Early Life
Penny Sue Pritzker was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 2, 1959. She is a member of the Pritzker family, a wealthy and influential business family. Her father, Donald Pritzker, co-founded Hyatt Hotels. Pritzker attended Castilleja School and graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in economics in 1981. She furthered her education at Stanford University, where she obtained a Juris Doctor and an MBA in 1985.
Rise to Success
After completing her degrees, Pritzker joined the Pritzker organization. She founded Classic Residence by Hyatt (later renamed Vi), a leading provider of upscale housing for seniors. From 1991 to 1994, she served as the chairperson of Superior Bank of Chicago. In 1995, she was named as one of three successors to her uncle, Jay Pritzker, and oversaw the Pritzker family assets with her cousins Tom and Nick. Pritzker is the founder and Chairman of PSP Partners and its affiliates Pritzker Realty Group, PSP Capital, and PSP Growth. Pritzker has also co-founded The Parking Spot and Artemis Real Estate Partners. She served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration from June 2013 through January 2017.
Key Business Strategies
Pritzker's career reflects a commitment to building and investing in businesses. Her strategies include founding and leading multiple companies, and taking on leadership roles in family businesses. She has a long-term, fundamental approach to investing in and building market-leading businesses.
Philanthropy
Pritzker and her husband, Dr. Bryan Traubert, co-founded the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation that works to foster increased economic opportunity for Chicago's families. The foundation focuses on physical activity for young people and increasing economic opportunity in Chicago. Pritzker has invested in education as part of Chicago's Board of Education.
