Wendy K. Baumann devotes her career to creating an equitable workplace for women. She has helped thousands of women transform themselves into business owners.
The avenue where many of these accomplishments took place was through the creation, vision and growth of the business she runs, the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC).
Yet, as a I reserached WWBIC, I discovered Wendy did not found this business.
During 2021, much has been said about the many accomplishments of Julia Taylor as she retires from the Greater Milwaukee Committee this year. Yet, the one story that is rarely told is the story of how she began WWBIC prior to handing over the responsibility to Wendy K. Baumann. Read on to hear how it happened.
Wendy K. Baumann Joins WWBIC
The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) was an idea that began in the halls of the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee. (Source: “Home,” YWCA Southeast Wisconsin, accessed February 21, 2021.) In 1987, the CEO and president of the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee, Julia Taylor, was migrating from the “Swim & Gym” model to stay in line with the greater YWCA initiative focused on the women’s movement. Together with her board, she was actively involved in meeting the needs for women, especially minorities and low-wealth individuals, through women’s entrepreneurship. One solution that arose was a new and innovative idea, which needed support to launch, of creating what is now WWBIC.
Julia and the YWCA board formulated the plan to move the idea into a formidable project. With the board’s extreme commitment to the idea’s evolution, they secured funding, resources, and leadership to bring basic education, training, and financing to women. Thanks to their efforts, the idea of WWBIC was realized and, after a few years, became a separate nonprofit with support from the YWCA.
In 1994, Wendy had been working at the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) as the director of small business development. (Source: “Home,” Milwaukee Area Technical College, accessed February 21, 2021.) In this role, she housed small business incubators focusing on helping primarily minority and lower-income individuals and was contemplating a long-term career at MATC. She recalls, “I really liked my job.”
Wendy previously was the executive director of The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin. She had strategically modified its structure, resulting in state and national recognition, increased membership by over 500 percent, and the receipt of the “Hispanic Chamber of the Year” honor from the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. (Source: “Home,” United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, accessed March 17, 2021.)
After WWBIC’s last executive director exited, Wendy was referred by a colleague and casually applied. When she was offered the role in 1994, she knew it was a challenging position which required solid leadership. However, Wendy was not one to be overcome by obstacles. She recognized WWBIC served women whose professional growth had been stifled and were isolated without resources and support. Wendy knew WWBIC had sound business education and, as their leader, she could help women reach their full potential as business owners, even in the face of institutional sexism. She accepted the role, not quite knowing what was in store for her.
The CEO who hired her, Julia Taylor, sat on WWBIC’s board for years afterward and acknowledges, “Wendy is a life force who made the agency what it is. She developed a story board and made WWBIC a major intermediary where she could bring lending dollars to the table.” Julia is amazed to see how it has grown and all that has become possible twenty-seven years later.
Wendy devoted her career to creating an equitable workplace for women. She helped thousands of women transform themselves into business owners. Wendy did this by navigating through dialogue and successful collaboration with public, private, and diverse groups, leading to WWBIC’s incredible growth.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Wendy has sat on over fifteen local and national boards and currently is a member of at least fifteen more, which she describes as a key driver in her success. She has received over twenty local, statewide, and national awards, including multiple recognitions from the Small Business Administration. (Source: “Home,” Small Business Administration, accessed March 17, 2021.) She has spearheaded five major initiatives transforming the Milwaukee region.
WWBIC has been a true testament to assisting women. Their website reads, “WWBIC has provided quality business and financial education coupled with access to fair capital and financial products since 1987. WWBIC’s impact is seen through the many entrepreneurs, business owners and individuals whom we assist.” (Source: “Home,” WWBIC, accessed February 21, 2021.)
Circle of Influence
The value created by growing WWBIC is to proactively impact an area where a lack of access to professional networks could have stifled many women’s professional business growth. They owned their own path as business owners and subsequently grew their sphere of influence. They did the number-one habit which Dr. Steven Covey recommends in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: own the outcome by making a difference in their world. (Source: Steven R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lesson in Personal Change (New York: Free Press, 2004).) There are two ways to look at choice as described below, and with a growth mindset we own our future.
“The Freedom to choose. Instead of reacting to, or worrying about, conditions over which they have little or no control, proactive people focus their time and energy on things they can control. The problems, challenges, and opportunities we face fall into two areas — Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence.”
“Habit One: Be Proactive” The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Source: Franklin Covey, “Habit 1: Be Proactive,” The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, accessed February 18, 2021.)
By focusing on our Circle of Influence, we make an impact. Our actions are seen and felt by ourself, our friends, our colleagues, and our acquaintances. The people who we let into our life impact our current and future success. (Source: Blaze Kos, “Relationship Circles — the Most Important Diagram of Your Life,” Relationships (blog), AgileLeanLife, accessed February 18, 2021.) (Source: Blaze Kos, “Healthy Relationships Are What Matters Most in Life,” Relationships (blog), AgileLeanLife, accessed February 18, 2021.) Let’s walk down a path where we are inspired to act by the courage of those who we let into our life.
Information taken from my book, Surrounded by Awesome Women: Unlocking a New Model of Women’s Success in Business and Entrepreneurship for the Next Decade by Sheila Long and published by New Degree Press.
