Dr. Renée Baker is an accomplished entrepreneur, speaker, leader, and advocate for economic empowerment. Raised in a small Southern New Jersey town, Dr. Baker's journey began from humble beginnings. She discovered the transformative power of financial literacy on her path to wealth-building. Today, she champions financial education as a crucial tool for bridging the wealth disparity gap, uplifting communities, and reshaping the global economic landscape. As the founder and CEO of The RBI Group, Dr. Baker helms a firm that intersects marketing and finance with a focus on economic empowerment. Her combined expertise in finance, marketing, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) sets her apart in the financial services industry, offering her clients comprehensive strategic insights. Besides her professional endeavors, Dr. Baker, a wife and mother of three adult daughters, is a renowned keynote speaker. She regularly addresses themes like wealth management, financial literacy, DEI, and marketing. Her 2022 TEDxEustis talk, “What We Get Wrong About The Racial Wealth Gap,” continues to attract viewers on YouTube. Dr. Baker has significantly impacted her community as a mentor, educator, leader, and philanthropist. She serves on several boards, including the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the United Way Suncoast's Admiral Society. Her roles extend to Girls Inc., Pinellas, and the IDEA Charter Schools Fiduciary Board in Florida. As a Lifetime Member of Leadership Florida, she is the Statewide Awards Chair for 2023-2024 and recently joined the Florida Financial Educators Council as an Advisory Board Member. Dr. Baker also shares her knowledge as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida, teaching advertising management and digital media strategies. Dr. Baker holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Rutgers University, an MBA with a focus on Marketing and Strategy from Penn State University, and a Doctorate in Business Administration with a marketing specialization from Wilmington University. Her recent accolades include the 2023 AAAA Fifty Under 50 Top Distinguished Professionals Award, recognition as one of "20 People Who Will Change Wealth Management in 2020" by Financial Planning Magazine, the 2021 Smeal Alumni Award for Diversity Leadership from Penn State, and the 2022 Businesswoman of the Year honor from The Tampa Bay Business Journal. Residing in Saint Pete with her husband, Dr. Baker leads a fulfilling personal life, embracing travel and new challenges. Her diverse hobbies, including reading, working out, and skydiving, mirror her dynamic and adventurous spirit.