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Kyle Bakes considers himself a lucky guy and what he’s managed to accomplish in his 28 years supports that notion.
Born in Miami to Jodie and the late Phil Bakes, Kyle was recognized early on as a cheerful extrovert with such good manners that people would comment about it to his parents. Shortly after graduating from Palmer Trinity School, life threw the family a curve ball when Kyle’s father passed away after a long battle with a rare cancer.
“Who I am is the result of how I was raised by my parents,” he says. “They were brought up in the Midwest and instilled in me traditional values like honesty, kindness, hard work and a lot of ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. When I lost my father, it was devastating. It was at that point that I began learning that life’s setbacks can lead to growth if you stay busy and find your purpose.”
In 2019, after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Lynn University with a degree in entrepreneurship, Kyle landed an internship in the Washington D.C. office of Congressman Rodney Davis of Illinois. Kyle is grateful to Davis for mentoring him despite the congressman’s frenetic schedule. Through hard work, Kyle rose to legislative assistant but when Davis lost the next primary, both were out of a job. Another curve ball.
Never one to rest on his laurels and because Kyle was known on Capitol Hill as a man who got things done, he quickly pivoted to a position with Congresswoman Lisa McClain of Michigan, only to be downsized in early 2025. Strike three.
“Another person might be totally discouraged by all this, but I take adversity as a blessing in disguise…an opportunity to re-invent myself,” he says. “Today I’m the chief operating officer of Bluestar AI, an artificial intelligence company founded by my longtime friend Victor Oluwagbemiga. I work from Washington and South Miami and really enjoy the opportunity to spend time with my mother. When I’m here, I also make it a point to visit the clothiers at Damiani on South Dixie Highway. Their suits keep me looking sharp and stylish,” he says with a smile.
In addition, Kyle recently launched his own company called Command Investment Strategies focusing on doing international business deals. He is also director of public affairs for a company called Liquid Rights.
Because of Kyle’s extensive contacts on Capitol Hill, coupled with his naturally gregarious and resilient nature, he is happier than he could have imagined in years past. He’s gone from grieving college student to Capitol Hill staffer to C-level executive of a successful company, in addition to his other ventures.
That’s pretty lucky indeed.
