Here on the ‘Can You Hear Me?’ podcast, we always look for ways to elevate the discussion about communications and executive leadership skills. With that in mind, this episode begins a periodic series called ‘How They Do It,’ where we will interview top industry leaders to get their insights on these timely topics. Today co-hosts Eileen Rochford and Rob Johnson welcome Natalie Brown, CEO of Chicago-based financial services firm Mesirow.
Natalie A. Brown is Chief Executive Officer of Mesirow and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. As CEO, Natalie oversees firm-wide growth and profitability, the execution of strategic initiatives, and shareholder value creation, partnering with the firm’s Executive Chairman and Board of Directors to establish and implement all facets of corporate strategy. Natalie joined Mesirow in 2018 as Chief Financial Officer. In this role, she led the Accounting and Finance team, overseeing accounting operations, business accounting, audit and tax, as well as financial planning and analysis. In 2020, Natalie assumed the role of Chief Administrative Officer and, in 2021, she was named President. Prior to Mesirow, Natalie spent nearly two decades with Nuveen, most recently as Managing Director, Head of Nuveen Advisory Services Finance. During her time at Nuveen, she was instrumental in several financial and accounting capacities, including Head of Financial Planning and Analysis and Head of Investor Relations and Managing Director, Finance and Accounting. Prior to Nuveen, she worked at Kraft Foods and KPMG in accounting and finance roles. Natalie is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and sits on the Board of After School Matters, Big Shoulders Fund and the Executives’ Club of Chicago. Natalie is a LINK Unlimited Scholars Mentor and was appointed to the Dean’s Council of the Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. She earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and a Master of Business Administration from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.