Why William Blair

  • Difference

    • Why William Blair

      As an independent, employee-owned firm, we are steadfastly committed to our clients’ success. Our reputation is defined by the quality and integrity of our people, the enduring nature of our client relationships, and our ability to meet our clients’ evolving needs.

    • Mission
    • Culture
    • Community Impact
    • Benefits
  • Possibilities

    • Build Your Career

      We believe that our employees are an investment with unlimited growth potential. We provide substantial opportunities to build your career working alongside the industry’s most talented and dedicated professionals.

    • Professionals
    • Graduates
    • Undergraduates
  • Opportunities

    • Career Opportunities

      Finding, attracting, and developing talented people is the foundation of our success. Learn about the promising career opportunities currently available at William Blair.

    • View Available Positions
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Mission: To be a trusted partner to our clients by providing the advice and resources they need to achieve their financial objectives in a dynamic global marketplace

We are dedicated to our clients’ success. It is the essence of who we are as a firm and the driving force behind every decision. Whether a client wants to capitalize on an immediate opportunity or lay the groundwork for a long-term objective, we are committed to providing guidance and solutions that deliver enduring value.

William Blair & Company was founded in Chicago in 1935 by William McCormick Blair. Mr. Blair’s vision was to help clients achieve long-term financial success by identifying midwestern growth-oriented companies. From that foundation, William Blair & Company has grown into a full-service investment banking and asset management firm with 1,100 employees across four continents. Throughout our history, our firm has remained independent and managed by active employee-owners. While our headquarters remain in Chicago, our vision extends to clients and investment opportunities around the globe.

As our firm continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of a dynamic global marketplace, the words of our founder are as relevant and influential today as they have ever been: “When our clients succeed, the firm’s success will follow.”

Our firm is consistently rated as one of the best places to work in the investment industry and in Chicago. Pensions & Investments’ inaugural “Best Places to Work in Money Management” list ranked us fourth among mid-sized companies. Vault’s 2011 “Guide to the Top 50 Banking Employers” rated us as the 10th-best company to work for, and the Chicago Tribune’s “Top Workplaces 2012” survey ranked us as the 13th-best midsize company in the Chicago area.

Consistency and continuity in leadership is a hallmark of our firm. Since the firm’s founding in 1935, William Blair has had five CEOs or managing partners, three of whom continue to work at the firm. John Ettelson, who has served as president and CEO since 2004, heads the firm’s executive committee.

We have about 1,100 employees working in 10 cities across four continents:

  • North America: Chicago (headquarters), Boston, Hartford, New York, San Francisco, and Wilmington
  • Europe: London and Zurich
  • Asia: Shanghai
  • South America: São Paulo
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Our culture: The rigorous pursuit of success through teamwork, integrity, and independence

We must provide a consistently high level of performance, ingenuity, and execution to meet our clients’ complex objectives. The William Blair culture encourages collaboration, demands professionalism, and rewards hard work. Ours is a respectful, collegial environment where all employees are given responsibility, autonomy, and the resources needed to do outstanding work. We have a flat organizational structure where about 170 of the firm’s 1,100 employees are partners, and the average tenure of our employees far exceeds industry norms

William Blair & Company was founded in Chicago in 1935 by William McCormick Blair. Mr. Blair’s vision was to help clients achieve long-term financial success by identifying midwestern growth-oriented companies. From that foundation, William Blair & Company has grown into a full-service investment banking and asset management firm with 1,100 employees across four continents. Throughout our history, our firm has remained independent and managed by active employee-owners. While our headquarters remain in Chicago, our vision extends to clients and investment opportunities around the globe.

As our firm continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of a dynamic global marketplace, the words of our founder are as relevant and influential today as they have ever been: “When our clients succeed, the firm’s success will follow.”

Our firm is consistently rated as one of the best places to work in the investment industry and in Chicago. Pensions & Investments’ inaugural “Best Places to Work in Money Management” list ranked us fourth among mid-sized companies. Vault’s 2011 “Guide to the Top 50 Banking Employers” rated us as the 10th-best company to work for, and the Chicago Tribune’s “Top Workplaces 2012” survey ranked us as the 13th-best midsize company in the Chicago area.

Consistency and continuity in leadership is a hallmark of our firm. Since the firm’s founding in 1935, William Blair has had five CEOs or managing partners, three of whom continue to work at the firm. John Ettelson, who has served as president and CEO since 2004, heads the firm’s executive committee.

