The NABL Member Spotlight initiative is a volunteer-based program. All featured members participate voluntarily and are selected to highlight their contributions and achievements within our community. Participation in the spotlight does not imply endorsement by NABL. If you would like to be featured, please contact us! Now, let’s meet Latrice Baptiste and learn more about her public finance journey:

1. What inspired you to become a NABL member and how did your career in Public Finance start?  

I discovered Public Finance by chance. It wasn’t a practice area I knew about in law school. I originally planned to practice tax law, but my first employer didn’t have a tax department and suggested Public Finance because tax law plays an important role in the practice. My first Public Finance role came as an unexpected but welcome opportunity, and it quickly showed me how well the practice fit my interests and strengths.

I was inspired to join NABL after attending a NABL Workshop early in my Public Finance career. Seeing attorneys take time to share their knowledge with other NABL members motivated me to become a member and, in my own way, follow their example.

2. As chair of the NABL Diversity Committee, how did you first get involved with the Committee, and what has been the most fulfilling part of your time as chair?  

I met Victoria Byerly, the immediate past chair of the Diversity Committee, at a NABL Workshop reception shortly before she officially stepped into the role. Near the end of her tenure, she asked me to serve as Vice Chair, and I was happy to accept. Victoria is a good friend, and the opportunity allowed me to give back to an organization that has meant so much to me throughout my career.

The most fulfilling part of my time as chair has been working with the committee to develop and launch new programs that enrich the membership experience for NABL members.

3. What advice would you give to professionals from underrepresented backgrounds who are looking to get more involved in NABL and this practice? 

If you can, connect with NABL members at your workplace—they can help you understand how the organization works. Attend conferences to build in-person relationships and consider volunteering for a committee (hint, hint: the Diversity Committee). Small steps like these can add up to meaningful growth in your Public Finance career.  

4. What NABL resources have been the most useful throughout your career? 

The NABL Workshop has been the most valuable resource throughout my career. It serves many purposes: I reconnect with friends, meet new people, and attend presentations that strengthen my skills. I have also had the opportunity to participate in panel discussions, which has allowed me to share my Public Finance knowledge while continuing to develop my public speaking skills.

5. What are your most recent favorite podcasts, books, and/or TV shows?   

I’m a big fan of time-travel novels. Kindred by Octavia Butler is one of my favorites, and I recently read Nick Jones’s three-book time-travel series, which begins with The Shadows of London. I highly recommend it. And yes—if I could time travel, I would, not for money, but for the chance to see my parents and grandparents when they were young.