We’re honored to feature Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Kristin Richards for this Economic Drivers profile, especially as we continue celebrating Women’s History Month all March long.
How long have you lived and worked in Illinois?
I was raised in Belleville, attended college in Illinois, and I’ve spent more than two decades working in government serving the great state of Illinois.
What inspired your career path and industry involvement?
My parents are very community and service-oriented, and that community-first mindset was a big part of my upbringing. From early on, I considered pursuing a career in which I could meaningfully give back to my neighbors, and I think that as a young woman, I knew that someday I would make my way into public service. It just so happens that career path started early; I began my public service career as a Dunn Fellow in the Illinois Office of the Governor and have been with the State of Illinois ever since. It has been a true honor to have witnessed and been part of the State’s recent success stories. Having played a role in solving some of the state’s most complex policy challenges over the last 20 plus years—in either my work in the executive branch or my time with the State Senate—I can see that those solutions have helped to lay the foundation for the robust economic successes we are having today.
As a woman leader in your field, what challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
I was fortunate enough to work for people who saw the value of letting young staffers in the room for complex conversations that required strategic policy solutions. I will never take for granted the importance of inviting trusted staff people, early in their careers, to be exposed to and given the chance to work on tough, complex matters. It is especially important if you’re able to bring diverse voices to a room that is otherwise lacking in diversity, and I’ve encountered those settings a lot over the years.
Can you share a key moment in your career that shaped who you are today?
I joined Senate staff in 2009, just as the State’s budget was reeling from the impact of the Great Recession. For many years after, the State legislature had tough budget choices to make, and I led the budget and policy-making process for the chamber majority, the Illinois Senate Democrats, and later served as the caucus’s chief of staff. Professionally, that time was a crash course in working with often distinct perspectives to achieve a common goal, and I’m grateful for the experience. That era was also a critical time in our state’s history and especially in 2015, 2016, and 2017, Illinoisans were looking to legislative leadership to solve a budget crisis, and the Illinois Senate Democrats delivered.
What do you love most about living and working in Illinois?
Illinois is truly in the middle of everything. From our central location, geographic diversity, and state parks, Illinois truly has so much to offer.
What policies, programs, or networks in Illinois have supported your professional growth or your organization’s mission?
DCEO’s mission is made stronger when we listen to and learn from others, and the various constituencies we work with to support economic development, job creation, workforce programming, and community infrastructure. My colleagues and I prioritize setting conversational tables with people who are solutions-oriented, and that has been critical to growing our positive impact as a department. I in part view my role as an agency director as leading a continuous improvement project—there is always room to learn and grow as an organization; we are never done.
What does Women’s History Month mean to you personally?
Women wear so many hats. All of us—regardless of gender—serve our organizations well if we keep in mind that in many families and communities, women are called upon to be the caretaker, the problem solver, the ultimate doer and in my experience, we women seem to do all these things at once without breaking a sweat!
What would you say to a young woman professional considering launching or relocating their career to Illinois?
Illinois values healthcare and no one understands the importance of that better than women in 2026. Not only is Illinois’ economic ecosystem thriving, but our state’s investments in improving our residents’ quality of life can positively influence a woman’s career trajectory, financial health, and overall wellness. In Illinois, state government prioritizes investing in quality early childhood programs, and programs that help senior citizens maintain their independence with professional care. These are just two examples of programs that can have a very real, very positive impact on a woman’s ability to stay in the workforce and continue her economic upward mobility.
Favorite Illinois historical figure:
Abraham Lincoln
Favorite book of all time:
100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Best business advice you’ve ever given (or received):
Always fall back on the truth.
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