

Sabrina started her career as a management consultant at Ernst & Young LLP. Later she worked as a corporate strategist at UnitedHealth Group and served as an advisor for the United Nations Development Program. In these roles she has advised large firms on strategy, operational effectiveness, and creating systemic organizational change from within.

She is currently an adjunct professor at both Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering and Design and Loyola University’s Quinlan School of Business. Prior to that she held the position of Director of Corporate Innovation and Strategy at MATTER, a healthcare technology incubator located in Chicago. In this role, she facilitated collaborations among various members of the healthcare ecosystem, including 200 startups, corporations, and hospitals, with the overarching goal of shifting patient care towards a more human-centered approach.

Sabrina holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She serves on the boards of Northern Illinois University Business School and Greenhouse Innovation. She is a Truman National Security Fellow and the founder of DiversityBoom, an online platform that supports women leaders of color. She was awarded the Department of State Critical Language Scholarship in Bangladesh as well as the German Marshall Fund Leadership Exchange in Japan. Her insights have been featured in US News & World Report and the Illinois State Journal-Register.

Professional Links

LinkedIn

Degrees

• MA, Columbia University
• BS, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Professional Employment

• Adjunct Professor, Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and Design, 2024-Present

Courses Taught

• MARK 467: Consumer Behavior