Michelle Collins has been recognized for her significant contributions to Chicago's business and civic community. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce will honor her with the Award for Distinguished Leadership on November 19 at Hilton Chicago.

Collins, a pioneering female leader in the city's financial sector, is also known for her advocacy in culture and education. Her impact is evident through various facets of her life and career.

Born on Chicago’s South Side, Collins attended the University of Chicago Lab Schools, then pursued higher education at Yale University and Harvard Graduate School of Business. She co-founded a private equity firm with John Svoboda after working at William Blair & Company, remaining an investor and advisor through Cambium LLC.

Her involvement extends to serving on boards such as CIBC, Ulta Beauty, and Ryan Specialty Group. Over three decades, she has contributed to nonprofits including the Chicago History Museum and the Field Museum. She holds trustee positions at several institutions and chairs National Louis University.

In college, Collins organized Centipede video game tournaments after fulfilling her academic requirements. She maintains an interest in games like Centipede and Tetris.