As he has climbed to the top ranks of America’s wealth management and banking firms, John Taft has maintained a focus on the health of the broader society and the ways business can contribute. He comes by his commitment to society naturally: John credits his family, including his great grandfather, 27th U.S. President William Howard Taft, for instilling strong core values that shape his definition of business success and belief in the importance of treating all people with dignity.

Taft is Vice Chairman of Baird and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, with a focus on strategic opportunities across the firm. Prior to joining Baird, he served as CEO of RBC Wealth Management for more than 10 years. From his platform at Baird, Taft shares his perspective on the profession of business on his popular blog, “Finance for the Greater Good.”

John is a frequent public speaker and media contributor, and has authored two books, Stewardship: Lessons Learned from the Lost Culture of Wall Street and A Force for Good: How Enlightened Finance Can Restore Faith in Capitalism. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and earned a master’s degree in public and private management from the Yale School of Organization and Management. As a member of the board of directors and as a volunteer, he has served a wide range of not-for-profit and public service organizations. Currently he is an active member of the Itasca Project, and serves on the boards of The Minneapolis Foundation and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.