Cortney Baker

Cortney Baker is a speech therapist, business owner, entrepreneur, speaker, mother of three, and proud native Texan. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree at Pepperdine University in Organizational Leadership, where she is anticipating completing her dissertation by the end of 2015. Cortney has a passion for helping others achieve their greatest potential, specializing in women’s leadership development, with an emphasis on women in executive-level roles. She is owner and CEO of KidsCare Therapy, a pediatric home healthcare agency that employs over 300 people and helps assist nearly 2000 pediatric patients throughout the state of Texas. Most recently Cortney has opened Baker Management Group, a consulting and executive leadership coaching business in which she can follow her dream of helping other women grow and develop to their full leadership capacities. Cortney is no stranger to struggle, perseverance, and hard work. She became a single mother at the age of 19 and worked diligently to put herself through school while juggling studies, work, and being a mom of a pre-schooler. Cortney desired to beat the statistics, which stated that only 2% of single, teenage moms go on to obtain their college degrees. As a result of hard work and dedication, Cortney was able to earn her undergraduate degree in 1999 and master’s degree in 2001 in Communication Disorders and Sciences at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. In 2003, Cortney opened KidsCare Therapy but longed to continue furthering her education. After deciding to follow her dream of obtaining her doctoral degree, Cortney enrolled in Pepperdine University’s nationally ranked Organizational Leadership program beginning in the summer of 2012. At that point she decided to entrust KidsCare to those special people who were going to continue in the spirit, mission, and vision in which she started the company. However, on September 18, 2012, Cortney suffered a stroke at the age of 37. She took the fall 2012 semester off to recover, but in true Cortney Baker fashion, she bounced back and re-enrolled in same program for the Spring 2013 session. Cortney graduated from Leadership Texas in 2014 and she was also named one of the top three finalists for Texas Business Woman of the Year 2014. She has become a much sought-after speaker and executive leadership coach for women attempting to achieve their full career potential. Cortney brings her humor, wit, experience, and savvy to each situation and is able to help other women “just be real”.