The Women of Baird - Mei Robertson

Firm

Mei Robertson, short dark hair wearing bright red-orange shirt, sitting in Baird office.

Mei Robertson, Director of Client Reporting

10 Years With Baird

For decades, women have been building rewarding careers at Baird, with no limits on their ability to advance in the organization. In this series, some of our most successful women talk about how Baird has helped their careers and talents to flourish.

Here, Mei Robertson, Baird’s Director of Client Reporting, discusses how the high-quality people at Baird have helped stretch her talents, and why you should never corner a raccoon.

Why did you choose a career in financial services?

I fell into financial services by chance. My degree is in Chinese and Japanese with an emphasis on literature and film, but I interned for a firm in Tokyo during college, and had the chance to join another asset management firm in Los Angeles when I graduated. I had the opportunity to explore a variety of different roles, and learned all the ways that financial services can have an impact on our communities. I quickly developed a passion for the industry.

Why did you choose to do what you do at Baird?

I’ve had roles roles in Compliance, Risk Management, and now Operations at Baird. Each role I’ve had has given me an opportunity to explore new areas of the firm and to use or grow my skill set in different ways, all in the service of contributing to the success of the firm.

What is your favorite part of your job?

All of the roles I’ve had at Baird have involved problem solving and critical thinking, and I enjoy the opportunity to find creative solutions to support the overall goals of the firm. In addition, I have always had a chance to work with a group of high-quality people who have made me stretch my talents in ways that have made me better at my job.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten and who gave it to you?

A former colleague of mine had also been a liberal arts major who found his way to financial services. His advice for me was: “Never corner a raccoon, and always make time for love.” It reminds me to not only make time for my family and personal life, but also to ask myself, “Do I love what I’m doing?” Time can be scarce, and I have to love what I’m doing in order to feel balance in my priorities and make the contribution that I want to make.

How do you like to spend your time outside the office?

I have two children, and we try to spend as much time as we can exploring things in Wisconsin or traveling internationally to expand their view of the world. It’s for them, but it really benefits all of us. To see things that are unfamiliar is exciting and refreshing for me as well.

Tell me something about you that has surprised people.

I’m not someone who loves the spotlight, but I spent a summer studying traditional Chinese opera and martial arts in Taiwan. At one point I got to perform in a spear-fighting scene – complete with a six-foot-long bamboo staff.