Culture | Sep. 2025
TRENDING: CARRYING IT FORWARD
By Morgan Hogerty
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIA PONCE
STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA
HAIR & MAKEUP BY LEANNA ERNEST
Susan Hollender wearing Janet Mandel
SUSAN HOLLENDER grew up in the city, surrounded by a diverse community; her neighbors were from immigrant, middle-class families, and her classmates took long bus rides to attend her elementary school. Grateful for the education she received, she made a promise early on—to support organizations that expand access to childhood experiences and education; opportunities no child should be denied because of economic hardship. That promise has guided her ever since. Over the years, she has served on numerous boards and contributed to organizations that share her mission. One of her proudest moments? Watching a mentee graduate from Vanderbilt University Law School and go on to become an attorney at a prominent national firm. When several friends introduced her to the North Shore Board of the Northwestern Settlement (NUSH), she didn’t hesitate. Inspired by the group’s extraordinary women and their shared passion, Hollender quickly got involved. Today, she serves as one of the chairs of the upcoming House In the Wood Gala, taking place October 18. The annual fundraiser supports the Delavan, Wisconsin-based summer camp, which provides children from Chicago’s most economically challenged neighborhoods the chance to experience life-changing outdoor adventures and discover the joys of nature and friendship. Hollender is also a member of Pitch Your Peers, where she successfully advocated for NUSH and secured funding for the gala. By day, she leads growth at a national law firm. By night and on weekends, she’s often cheering on her sons from the sidelines.
ON HER NIGHTSTAND
“Magnesium butter, readers, lavender oil, dark chocolate, and gadgets that I’ve taken away from my boys, i.e., AirPods, chargers, etc. It changes daily.”
ON HER MOBILE
“I love to follow sites associated with my hobbies—architecture, cooking, fashion, and landscaping. For work, I like to follow national business and political outlets. I also enjoy sites related to middle age self-care—my current journey.”
IN HER EARBUDS
“My escape for mindless distraction is podcasts including: SmartLess, Betrayal, and The Mel Robbins Podcast. For music my go-tos are ‘90s pop, R&B/reggae/soul, and whatever is on my 10 and 12-year-olds’ playlists.”
