Reflecting on Baird’s Inaugural Multicultural Conference
As part of the firm’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and diversity (I&D), Baird recently hosted its inaugural Multicultural Community Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. More than 350 associates attended, including the majority of Baird’s Executive Committee. Designed to honor the contributions of Baird’s diverse associates, the conference featured a combination of outside speakers, associate-led roundtable discussions and training & development sessions that sparked candid discussion about I&D in our world and within Baird.
The conference was the culmination of a strategic goal set by the Special Task Force of Baird’s Executive Committee. Formed in 2020, this group works closely with councils of associates from each of our business units and corporate resource groups to drive I&D efforts across the firm.
“Given the broad distribution of our businesses and offices, the conference was a special opportunity for Baird’s multicultural associates from across the firm to connect with our senior leadership team in a meaningful way. By coming together in a dedicated setting, participants were able to candidly share, consider and discuss a variety of multicultural perspectives. In doing so, we hope to better understand the experiences of our diverse associates and improve their workplace experiences. The event was a major step forward in our efforts to develop more effective I&D strategies, and something we intend to continue and build upon in the future.”
- Steve Booth – Chairman & CEO
Mike Schroeder, Chairman of Baird’s Private Wealth Management business, spearheaded the initial idea for the conference. The event came to life thanks to the immense efforts of a planning committee led by associates from groups across the firm, including Corporate Access, Corporate Events, Human Resources, Global Investment Banking, Institutional Equities & Research, Marketing & Communications, Operations and Private Wealth Management.
Reflections from Our Associates
“We were able to bring together talented and passionate associates from across the firm,” said Scott. “Supported by the skills of the Corporate Events team, we shared ideas and strategies for the content of the conference. The strength of the team was its diversity, and the conference is the evidence.”
“The Multicultural Conference gave me the opportunity to see diversity from all parts of Baird, and this has motivated me even more to continue the work towards fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.”
“The conference added a new dimension to Baird’s efforts to bolster the engagement of associates of color, raise awareness of multicultural issues, educate allies and create a healthy, firmwide dialogue.”
“I feel extremely grateful to have been part of the planning committee and am so proud of everyone who contributed to this conference’s success. I'm excited to watch the ripple effect (this year’s theme) permeate throughout the company. Baird’s inaugural Multicultural Community Conference was another step in building a culture at Baird where everybody belongs and celebrates the diversity.”
“This was such an inspiring, memorable event, and I look forward to continuing the conversations that began in Nashville. Working with the many individuals who made the conference a success was an incredibly fulfilling experience.”
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PRISM represents multicultural diversity across the firm and strives to make Baird a more inclusive company for associates and clients.
