Just Five Questions: Jill Bauman ’87
Five questions posed to leaders in business and society.
Jill Bauman is the Founding CEO of Imagine LA and the co-founder of Benefit Navigator. Prior to her 18+ years at Imagine LA, Jill was a successful entrepreneur, an executive that helped launch new business practices, an investment banker and a software designer and programmer. Jill is the Chair of the Yale SOM Alumni Advisory Board (AAB).
Q1: What’s a global trend you are following where you see an opportunity or bright spot in this challenging macro environment?
Jill: When it comes to reducing poverty and promoting economic mobility, I see more and more people with lived experience at the strategic decision-making tables. The innovation and impact of their ideas being implemented is inspiring!
Q2: What’s an example of how SOM’s mission informed your professional path?
Jill: Prior to coming to SOM, I was a management information system designer and programmer. I came to SOM to learn business skills with a social conscience. I knew I wanted to create value whether that was in a for-profit, government or non-profit environment.
Q3: What’s an SOM experience that helped shape the way you understand business and society?
Jill: I was a quant jock type when I arrived and often helped others in the numbers heavy classes. IGB and Group Dynamics were by far the hardest and most influential courses I took, and the first time I sought help academically. It really opened my eyes to the fact that it is always about people and whether they are being seen and heard. I also must admit the entrepreneurship class where we pitched to real investors and got real feedback was also awesome. It gave me the confidence to raise capital and start my first business two years after SOM, after paying off my student loans by working on Wall Street.
Q4: What’s a favorite SOM memory, faculty member, mentor or class?
Jill: Here are a few: The SOM Follies were a hoot - I still get “I Want My IGB” (sung to the “YMCA” tune) stuck in my head. A “California Dreaming” party where my roommate Lori Ogden and I filled our apartment with sand – what were we thinking?! I also loved when our co-ed soccer team beat HBS!
Q5: What are you excited about for the year ahead?
Jill: Two things. First, in 2025 we are launching Imagine LA’s Benefit Navigator across California! We have been in pilot for 2+ years and already generating hundreds of millions of new benefits for folks in Los Angeles, and a 24% rise in earned income for our constituents Simply stated, the Benefit Navigator is a “One Stop Shop” online tool that helps case workers and their clients quickly navigate and access the complex landscape of Federal State and local public benefits and tax credits as well as provide economic pathways.
Second, leading the AAB - what an amazing group of humans! As we plan for SOM’s 50th Anniversary, it’s a great opportunity to double-down on SOM’s mission and engage the uniquely innovative, authentic, and impactful SOM Community. Talk about inspiring!
Fun Fact: Part Cowgirl - competed in Rodeo Team Penning events.
Favorite Series, Book, or Trip: “Demon Copperhead” and “James” – both incredibly written with voices we have not heard.
How to reach me: Jill’s LinkedIn is here.
Just Five Questions is an initiative led by the Yale SOM Alumni Advisory Board. Want to learn more? Contact Lee Race ’93 with feedback, thoughts, and/or questions.
