Biography
Holly Copeland is currently the founder and ceo of impact.c3, a boutique consulting firm whose differentiated value is in their experience and ability to understand the complexities that underpin entrenched societal problems and to creatively deploy capital to amplify the impact of clients.
Prior to launching impact.c3, Holly oversaw Horizon Therapeutics global philanthropy, a department she built from the ground up. In that role, she was responsible for building and implementing Horizon Therapeutics’ award winning global corporate social responsibility portfolio.
In addition to being inducted into the Corporate Social Responsibility World Leaders at Parliament in 2019, Horizon was named by People Magazine as a Top 50 Company That Cares multiple times. Holly has built several internationally award winning programs, executive produced an emmy award winning short form video, built acclaimed community events in partnership with the Chicago Cubs & Bulls and launched a global innovation prize with MIT. She has also co-founded the 3.8 Project and published a children‘s book with her daughters about a teacup pig stepping into her power.
Holly is a current Board member of Chicago Innovation and on the Advisory Boards of Shopping.Gives and MATTER. She is a previous Board member of Perspectives Charter Schools, the Chicago Council on Science and Technology, the President’s Council of the Museum of Science and Industry. She is also a co-founder of the 3.8 Initiative, a founding mentor of Chicago Innovation’s Women Mentoring Co-op, and a former member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Women and Global Development Advisory Committee.
Prior to joining Horizon, Holly led the Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technology for the state of Illinois, which involved the management of a $144 million portfolio that provided technical assistance & financial support for Illinois’ small businesses and innovation ecosystems. Under Holly’s leadership, special attention was paid to ensuring investments focused on fostering the inclusion of communities of color and women. Holly has also served as CEO of a privately-held, boutique consulting firm, was President of the Illinois Inaugural Committee, former Governor Pat Quinn’s Chief Operating Officer, and Director of Development for a statewide non-profit organization.
Holly has a Master’s Degree in International Affairs/International Political Economy from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Illinois, Springfield (where she also earned a graduate certificate in nonprofit management & her undergraduate degree in Business Administration). She is the proud mother of two curious and creative daughters, with whom she co-wrote the children’s book, “Teca, the teeny, tiny, teacup pig & her BIG world.”