Chanda Smith Baker

Director

Chanda Smith Baker is an executive, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader. An experienced CEO with proven success in leading complex organizations, Baker is recognized for her strategic leadership, creating and implementing innovative solutions that engage stakeholders with a focus on advancing racial equity and broadening social impact. Baker’s expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion is recognized nationally, including as the host of the award-winning podcast Conversations with Baker and a sought-after speaker. She is the founder and CEO of Smith Baker LLC., an executive coaching and strategic consulting firm offering an particular expertise in philanthropy, organizational leadership, board governance, and executive coaching services.

In Baker’s most recent role as chief impact officer at the Minneapolis Foundation, a $1 billion community foundation, she was recognized for her compelling work in cross-sector partnerships. She was instrumental in the development of the organization’s strategic framework, resulting in forward-leading strategies that have gained national attention. Previously, as the president and CEO of Pillsbury United Communities, Baker had leadership responsibility for profit-and-loss and growth strategies. She orchestrated the successful launch of new business ventures including a health and wellness integrated grocery store, North Market, and acquired a newspaper focused on community narrative and reporting. She is extremely proud to be a founder and co-founder in residence of the Minnesota Black Collective Foundation, an effort that launched in 2020 in response to the murder of George Floyd and subsequent uprising.

Baker has served on numerous boards and advisory committees including serving on the Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota community advisory board. Her current assignments include the Joyce Foundation, board chair of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, Public Allies, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Minneapolis Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Baker has received numerous recognitions honoring her exceptional community leadership including a Women’s Foundation of Minnesota’s 2020 Mary Lee Dayton Catalyst for Change honoree, Minnesota Business Magazine’s Real Power 50 honoree, Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Award, and recognition by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as “the Groundbreaker” and Innovator in 2019.