Through July 4, The Post, in association with Milken Center for Promoting the American Dreamfeatures American citizens explaining what the American Dream means to them in the year 2026 — including… Karen Seidman BakerPresident and CEO of Clear.
My father’s parents were from Eastern Europe. They came from nothing, and my grandfather came here when he was 17 years old, [traveling] At the bottom of the boat for weeks. He was actually rescued by HIAs, the Hebrew Immigration Assistance Association. I didn’t speak the language but I started with a hardware store, which changed the course of our family.
[Growing up in Potomac, Maryland,] The dinner table was reserved for conversation about politics or what was on the cover of the newspaper, which is what Tom Brokaw was talking about that night on NBC News. We didn’t have a lot of money, so we didn’t travel much. Books were my chance to see the world. It was a family that cared about education, about learning, about being the best, and that was about religion and spirituality. And so I think all of those things helped push me…
I grew up in a house where girls were treated like boys. That means [my sister and I] We mowed the lawn, cleaned the gutters, raked leaves, and helped do the dishes after dinner. We were raised to be resilient, brave, and very driven as well.
Resilience and courage are the main components of Wall Street. And morbid curiosity.
I went to the University of Michigan. I thought I wanted to be a sports reporter…and then I thought I wanted to go to law school. But I eventually went to Wall Street.
[Now, with Clear,] A lot of people ask me if it’s difficult being a public company. One of my best days in business was going public on the New York Stock Exchange because it’s a historic place and it’s where capitalism is alive…
I believe in public markets. I think this creates a great option for businesses because you have cash and you have your shares, which can be appropriately valued in currency. I love being the CEO of a public company and I value shareholders, and I think you can learn a lot from them.
The American Dream Video Project showcases true stories that illuminate paths to opportunity. This series is presented at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), and is part of the Center’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. MCAAD is Washington, D.C.’s newest cultural institution, presenting interactive exhibits and stories about achieving the American Dream. For more information, visit mcaad.org.