Women at Baird Fixed Income Capital Markets: Peggy Turner

We typically have a morning call with sales, traders and research to go over the most important trades and orders we’re working on. I then spend the day talking to the portfolio managers, traders and research analysts at the firms that I cover (mostly hedge funds, money managers and insurance companies). I pitch them trade ideas, keep them up-to-date on what we’re focusing on at Baird and work on their bond orders.

There are obvious challenges that come with being a woman in a competitive, male-dominated field, but if you want to be successful, you can. You can find mentors inside and outside your team to help you along the way, but most importantly, you have to be ready to work. Once you show people you are an asset to the company, they will treat you that way, and the challenges won’t be so hard to overcome.

I’d say women might have a bit of a different path to success. There might be conversations you’re not privy to or invitations you don’t get, but that doesn’t have to stop you from being great at your job and excelling in your career.

I think emotional intelligence and the ability to adapt to different situations and surroundings is very important. But at the same time, you have to be a bit fearless – you have to be able to walk into a room and feel confident that you can hold your own. Lastly, I always say, “persistence prevails when all else fails.” I have trades I’ve worked on for a year and clients it took me many years to get on board.

All the women who came before me in this industry inspire me. It is still male-dominated, but there is a greater focus on work-family balance than when I first started. The women before me gave up a lot to make sure we had examples of successful women who managed careers on Wall Street as well as families.

I love what I do, and Baird is a very family-friendly place to work. Many of my coworkers coach their kids’ sports teams and don’t hesitate to go to a school concert or recital – that’s not always acceptable at other firms. I have two young boys, and while I can’t make it to everything, I am able to attend most of their special events.

When you’re just starting out, it’s important to be the first person in and the last person out. But your “payment” for being available to help senior members of the team is knowledge. It’s OK to be “the low woman on the totem pole” and do the work others don’t want to do, but it’s also OK to expect people to teach and help you. People want to invest in those who work hard and have a passion for their job.