Blair C. Smith

The Milken Institute

With an MBA from Columbia Business School, a scholarly demeanor, and a charmingly charismatic personality, Blair C. Smith could operate at the highest levels of banking and finance. However, his selflessness, inspired by his Baltimore roots and deep community and family values, has guided him instead to a career of service and creating pathways for the under-represented and under-served. As the Senior Director of the Center for Financial Markets at the Milken Institute, a powerful think tank that prides itself on “doing” and not just thinking, Smith leads initiatives like Access to Capital and other programs designed to foster economic and social impact. He is also a leader in the Milken Institute's efforts toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Asset Management as well as in ‘Impact Investment’, focusing on CDFIs, MDIs, and Opportunity Zone Funds. Previously, he managed a $5.2 billion Emerging Manager investment portfolio for the State of New York Common Retirement Fund, one of the nation’s largest allocations to diverse managers. Smith’s sacrifice, tireless advocacy, and steadfast commitment to inclusive capitalism inspire us all to always think about the collective good.