# Jessica Yagan

> Jessica Droste Yagan is the Chicago-based partner and CEO of Impact Engine. Her career connects public policy, urban economic development, sustainable sourcing at McDonald’s and investment strategies intended to link financial returns with positive social and environmental outcomes.

- **Role:** Partner & Chief Executive Officer at Impact Engine
- **Organizations:** Impact Engine, McDonald’s Corporation (former), Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (former), Global Impact Investing Network, The ImPact, Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at Chicago Booth, University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
- **Education:** BA in Public Policy, Haverford College, MBA, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, MPA, Harvard Kennedy School
- **Known for:** Led the creation of McDonald’s global and U.S. sustainable sourcing strategies., Recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business in its 2013 40 Under 40 list., Selected as a 2014 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2007** — Worked in urban economic development at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.
- **2007** — Completed the Harvard Kennedy School MPA; her alumni profile describes joining McDonald’s after graduate study.
- **Before 2014** — Spent seven years at McDonald’s, working on sustainable sourcing, according to her 2015 Harvard alumni profile.
- **2013** — Named to Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40.
- **2014** — Became CEO of Impact Engine and a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow.
- **2020** — Submitted a January 31 SEC comment defending stakeholder participation in shareholder proposals.
- **2025** — Featured in the Stanford case study Impact Engine: The Pursuit of Impact-Weighted Market-Rate Returns.

## Achievements

- Led the creation of McDonald’s global and U.S. sustainable sourcing strategies.
- Recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business in its 2013 40 Under 40 list.
- Selected as a 2014 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow.
- Led Impact Engine during its evolution from an accelerator into venture capital and private equity strategies.

## Latest updates

- **2025-11** — Described positive news, Abundance and Hoosiers as inputs that help sustain her optimism.
- **2025-08** — Appeared in the GIIN’s Impact Now series with Amit Bouri, discussing family assets and impact investing.
- **2025-02** — Commented on the expansion of the Bernstein partnership as its second impact fund closed with more than $40 million in commitments.

## Links

- Website: https://www.theimpactengine.com/jessicadrosteyagan
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drosteyagan/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/drosteyagan

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jessica-yagan
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-09