We have about 1,100 employees working in 10 cities across four continents:

  • North America: Chicago (headquarters), Boston, Hartford, New York, San Francisco, and Wilmington
  • Europe: London and Zurich
  • Asia: Shanghai
  • South America: São Paulo
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Committed to building strong communities

We are committed to being a long-term partner to the communities where we live and work. Building a neighborhood playground and packing food boxes at the Greater Chicago Food Depository are just two recent examples of events where our employees have rolled up their sleeves to serve their neighbors. Our firm has consistently been ranked as a Top 25 Corporate Citizen for our support of the United Way. In 2011, the William Blair & Company Foundation contributed to 250 organizations, and our employees personally contributed to hundreds more through their time, energy, and leadership.

William Blair & Company was founded in Chicago in 1935 by William McCormick Blair. Mr. Blair’s vision was to help clients achieve long-term financial success by identifying midwestern growth-oriented companies. From that foundation, William Blair & Company has grown into a full-service investment banking and asset management firm with 1,100 employees across four continents. Throughout our history, our firm has remained independent and managed by active employee-owners. While our headquarters remain in Chicago, our vision extends to clients and investment opportunities around the globe.

As our firm continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of a dynamic global marketplace, the words of our founder are as relevant and influential today as they have ever been: “When our clients succeed, the firm’s success will follow.”

Our firm is consistently rated as one of the best places to work in the investment industry and in Chicago. Pensions & Investments’ inaugural “Best Places to Work in Money Management” list ranked us fourth among mid-sized companies. Vault’s 2011 “Guide to the Top 50 Banking Employers” rated us as the 10th-best company to work for, and the Chicago Tribune’s “Top Workplaces 2012” survey ranked us as the 13th-best midsize company in the Chicago area.

Consistency and continuity in leadership is a hallmark of our firm. Since the firm’s founding in 1935, William Blair has had five CEOs or managing partners, three of whom continue to work at the firm. John Ettelson, who has served as president and CEO since 2004, heads the firm’s executive committee.

We have about 1,100 employees working in 10 cities across four continents:

  • North America: Chicago (headquarters), Boston, Hartford, New York, San Francisco, and Wilmington
  • Europe: London and Zurich
  • Asia: Shanghai
  • South America: São Paulo
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Investing in our most valuable assets

To attract and retain high-caliber people, we are committed to making William Blair one of the investment industry’s best places to work. An important element of that is our employee benefits program. In addition to highly competitive health, dental, and vision insurance, employees can take advantage of flexible-spending accounts, commuter benefits, wellness screenings, an in-building fitness center, adoption benefits, and other benefits. The firm also sponsors a 401(k) and profit-sharing plan for eligible employees.

William Blair & Company was founded in Chicago in 1935 by William McCormick Blair. Mr. Blair’s vision was to help clients achieve long-term financial success by identifying midwestern growth-oriented companies. From that foundation, William Blair & Company has grown into a full-service investment banking and asset management firm with 1,100 employees across four continents. Throughout our history, our firm has remained independent and managed by active employee-owners. While our headquarters remain in Chicago, our vision extends to clients and investment opportunities around the globe.

As our firm continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of a dynamic global marketplace, the words of our founder are as relevant and influential today as they have ever been: “When our clients succeed, the firm’s success will follow.”

Our firm is consistently rated as one of the best places to work in the investment industry and in Chicago. Pensions & Investments’ inaugural “Best Places to Work in Money Management” list ranked us fourth among mid-sized companies. Vault’s 2011 “Guide to the Top 50 Banking Employers” rated us as the 10th-best company to work for, and the Chicago Tribune’s “Top Workplaces 2012” survey ranked us as the 13th-best midsize company in the Chicago area.

Consistency and continuity in leadership is a hallmark of our firm. Since the firm’s founding in 1935, William Blair has had five CEOs or managing partners, three of whom continue to work at the firm. John Ettelson, who has served as president and CEO since 2004, heads the firm’s executive committee.

We have about 1,100 employees working in 10 cities across four continents:

  • North America: Chicago (headquarters), Boston, Hartford, New York, San Francisco, and Wilmington
  • Europe: London and Zurich
  • Asia: Shanghai
  • South America: São Paulo