
Vanessa Baird-Streeter discusses her journey from Goldman Sachs to making history in government and her ongoing efforts to create systemic change.
Vanessa Baird-Streeter grew up in one of the most segregated areas of the country where her family could afford a better neighborhood but was never shown those houses. That experience became the lens she has carried into every room she has entered since.She started her career as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, spent a decade in finance and then made history as the first woman of color to serve as Suffolk County Deputy County Executive. In that role she managed a $3.7 billion municipal budget, chaired New York State's most comprehensive police reform plan and led the COVID-19 response for Long Island's most underserved communities. Today she is the President and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island and she is still doing the same thing she has always done, which is changing systems from the inside out.In this episode Vanessa and Sean get into what it actually costs to be the first in rooms that were not built for you, why success means nothing if you are not opening doors behind you and what it looks like to build a decades long career rooted in purpose over recognition.If you are interested in leadership, public service, generational wealth, breaking…
Host: Sean Martin
Guest: Vanessa Baird-Streeter
Organizations: Goldman Sachs, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
Places: Suffolk County, Long Island, New York State
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