Danny Canary
Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management
Age: 36
“Husband, new dad, EMBA student and Portillo’s L&D VP passionate about people and growth.”
Hometown: Currently Evanston, IL – Originally Redding, CA
Family Members: Husband, 10-month-old son, parents, sister, in-laws
Fun fact about yourself: I began my career in a truly magical way—as a performer and character at Disney Parks and Resorts!
Undergraduate School and Degree: Ashford University (now University of Arizona Global Campus)
Where are you currently working? Portillo’s, VP of Learning & Development
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: As Class Ambassador, I advocate for my cohort with professors and administration, while building a supportive, inclusive culture aligned with Kellogg’s aim to develop impactful leaders. Additionally, as part of EMBA Pride, Kellogg’s LGBTQ+ group, I help foster a welcoming community that empowers everyone to show up authentically.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? The achievement I’m most proud of during business school is serving as one of two Ambassadors for my cohort. This role has given me the privilege to represent my classmates, voicing their perspectives with professors and administrators while helping shape an inclusive, supportive culture within our community. Being a Cohort Ambassador embodies Kellogg’s core value of leading with impact and humility, which resonates deeply with me. I’m proud because I’ve had the chance to directly impact my peers’ experiences. For example, many times, my peers have come to me to help them brainstorm how to balance school, work, and life. This role has also allowed me to grow personally, honing my skills in empathy, leadership and advocacy, which are qualities I deeply value and will carry forward beyond Kellogg.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The professional achievement I’m most proud of is learning directly from Southwest Airlines founder Herb Kelleher and President Emeritus Colleen Barrett, true pioneers in corporate culture and leadership development. Early in my career at Southwest Airlines, I had the privilege of developing leadership programs under their guidance, absorbing firsthand their insights on building organizations defined by purpose, culture, and care. This experience was transformative, and it deepened my passion and shaped my mission to support organizational growth through impactful learning and development. Learning directly from visionaries who literally wrote the book on leadership and culture continues to inspire me daily in my professional journey.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor was Suzanne Muchin, who taught Selling Yourself and Your Ideas. Her class was transformational and profoundly shifted my perspective on how to communicate my value and vision effectively. Suzanne is an absolute powerhouse and one of the most inspiring and genuine humans I’ve met. Her approach, filled with authenticity, passion and directness, empowered us to articulate our stories confidently and advocate for our ideas. Frankly, this course should be required for every MBA student—it’s that impactful.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I chose Kellogg’s Executive MBA program because of its approach to leadership, which focuses on driving high impact while acting with empathy. Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to organizations with strong legacies of excellence and culture, including Disney, Southwest Airlines, and Portillo’s. In each role, I’ve focused on creating meaningful impact and leading teams grounded in humility and purpose. When I encountered Kellogg’s philosophy and saw it genuinely embodied by the individuals I met, I knew immediately it aligned with my personal and professional values. Kellogg’s emphasis on collaboration, humility, and lasting impact resonated deeply with me, making the choice clear. Knowing that my work influenced an entire organization’s success drove me to find an MBA program that would help me think at an executive level. the EMBA at Kellogg was highly recommended by executives I had worked with throughout my career.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? The biggest lesson I gained from my MBA was the ability to approach business challenges through multiple lenses. Coming from an HR background, I naturally viewed issues primarily through a people-focused perspective. The EMBA, however, expanded my understanding of how all business areas connect and how each department pulls different levers to drive growth and success. This holistic view has helped me build greater empathy and significantly improved my problem-solving abilities. At work, I now better align my team’s efforts directly with our business strategy, clearly seeing how our initiatives impact overall results and identifying opportunities to deepen relationships across functions. For example, I am currently working on a large-scale transformation initiative that reimagines how employees in my organization learn. A deep understanding of various parts of the business and how their work creates value for the organization helps me drive an initiative grounded in reality and will truly impact the business.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? Halfway through my Executive MBA program, my husband and I welcomed our son through surrogacy. Suddenly, balancing work, school, and a newborn felt overwhelming. Thankfully, the EMBA administration treated me like family, handling my situation with incredible care and support. My classmates also rallied around me, offering help from babysitting during exams to checking in on my new family. The structure of the EMBA program allowed me to clearly dedicate weekends to school and weekdays primarily to family and work, with some homework sprinkled in between. This support system made a challenging time not just manageable but truly meaningful.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? My best advice is to make sure the culture and values of the program resonate with you. Understand what the school stands for, the types of students it admits, and the problems graduates tackle. Spend time visiting a class—observe how classmates engage and contribute to the learning experience. An executive MBA is ideal If you’re looking not only to learn from professors but also to expand your thinking through interaction with brilliant classmates. Most importantly, have a clear sense of what you hope to gain from the experience before diving into your research; it will help you find a program where you’ll truly thrive.
What was your biggest regret in business school? My biggest regret in business school was not leaning more deeply into the entrepreneurship-through-acquisition curriculum. On top of my job, my husband and I are actively acquiring businesses, I often find myself wishing I’d explored this pathway more thoroughly during my EMBA experience. While I benefited immensely from the program’s vibrant culture, engaging classmates, and thought-provoking discussions, dedicating more coursework specifically to acquisition strategies would have better prepared me for my current ventures. Reflecting back, having a clearer sense of my entrepreneurial goals earlier on could have guided my course selections more intentionally, enhancing the impact of my learning even further.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? It’s truly difficult to choose just one classmate from my cohort, as I’m surrounded by inspiring and hardworking individuals—single parents, active military members, tech entrepreneurs, doctors, and many others whose entrepreneurial spirit motivates me daily. But if you twisted my arm, I’d highlight Whitney Mercilus. As the son of Haitian immigrants and a former NFL player for the Texans and Packers, Whitney now focuses his energy on investing in impactful companies. He and his incredible wife, Megumi, are deeply dedicated to community work in the Chicagoland area, creating opportunities and advocating passionately for people with disabilities. Whitney’s humility, resilience, and commitment to meaningful change are qualities I greatly admire.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I chose the Executive MBA for two main reasons. First, as a learning and development leader, I wanted to deeply understand the business units I support. By directly experiencing the strategies, challenges, and operations across departments, I’m able to design training and skill-development programs that genuinely resonate and build teams ready to win. Secondly, I believed an EMBA would clearly differentiate me for future career growth, and this proved true. Midway through my program, my role at Ulta Beauty was eliminated during a restructuring. Thanks to the EMBA on my resume and the invaluable support from my executive coach, I quickly secured multiple offers within weeks. The EMBA didn’t just prepare me—it positioned me to navigate a challenging transition successfully.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I financed my EMBA primarily through student loans. I created a repayment plan that dedicates 25% of my annual bonus each year toward paying down the loan, which will allow me to pay it off within the next few years. I saw the EMBA as an investment, knowing it would position me for higher-paying leadership roles. This proved true even sooner than expected. I secured a better-compensated role midway through the program, reinforcing that pursuing the EMBA was a financially sound decision for me.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My ultimate professional goal is to become a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Entering the EMBA program, I wasn’t entirely sure of the exact direction I wanted my career to take. However, the program provided clarity, reaffirming my passion for supporting organizations through impactful people strategy and a strong, vibrant culture. By deepening my understanding of how businesses create value—and how different business functions interconnect – I’m now confident in my ability to drive meaningful results through thoughtful leadership, strategic talent development, and a culture that empowers organizations to thrive.
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