Vicki Heyman

Vicki has taken an active leadership role as an American cultural representative, engaging in cross border conversations and programs related to the arts, social innovation, and engagement of youth.

In partnership with the US Embassy Ottawa and the State Department’s Art in Embassies program, Vicki launched the seminal Contemporary Conversations speaking series at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC), bringing American contemporary visual artists to the museum to speak on universal topics of importance such as social justice, the environment, and identity. A cultural diplomacy outreach platform that is unique to US Embassy Ottawa, Contemporary Conversationshas engaged thousands of Canadians over 2015-2016 at the NGC and in the Ottawa community. Contemporary Conversations hasbeen featured in The Globe and Mail, The Ottawa Citizen, Canadian Art Magazine, La Presse, Ottawa Magazine, and more. This speaking series provided the foundation for many other artist and thought leadership programs that Vicki has organized or directly participated in at institutions across Canada, such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, The Power Plant, and the Royal Ontario Museum.

In 2011-2012, Vicki was a Co-Chair of the Illinois Finance Committee for the Obama for America campaign, and was an active member of the 2008 and 2012 Obama for America National Finance Committees, working to elect and re-elect President Barack Obama. From 2007-2008 Vicki was the Chicago Co-Chair for the DNC Women’s Leadership Forum, organizing female engagement in the politics. 

Extremely dedicated to worthy causes, Vicki leads the philanthropic efforts of the Vicki & Bruce Heyman Charitable Trust. She is on the foundation board of the Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and she has engaged for many years as a member of the Facing History and Ourselves Chicago Advisory Board. Vicki is an advisor for EMBARC, a Chicago-based organization that achieves student academic success through systematic, long-term social and cultural exposure.
Vicki began her career at Bankers Trust Company, where she worked in foreign currency sales and trading. She graduated with a BA in 1979 from Vanderbilt University and an MBA in 1980 from the Owen Graduate School of Management. People, ideas and creativity inspire Vicki. Having fun with family and friends is her greatest joy; she and Bruce have three fantastic kids and three beautiful grandchildren.