Bailey Baker was pursuing an economics degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute when she first discovered her passion for business. Having always been fascinated with financial markets, Baker quickly became interested in the Lally School of Management and all opportunities that existed within it.
“I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the people I was around, so I decided to apply for the co-terminal program really early on,” said Baker, who is pursuing two business degrees from Lally.
This month, the Chicago native will earn a bachelor’s degree in business and management having already completed half of the curricular requirements for a master’s degree through the Institute’s co-terminal program, which gives students the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree as part of their undergraduate studies. She will return to Rensselaer this fall to complete the master’s program in quantitative finance and risk analytics.
“The business curriculum helped me learn how to run a business, how to analyze businesses, and how to analyze markets. Quantitative finance helps me take a deeper dive into the financial industry,” said Baker, who hopes to be a financial analyst someday. This summer, she will continue to pursue that dream as an intern for Bloomberg.
Beyond the classroom, Baker immersed herself further into the world of business. As president of the Roebling Investment Club, she spent much of her college career learning about the financial industry alongside her peers. “It’s nice to have a separate community where I can dive deep and talk about financial markets with other people,” she said. In addition to discussing financial news with others, the club gave her the opportunity to participate in annual challenges and competitions.
As founding secretary, Baker also played a vital role in establishing Women in Business, a student-run club that serves as a community for Rensselaer students interested in business.
“As a founding member of WIB, Bailey worked collaboratively with the other club officers to create opportunities for students to learn about the business world, develop networking skills, and foster professional development,” said Maggie Wright, the club’s staff adviser.
Baker spent the last year of her undergraduate academic career serving as event coordinator, handling all of the logistics surrounding the club’s many events, including business seminars, professional development workshops, and career fair preparation sessions. “It’s been great for all of us to come together and empower one another,” said Baker.
