Steve Booth Receives Kellogg’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award

Baird announced today that Steve Booth, Baird Chairman & CEO, received the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Service Award from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University at their annual “With Gratitude” event on May 2.

The award is given annually to honor an alum who has made significant investments in shaping the school’s strategy, culture and brand, and effectively leading organizations. Booth earned his MBA from Kellogg.

Gordon Pan, President of Baird Capital and Kellogg alum, presented the award to Booth at the event. Booth was honored in a tribute video shown at the event, which featured Kellogg alums: Chris Coetzee, Booth’s classmate and Global Investment Banking Senior Advisor, and Greg Booth, Booth’s son and Global Investment Banking Associate.

In his remarks, Pan reflected on Booth stepping up to lead Baird as CEO under the most challenging of circumstances – the sudden loss of former Baird Chairman & CEO Paul Purcell, and a global pandemic that shut down the world, upturned the financial markets and created uncertainty in all aspects of people’s lives. “Steve rose to the challenge and proved himself to be the authentic and strategic leader Baird needed not only to weather the storm but also to take advantage of the circumstances,” Pan said.

“When I look at how Kellogg influenced Steve’s leadership style, I sum it up in four key attributes: 1) a commitment to culture, 2) a belief in teamwork and collaboration, 3) a focus on strategy, and 4) a desire to give back to the community,” Pan said. “Steve embodies all that is good about what makes Kellogg such a special place.”

Booth’s late father, Frank, a small-business owner, also attended Kellogg.