Toussaint Bailey ’02, JD | Speaker, 2024 Graduate and Professional Studies Commencement
Bailey is an entrepreneur and investment professional who has built his career on the guiding principle that uplifting others is a good investment.
Toussaint Bailey ’02, JD will deliver the address at the 2024 Graduate and Professional Studies Commencement ceremony at Saint Mary’s College on May 26.
Bailey, who earned his JD at the UCLA School of Law, is the Founding Partner and CEO of Uplifting Capital, a minority-owned and majority women-led investment firm that makes financially compelling investments that positively impact the most pressing global challenges. Specifically, the company connects investment capital from individuals and institutions to under-resourced problems like climate change, housing, and accessible education. The company also sources and invests in high-performing yet overlooked innovators.
Before founding Uplifting Capital, Bailey served as CEO of Enso Wealth Management, a private wealth firm he joined in 2017 shortly after its formation by Jim DeCota ‘99. He oversaw the firm’s growth to nearly $2 billion of assets under management and its eventual acquisition by Choreo Advisors. Before entering the financial services field, Bailey spent over a decade as a practicing attorney.
Bailey serves in several advisory and board capacities, including the Impact Investment Subcommittee of the Alternative & Direct Investment Securities Association; the Investor Advisory Board of HBCU Founder Initiative; the Advisory Board of Catalyst Housing Group; the Advisory Board of SIY Global; and Strategic Advisor to FRSH.
A Gael alumnus, he earned a bachelor of science degree at Saint Mary's in Economics and Business Administration with an Honors Concentration in Financial Services. It was during Bailey’s senior thesis that he was first introduced to the power of finance to create positive change. The seed was planted in his last Jan Term course while doing a management consulting project at Community Bank of the Bay, an Oakland-based bank that fuels economic opportunity and brings hope to its surrounding communities.
In addition to being a Gael alumnus, Toussaint was also a member of the SMC Board of Regents. He was recently honored as a Top Black Industry Leader by Wealth Solutions Report in addition to being named top 24 Who Will Shape Wealth Management in 2024 by FinancialPlanning.com.
Learn more about 2024 Commencement at Saint Mary's.
Listen to the first episode of Toussaint's "Uplifting Conversations" podcast, or to an interview of Toussaint on an "Agents of Impact" podcast.
Learn more about Toussaint Bailey's company, Uplifting Capital.