Sophia Shaw is cofounder of PlanPerfect, a software platform for nonprofit strategic planning and enterprise risk management. She currently serves on the board of trustees of Wellesley College and on the YPO Skyline (Chicago) and Social Impact Network Board boards, and is the family representative to the Winterbotham Collection at the Art Institute of Chicago. A USA Triathlon Level II–certified coach and open water swim coach, she is an advocate for adaptive sports, ecosystem conservation, and equitable access to nature. She was named Dare2Tri's Volunteer of the Year in 2022.

Drawing on her experience as a CEO, trustee, donor, volunteer, consultant, and educator, Sophia brings a deep understanding of nonprofit governance, leadership, strategy, and organizational effectiveness.

From 2016 to 2021, Sophia served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, where she directed Kellogg Board Fellows, connecting MBA students with Chicago-area nonprofits for board service, and taught courses on nonprofit governance and leadership. During this time, through her consulting firm, Sophia Shaw and Associates, she supported multiple organizations, including the Catalina Island Conservancy and the Schuler Education Foundation.

Previously, Sophia served as president and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the world's leading public gardens. During her decade of leadership, attendance increased by 52 percent to more than one million annual visitors, fundraising approached $240 million, and the Garden significantly strengthened its financial position and global reputation. Under her leadership, the Garden became a model for environmental conservation, urban agriculture, workforce development, and community-based education. Major accomplishments included completing transformative capital projects and launching a joint Ph.D. program in plant biology and conservation with Northwestern University. She received the Openlands Conservation Leadership Award and the Chicago Horticultural Society Medal.

Prior to the Chicago Botanic Garden, Sophia spent nine years at The Field Museum, where she served as vice president of exhibitions, education, and the library.

Her previous board service includes the board of trustees of the Art Institute of Chicago, the board of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, and The Arts Club of Chicago, where she served as board president. She holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), a MA in art history from the University of Chicago, and a BA from Wellesley College.