Maggie Baird played for the Emory volleyball program from 2005 through 2008. She enjoyed a fine career for the Eagles, earning Second Team All-UAA honors in 2007 and 2008 and a first-team nod in 2006. In her first campaign, she was tabbed as the UAA Rookie of the Year and was the AVCA South Region Rookie of the Year. She closed out her tenure as an Eagle ranked prominently in numerous categories including kills (10th, 1064), total blocks (7th, 316), block assists (6th, 266), attack percentage (14th, .271) and block solos (15th, 50).
Q: Can you give an update on some of your experiences post-Emory to where you are now?
MB: After graduating Emory, I took on a number of different Sales and Marketing roles. Most notably with L’Oreal in New York in Retail Marketing and then as an Account Director managing the Brand’s team focused on Walmart. With a passion for Sport and being outdoors, five years ago I made the move to Portland to begin my career at Nike. My first three years I held two Category Marketplace roles in Running, Training & Women’s and two years ago shifted to the Global Marketplace team for the Jordan brand. The last two years have been the most challenging but most fun moments in my career as we built the Women’s Division within the brand. We have focused to putting Women at the forefront of Sneaker Culture and have seen unprecedented growth as we’ve opened the door for her within the Sneaker Community.
Q: What were the primary factors in you choosing Emory as your college?
MB: The Volleyball team, academic reputation, and I loved the campus. When I came on my recruiting trip, I remember feeling very at home on campus. The Team felt like a group of Women I could really connect with and the program had its sights set on making it far. Also as a 7th generation Texan, Atlanta had some comfort things like Sweet Tea and Grits that made home not feel so far!
Q: What are some of the reflections you have during your time at Emory, both as a volleyball player and as a student?
MB: Most of my reflections about Emory, surround the volleyball team. Trips to tournaments. Long afternoons in the gym. The wins, the losses. We learned and laughed through them all. Truly I wouldn’t be where I am today, personally or professionally without the growth and the experiences that the program and the team gave me.
Q: Who were some of the people who influenced you during your college years?
MB: The Emory Volleyball coaching staff. They each played a role in how to push you further to help you reach potential. Jenny McDowell taught me about leadership. How to show up consistently and that leadership can look many different ways. It doesn’t all come in one type of player and teammate. She was relentlessly focused on team first. I will never forget her motto about “high tens!”…the idea was up top on the high fives instead of down low…because we always always had the opportunity to give energy to our teammates. I swear in the workplace now my attitude is based around the high tens.
And then one of the assistant coaches, Amanda, really taught me about having confidence in myself. She was the voice in every tough game or practice, telling me I could do it - showing me how and then completely believing in my potential. She also was just the most fun ever and knew how to get the best out of players while also pushing them to be better.
Teammate – hands down Lulu Kaiali. ANYONE you ask on our team about Lulu, you will get the same response. Hardest working, loyal, and respected teammate we had on that team. She showed up EVERYDAY and gave 126% to the team. She made everyone better. She’s truly one of the best humans I’ve ever met.
From an academic standpoint, one professor stands out, Joey Reiman. He had an unorthodox Marketing class called Ideation. Most of our other classes you were learning business theory or principles in the B School. But Joey’s class pushed you to create. To understand the psyche and ethos of a company and actually help them better position themselves based on that knowledge. He got the best out of his students and it was amazing to see what creative and thoughtful peers I had in the projects he had us work on in our semester.
Q: What are some highlights that you remember while competing at Emory?
MB: The whole winning season for us senior year. Our team was bonded like no other team I have been on before. We all knew what we wanted, we set the goal as a team, and it helped us hold each other accountable. Whether you were a senior or a freshman, everyone had a role on the team and we all respected one another and pushed each other to get better. I’ll never forget the Lion King pre-game dances or listening to T.I. in Eric’s van. Oh and Panera. We ate a lot of Panera!
Q: You were a part of history -- a member of the first Emory team to win a volleyball championship in 2008. It has been awhile, but what might you remember from that year and perhaps that postseason run? ... You had the match-clinching point vs. LaVerne in the title match?
MB: What a season…We had big ups and big downs that year on the road to the Championship. Major injuries to teammates, late in-season losses, but also some of the most fluid and fun volleyball I have ever played. Personally in the post season I had a tough go! I wasn’t playing well and couldn’t seem to hit the ball in the court so I spent the entire semi-finals tipping the ball 3” over the block. It didn’t’ matter though and that was what made our team so strong. We were balanced and we all stepped up for one another when we needed it most. I was never ever the best player on the team so it was an absolute fluke I got set that last ball…but our setter Natalie had faith in me, and the moment the ball left her hands it was like slow motion. She trusted in me, so I trusted I myself. Quite literally one of the most euphoric moments of my life – I remember it in slow motion and how we screamed from the bottom of our bellies when it was all over and we had won. Truly incredible what team sports can do.
Q: Do you still play volleyball in any leagues or recreationally?
MB: Yes! There is a league at Nike that I joined about a year ago. This 32 year old body doesn’t jump quite like it used to – but I can serve anyone off the court!
Q: How you are surviving the pandemic and how has it affected you?
MB: Surviving and grateful to live in a place like Portland with incredible access to the outdoors. The shock of it all has worn off and as we all do, we adapt, we find new ways to find joy and feel connected, and we are all much better in the kitchen!
Q: Any interests/hobbies or things you do to relax when away from work?
MB: I’ve gotten pretty into cycling and all things outdoors (backpacking and camping) – in Oregon, go figure! I’ve done a few 100 mile rides this Spring & Summer and try and hit the gravel roads before work at least once a week to get fresh air before all the Zooming.
Q: Are you able to keep up with Emory volleyball?
MB: I do my best! It’s been great this year as Jenny has connected us with some of the current players so we are getting to know them better and more personally.
Q: Is there anything that you take from being a student-athlete into your profession?
MB: Basically everything. How to be coached. How to be on a team. How to show up both in practice and in games.
Q: Any advice you would give Emory students/future grads?
MB: Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do yet – I remember that being really stressful. Your career will take many turns and pivots in ways you can’t even imagine. Even if you don’t land the “perfect” job right out of school, it’s ok. Keep learning. Keep taking chances. The most valuable employees and peers are those that are good teammates, open to grow, and show up every day with a great attitude. Everything else you can learn!
Q: Any other items you would want to add?
MB: Just a shout out to my sweet Rhodesian Ridgeback Lo. While she is not a kid, she’s quite a handful!
Nowadays, Maggie Baird works for NIKE and lives in Portland.