Aaron Olson BA ’96 has always loved solving complex problems and helping others, which he credits to his days as a philosophy and English major at North Park. While the problems he’s engaged with today as executive vice president (EVP) of Aon are less esoteric than those of a philosophy undergrad, they are still meaningful.

The fifth generation of North Parkers in his family, Olson, whose parents are both ordained ECC pastors, celebrates 25 years with the risk management company this year. His path to becoming EVP of Aon began with an interest in leadership at NPU, where he served as president of the Student Government Association.

This interest grew into a passion for leadership, which drove him to pursue a Master of Education from Northwestern University. He also served on the faculty at NPU and Northwestern, teaching leadership courses and coauthoring a book titled Leading with Strategic Thinking.

The ideas I studied in philosophy and the values I learned at North Park align with the problem solving and mentoring that I do today.

“The ideas I studied in philosophy and the values I learned at North Park align with the problem solving and mentoring that I do today,” he said. The sophisticated problem solving he contributes to at Aon includes figuring out how to help healthcare companies anticipate changes that come with the rapid advance of medicine and technology.

Helping others succeed is another vital aspect of his work. He is most proud of creating Aon’s apprenticeship program, profiled nationally in the Wall Street Journal, which helps City Colleges of Chicago students work toward their associate’s degrees while gaining valuable work experience. “We were one of the first companies in Chicago to provide this alternative career path,” he said.

Olson is also the executive sponsor of Aon’s partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which aims to create a more diversified talent pipeline through curriculum development and internships.

Finding time to give back to his alma mater, Olson has served as a member of North Park’s Board of Trustees since 2017, where he is vice chair of the finance committee and champion of the DEI campus climate study. “Our focus on first-generation students and social mobility was true a century ago with Swedish immi- grants and remains true today with our student community,” he said.