Burt Hicks’ career began in 2008 in New York, where he was an investment banking analyst for Merrill Lynch and Bank of America, when it purchased Merrill Lynch.
After participating in a management rotational program at Simmons from 2009-10, Hicks, who has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arkansas, used a concurrent degree program to earn a law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Bowen School of Law and a master’s degree in public service from the UA’s Clinton School of Public Service. During that time, Hicks worked as a business commercialization associate at Winrock International’s Innovate Arkansas.
He returned to Simmons in 2014, after passing the bar exam.
Burt Hicks was recognized by Arkansas Business in 2013 as a “20 in Their 20s.”
What lessons did you take away from witnessing the height of the Great Recession as an analyst in New York?
First and foremost, no matter how much you plan for the future, life has a way of throwing you curve balls. It is important to be adaptable. Second, no matter how strong a company has been or how long its history may be, it can all change quickly as a result of a few bad decisions. Lastly, and this realization didn’t come for a few years, but just how much impact business can have — and that it isn’t always a positive impact. At the executive level, it is important for us to remember this and to do everything we can to make sure our impact is positive. Our associates, shareholders, customers and communities are counting on it.
What did you learn at the Clinton School of Public Service that is useful in a banking career?
The wonderful thing about the Clinton School curriculum is that it teaches both hard and soft skills, both of which are needed to be successful in one’s career, no matter the sector or industry … Specific to my career in banking, perhaps the most useful skills I developed were strategic planning and communication.
Do you think violent crime is a business problem as well as a public safety problem, and what can the business community do to provide more opportunities to youths at a crossroads between being constructive citizens and potential offenders?
The impact of violent crime on a community is negative all around. Business can — and should — play a vital role in addressing the issue. I am proud to work for an organization that is such a great corporate citizen.
Across our philanthropic footprint, our focus is on economic development, financial literacy, youth development, health and human services, arts and culture, and a better quality of life for everyone in the communities in which we operate. The organizations we partner with range widely from groups such as Junior Achievement, United Way and the American Red Cross to local nonprofit agencies that do great work in just one community. Making a difference in our communities is a core component of our business.