Impact Partners exists to empower people to lead with intention, creativity, and confidence.
At our core, we believe leadership isn’t reserved for titles or offices, it’s a skill that can be learned, practiced, and grown. Our work sits at the intersection of design, leadership development, and career growth, helping individuals and organizations build the tools and learn the skills they need to shape meaningful futures.
We use human-centered design not just to solve problems, but to develop people, equipping them with the mindset, skills, and clarity required to lead change in their communities, workplaces, and lives.
We believe in
Empowerment
We believe people grow fastest when they are adequately supported. By connecting emerging professionals to mentors and real-world experiences, we create a network and a community that empowers individuals to step into leadership with confidence.
Innovation
We believe that innovation is fueled by new perspectives and thoughtful collaboration. We create environments to challenge the everyday assumptions, encourage creative ideation, and reframe problems to shape implementable strategy.
Commitment
We believe that in order to observe real growth, it takes commitment and consistency. Through one-on-one mentorship and experiential learning, we support individuals to do the work; to show up, to learn purposefully, and to build lasting professional relationships.
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Meet Our Founder
Kelly Costello
Kelly Costello is the founder of Impact Partners and a human-centered innovation expert who brings a consumer-centric approach to every challenge. She designs research-driven projects that put clients in their customers' shoes, translating authentic consumer insights into products and services that resonate with target audiences and drive real business results.
With experience spanning many industries, Kelly has built innovation capabilities for organizations of all kinds. She is also a sought-after speaker and educator, teaching at IIT's Institute of Design, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and executive programs at Notre Dame and Northwestern. Kelly holds a Master of Design from the Institute of Design at IIT in Chicago.