Visiting Assistant Professor of Instruction
Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications, University of South FloridaCourses: Advertising Management, two sections; Media Planning for Advertising; Portfolio Building.
Educator✦Executive✦EntrepreneurUpdated August 2026
Renée Baker, DBA
Educator, former Chief Marketing Officer, entrepreneur, author, and speaker connecting strategic communication, financial services, artificial intelligence, trust, and professional readiness.
Artificial IntelligenceAdvertising & MediaTrust & PersuasionStrategic CommunicationFinancial ServicesStudent Success
01
Academic appointments
Teaching grounded in practice.
Adjunct Faculty
Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications, University of South FloridaCourses taught: Advertising Management, 2018–2026; Media Planning for Advertising, 2023–2026.
Adjunct Professor of Marketing
Wilmington University, College of BusinessCourses taught: BMK 305 Marketing; BMK 400 Social Media Marketing; BMK 413 Marketing Management; BMK 471 Mobile and Digital Marketing.
02
Teaching experience
Courses and classroom impact.
Advertising Management
2018–present · Two sections in Fall 2026
Media Planning for Advertising
2023–present
Portfolio Building
2026–present
Teaching effectiveness and curriculum innovation Open +
- Taught approximately 600 Zimmerman School students through 2026.
- Fall 2025 overall instructor rating of 4.81 across 73 students.
- Designed the Zimmerman Student Talent Book initiative.
- Co-facilitated a USF faculty workshop on responsible AI integration.
- Use live clients, constrained budgets, structured critique, and executive presentation standards to build professional judgment.
03
Research and published work
Trust, persuasion, and high-stakes communication.
Abundance Unleashed: Redefining Wealth & Success
Manuscripts Press, 2026. Available in print and audiobook formats.
Algorithmic trust and the advertising imperative
A conceptual framework for generative AI, persuasion, and compliance in regulated financial-services communication.
Generative AI and advertising intermediation
Examines walled gardens, hybridized gardens, and the model layer as an evolving architecture of advertising intermediation.
Selected media and public commentary Open +
WFLA Bloom Tampa Bay
Recurring broadcast contributor, 2024–2026
WalletHub
Expert contributor on credit access and credit-building strategies, 2025.
The Unleashed Life
Podcast host
04
Industry and executive leadership
From Wall Street to the classroom.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
The RBI GroupStrategic advisory work with registered investment advisors, asset managers, and financial-advisor enterprises, grounded in brand strategy, integrated communication, trust, and regulatory context.
Head, Private Client Group Advisor Inclusion Networks
Raymond James FinancialLed national strategy and operations for advisor networks supporting recruitment, retention, professional development, and advancement.
Chief Marketing Officer
Raymond James Investment ManagementSet global brand and marketing strategy for seven affiliate investment-management brands across institutional and retail channels.
Senior marketing and communication leadership
Leading Wall Street and global financial-services firmsHeld progressively senior roles spanning brand, content, product marketing, demand generation, investor communication, and integrated campaigns.
Selected earlier executive roles Open +
Senior Manager, Marketing and Closed-End Funds Investor Relations
abrdn, formerly Aberdeen Standard Investments · 2014–2017
Institutional Marketing Lead
OppenheimerFunds, now Invesco · 2013–2014
Vice President, Marketing
Walkers · 2010–2012
Vice President, Institutional Marketing
J.P. Morgan Asset Management · 2008–2010
05
Honors and recognition
Selected distinctions.
Strong Woman Award, Girls Inc. of Pinellas County
Women You Need to Know, St. Pete Life Magazine
Luminaries with Heart Award, ThinkAdvisor
Advisory Board Impact Award, Florida Financial Educators Council
50 Top Distinguished Professionals Under 50, Association of African American Financial Advisors
BusinessWoman of the Year, Tampa Bay Business Journal
Global Top 100 Executive Allies, LGBT Great
IA25 List for Industry VIPs, ThinkAdvisor
Diversity Leadership Award, Penn State Smeal College of Business
20 People Who Will Change Wealth Management, Financial Planning
Jamie E. DePeau Leadership Award, Financial Communications Society
CMO Leadership Award, The CMO Club
Rising Stars of Financial Marketing, Gramercy Institute
Rising Stars of Mutual Funds, Fund Action/Fund Direction
06
Academic, professional, and community service
Leadership beyond the title.
EmpowerHERment
Board Chair
Leadership Florida
Lifetime Member, Cornerstone Class 39; West Central Regional Chair, 2025–2026
United Way Suncoast
Board Member; former Chair, Admiral Society
IDEA Public Schools Florida
Board Chair
National Financial Educators Council
Florida Advisory Council
Athena Society
Member
Zimmerman School Advisory Council
Member
Susan G. Komen
National Board Member, 2021–2024; Chair, Investment Committee, 2022–2024; inaugural Tampa Bay walk event chair
Wilmington University College of Business
Marketing Advisory Committee, 2021–2025
University of South Florida
Corporate Mentor, 2019–2025
American Corporate Partners
Veteran Mentor, 2020–2022
American Stage Theatre
Former Board Member and Co-Chair, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
The CMO Club, Tampa Bay
Former President
Selected presentations Open +
2026Golden Table Talk: Metamorphosis in Real LifePanelist, Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church
2026Wit, Wisdom & WomenFeatured speaker, Athena Society · Leadership, abundance, and success
2026Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Law Division PreconferencePanelist
2026IQONIK Talks at The Speaking Industry ExpoPositioned for Profit
2026AI Insights SummitAI Unleashed
2026Women Entrepreneurship ConferenceKeynote, Power to Powerful
2026Junior Achievement Tampa Bay, 3DE EmpowerHerKeynote
2026AI Innovation SummitPositioned for Profit
2025The Value EquationPrivate financial-industry forum
2025Edward Jones B.E.L.I.E.V.E. WorkshopB.E.L.I.E.V.E. in Your Brand
2024Jump$tart National Educator ConferenceWhat Does This Look Like Tomorrow?
2024Women Leaders AssociationTransform Your Marketing
2024InformaConnect EDGE ConferenceFeatured speaker
2023Civility ExpertsCivility and Leadership
2023Black Wealth SummitFinancial Empowerment
2022TEDxEustisWhat We Get Wrong About the Racial Wealth Gap
07
Professional credentials
Applied expertise, formally developed.
AI and innovation capabilities
AI and automation strategyResponsible AI adoption and governanceAI-enabled marketing and communication transformationBusiness-use-case identification and prioritizationHuman oversight, attribution, and algorithmic trustCross-functional implementation with executive, data, technology, and revenue teamsAI integration in advertising, media, and regulated industriesExecutive education and organizational readiness
Certified AI Consultant
AI InnoVision
Generative AI Certification
University of South Florida
Certified Financial Education Instructor
National Financial Educators Council
Registered Corporate Coach
Worldwide Association of Business Coaches
Additional training credentials Open +
- Master Certified Civility Trainer®, Civility Experts
- Courtesy Coach®, Civility Experts
- Civility at Work Trainer®, Civility Experts