Vanessa Z Chan — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Recognized on Time100’s 2024 list as one of the world’s 100 most influential business leaders in climate.
Inaugural Vice Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Engineering School and Jonathan & Linda Brassington Professor of Practice.
Founded re.design, a company dedicated to reinventing consumer products.
Served as Chief Commercialization Officer at the U.S. Department of Energy, instrumental in advancing clean energy technologies through "Pathways to Commercial Liftoff" reports.
Partner at McKinsey & Company for 13 years, where she co-led the innovation practice.
Served as Undergraduate Chair of the Materials Science Department at the University of Pennsylvania.
Member of the Executive Committee of Penn Health Tech, bridging the School of Medicine and Engineering School.

Biography

Vanessa Chan is the inaugural Vice Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Engineering School and the Jonathan & Linda Brassington Professor of Practice. At Penn, she focuses on educating and training engineering students in technological innovation and entrepreneurship, and supporting the commercialization of university technologies.