Thriving Through Collaboration with Ken Robertson

On The Edge Of Equity

Uncover the transformative journey led by Ken Robertson, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Financial Officer of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, as he shares his inspiring initiatives to empower disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Ken is a driving force behind the ThriveOn Collaboration, which encompasses the remarkable restoration of the historic Gimbels and Schuster's building. This urban gem now stands as a bustling administrative hub, parking structure, and a vibrant community center, complete with an early childhood education center. For Ken, representation is more than a concept—it's a conviction. His personal experiences serve as a bridge between local communities and financial strategies, fostering a deeper understanding of neighborhood dynamics.

Tune in to hear Ken's insights on initiatives and approaching them with humility and audacity, striking a balance between boldness and sensitivity to effect meaningful change. Listen and embrace the power of collaboration, representation, and visionary community upliftment.

Episode Highlights:

05:37 - In roles like mine and similar roles, representation matters. I mean, that lived experience from the neighborhood and bridging that gap between what's happening there and how our institutions work, how our businesses work, is just critical if we're going to move forward and solve some of the challenges that we have.

10:19 - It's one thing to sit in a corporate park and think about programs, think about fixes for neighborhoods. It's another thing to kind of be in the neighborhood and walk day by day in that neighborhood and talk to our neighbors, and work with them in coming up with solutions that'll make everybody's lives better in that space.

13:33 - We know that this is more than brick and mortar within the building. So, our aim is to help activate the entire neighborhood, not just us, but working with partners, along this. So, the whole goal was this would be catalytic, and we think we're accomplishing that.

Connect with Becky Dubin Jenkins

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Connect with Ken Robertson

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Guest Bio:

Ken Robertson has been serving the Foundation as vice president and CFO since October 2015, but was promoted to executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer in 2020. Robertson has over 20 years’ experience in both the for-profit and the nonprofit sectors. His professional experience includes serving as CFO for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, as well as finance roles with GE Healthcare, Briggs & Stratton, Miller Brewing, Motorola and more. Equally important, his lived experience as a Milwaukee native and product of Milwaukee Public Schools, plus his volunteer leadership roles with Wisconsin Philanthropy Network, Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and Howard Fuller Academy, afford him a unique perspective that guides his approach to community leadership and decision-making.