Chicago Trip 2009

The year started off smoothly after a brief trip to Chicago this fall. On September 25-26, the Bakers had a chance to broaden their horizons in a variety of ways. To start off the day, the Bakers headed to the Chicago Board of Trade Building (CME Group). After witnessing the chaos following the opening bell, the group headed down to the exchange floor to get a glimpse at what traders do on a daily basis.

Later on, we were greeted by a former Baker Scholar, Mr. Donald Hart (2004) at Accenture. Mr. Hart took the time to explain the specific work he has done for the company. The Bakers were then put to the test and split into two teams. Both teams participated in a case study and enacted the role of consultants. In order to truly get a feel for a typical "business day", the group grabbed some lunch at a Chinese eatery, Wow Bao. After bringing the food back to Accenture, Mr. Hart brought the Bakers to the 40th floor (cafeteria) to enjoy the meal.

Next on the agenda was Northern Trust, where Mr. Daniel Boote (1975) welcomed the group. In order to get an understanding about the history of Northern Trust, the group had a chance to walk by a large timeline highlighting various milestones. Throughout the rest of the visit, the group had a chance to learn more about the work of Mr. Boote as well as the running of the firm as a whole.

After a busy day of visits, the Bakers headed to a Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chao, for a delicious meal. The weekend was brought to a close after spending time at the Field Museum on Saturday morning. All in all, it was a successful trip filled with several exciting visits!