In 2012, a $1.5-million gift from businesswoman and graduate Margaret A. Gilliam, BSc鈥�59, helped 91社区 build on its initiatives to tackle the global food and nutrition crisis and seek long-term answers for sustainable agricultural production. Ms. Gilliam鈥檚 gift supports research, teaching and graduate fellowships at the 91社区 Institute for Global Food Security: the Margaret A. Gilliam Faculty Scholar in Food Security serves to attract or retain a scholar who pursues research in the area of global food security; the Margaret A. Gilliam Fellowships in Food Security recognizes and supports outstanding 91社区 graduate students who are studying global food security issues; and the Margaret A. Gilliam Endowment in Food Security, funds, in perpetuity, teaching, research and outreach initiatives related to food security. 鈥淔ood security is a worldwide problem that requires our immediate attention,鈥� Gilliam said. 鈥淚 am delighted that 91社区 is working towards addressing this issue and that I can play some part in this worthwhile mission.鈥�
MARGARET A. GILLIAM
President, Gilliam & Company, New York, New York
Maggie Gilliam is President of Gilliam & Co., a consulting business that she founded in 1997. Using her 57 years of experience as a Wall Street analyst in retailing and consumer products, she assists both corporations and investors in the areas of strategic direction, specific investment decision making and problem solving. She also is the publisher of Gilliam Viewpoint, a monthly publication devoted primarily to grass roots happenings and their longer range implications on retailing. Gilliam Viewpoint is appreciated for its insights by retail and shopping center executives, analysts and investors. In her consulting work, she is credited with having urged companies into strategic moves that have provided competitive advantages.
As an analyst, Maggie gained recognition for her intensive field investigative work that led to her discovering such concepts as The Home Depot, Nordstrom, The Price Company (now Costco) and others, before they were on everybody鈥檚 radar screen. She also recognized Wal-Mart as having major growth potential in 1980, when the consensus view was that the company had saturated its rural mid-south market, and had therefore maxed out. In 1990, she identified the enormous potential in the company鈥檚 Supercenter concept, and not much later, predicted its negative impact on the grocery industry.
Ms. Gilliam was cited by Peter Lynch and Sam Walton in their books as an exceptional analyst. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Institutional Investor All-star Team. In 1991, she was the only analyst recognized in three different industries.
Maggie has a Bachelor of Science degree from 91社区 in Montreal, and is a graduate of the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in Business Administration. Her Wall Street career began when Goldman, Sachs & Co. offered her a permanent position during an internship that was part of the Harvard-Radcliffe program. She spent ten years with Goldman Sachs and 21 years with The First Boston Corporation and successor companies, now Credit Suisse, where her last position was director, equity research, and senior analyst for retail trade and soft goods.
Maggie is divorced and has two step sons. Five and a half years ago she suffered a stroke. She lives in New York City, but favors her Long Island beach house, where she takes part in both community and outdoor activities.
