Jennifer Alter Warden is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Baird & Warner, a major independent real estate services company based in Chicago. Much of her focus during her 25-year tenure has been to bring marketing and technology innovation to the 165-year-old fifth generation $200 million company, while perpetuating the cultural values that have driven its sustainability.
In addition to her other responsibilities, she leads the company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative, and the company’s philanthropy, as well as efforts to champion fair housing.
Jennifer is the immediate past president of the board of the Chicago chapter of the International Women’s Forum. She is a boad member of the Realty Alliance, a national consortium of leading independent real estate brokerages, and of Northwestern University’s Council of 100, and the Economic Club of Chicago, as well as a member of the board of Working in the Schools, the largest volunteer literacy organization serving Chicago Public Schools.
Jennifer was named a Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Woman Executive Over 50 in 2019 and 2020, and a 2020 Newsmaker by National Real Estate Magazine.
What would you like to say about your career in Real Estate?
I have learned a great deal from my peers in real estate, mainly about setting goals and looking at the glass as half-full. Being on the business side, I love having the opportunity to provide our agents and loan officers with the tools and training they can combine with their own efforts to propel their success. And I am proud that they, in turn, are able to empower homeownership and help build stronger communities by assisting their clients with one of the most important financial decisions of their lives.
Anything else you want to talk about that has brought you success or to the place you are today?
Quite frankly, I happen to find the entrepreneurial nature of the real estate industry addictive. There is always so much change and a constant demand for ideas, creativity, and innovation. Being in a leadership position at this time in our industry, I also feel we have a special opportunity — and responsibility — to champion fair housing, racial equity, and financial empowerment to ensure homeownership is accessible to all.
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