UIC alumni featured in ‘Forty under 40’ list

Crain’s Chicago Business “40 under 40” list.

Crain’s Chicago Business recognized the brightest minds reinventing industry and nonprofits in its “40 under 40” list last week. Among the 2018 class are some familiar faces — visionaries and outstanding achievers who were once UIC students.

Honorees include alumni from political science and pharmacy.

Coming in just under the 40-year mark is Haven Allen, who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UIC in 2009.

Allen is a 38-year-old co-founder and CEO of an innovation center for prototyping, developing and manufacturing physical products called mHub. The center fosters collaborations between industry and entrepreneurs to make solving challenges and creating new ideas more accessible.

Since 2014, the company’s coworking community has grown from 50 to 850 members, according to Crain’s. Revenue during that time has also increased from $68,000 to $2.8 million.

Breaking barriers in another industry is Rina Shah, a 2005 graduate from the UIC College of Pharmacy. Shah, who is 37, is the vice president of pharmacy operations and specialty at Walgreens.

While part of the corporate giant, Shah went from piloting an in-store immunization program to handling pharmacy operations across 9,560 stores.

She’s also an advocate.

“Behind closed doors, if there are women or people of color who have opportunities, I’m now in a position to help influence (others) and say, ‘That’s someone you should look at,’” she told Crain’s.

For the full stories and list of the best minds shaping Chicago, visit Crain’s Chicago Business.