Making History Together

Although celebration of Black history can be done year-round, February is a special time of the year where I reflect on the sacrifices those who have come before me made for me to be where I’m at today. It is also a time where I think about the ways I can give back to those in the community to make Milwaukee a more equitable place for underrepresented communities.

Mylah Rice, Event Registration Coordinator

We strive to partner with organizations that share our commitment to improving lives and futures for others and the communities we share. In that spirit, we're proud to sponsor "Proclaiming Colorado's Black History," an exciting project led by the Museum of Boulder. Working in collaboration with community partners, the museum is gathering original oral histories and research to ultimately develop an exhibit and school curriculum that highlights Colorado's Black history. The project's ultimate goal is to highlight the stories and history of Black Coloradans and provide a starting point for community dialogue, as well as community action.

Building Bridges to Foster Inclusive Leadership

In 2021, Baird launched a unique mentoring program called Bridge Builders. Now entering its third year, Bridge Builders pairs members of Baird’s Executive Committee with associates of color across the firm and reverses traditional mentoring roles. The program aims to provide associate-mentors with a meaningful opportunity to engage and build relationships with Baird’s leaders, while executive-mentees have an opportunity to continue their own inclusion & diversity journeys.

Being resilient has served me well throughout my career, as there are obstacles to overcome, and I try to face them head on to accomplish my goals. I’ve learned that there is no substitute for hard work and tenacity.

Ardis Tabb – Director, Global Investment Banking

Investing in Black Entrepreneurs and Communities

Baird recently sponsored two events hosted by HYFIN, a streaming radio channel from Radio Milwaukee that is dedicated to playing the full spectrum of Black music. The organization hosted a small business forum for Black-owned businesses, which included a presentation on financial wellness from Baird associates Mark Falci, Bridget Lee and Kayla Phillips, with additional support from Kenan Peterson. We were also proud to sponsor HYFIN's inaugural Black holiday market, hosted on Small Business Saturday and featuring Black-owned businesses in the Milwaukee area.

Creating Opportunities for Diverse Students

We believe the best financial advice comes from diverse, multigenerational teams. In turn, we recognize the importance of investing in educational opportunities for students of diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and ensuring equal access to educational opportunities that can provide a pathway to impactful careers.

In that spirit, we launched the Baird Scholars program in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021 to support students of backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the business world. The program provides scholarships, housing assistance, mentorship and hands-on work experience in Baird's wealth management business.