Tiara Wheatley

Tiara joined ChiTech in 2011 after a successful career in corporate retail management. After exploring different career options, Tiara realized that her passion was working with Chicago’s youth. In 2011, while exploring different career options, Tiara found an amazing opportunity at Chicago Tech Academy. It was there that she began her career and her lifelong mission to make an impact on the lives of Chicago’s most deserving students.

Through her work at ChiTech Tiara has become a strong advocate of advancing the opportunities for young women and minorities in the field of technology. Through a number of volunteer opportunities, Tiara is actively working to bring opportunities and awareness to the amazing work of the students at Chicago Tech Academy.

It was during her first year at Chicago Tech Academy that she founded the Young Women’s Leadership Society. The Young Women’s Leadership Society (YWLS) is focused on introducing ChiTech’s young women to strong, successful females. YWLS examines stereotypes, explores the development of healthy relationships, and fosters the skills necessary for the cultivation of valuable professional networks.

Tiara is also the creator of and brains behind the annual Little Black Dress Night (LBDN). LBDN bringing together Chicago’s female (and male) tech community and celebrates women who are recognized as emerging women in tech and whose efforts are turning the tech industry on its heels and challenging the status quo! In 2020, Little Black Dress Night will host its 6th annual event.

Tiara is a Chicago native and a proud product of the Chicago Public School system herself. Tiara completed her undergraduate degree in Business Management at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and recently received her Master’s Degree in Educational Policy Studies from UIC as well.