The author who studies entrepreneurs—Barbara Roberts
Part of the business owner to business owner series, ‘Flight paths’
Eye on business resilience: Adjusting to COVID-19
Eye on business resilience: Adjusting to COVID-19
What has the lockdown taught you?
Being crystal clear about the mission of my work and my purpose on this planet has made it quite easy to navigate what to do and how to spend my time in this lockdown.
How has the pandemic changed how you will run your business?
Every day I ask myself what I can do today to help women get their fair share of the economic pie and help someone start or grow a business to create innovation, jobs and new wealth. This pandemic has only deepened my commitment to that mission. The biggest permanent change about how I will teach in the future is a plan to use technology and video meetings for more efficient use of my time.
What concerns you now? And what’s exciting you?
Women traditionally are more negatively impacted by an economic downtown.1 I am concerned about that, but also see signs bringing hope that maybe this time that will not happen. There seems to be new appreciation for and recognition of some extraordinary women leaders—the “sheros” of this challenging time. I cannot wait to get back to travel for public speaking and live interaction with audiences.
Barbara says for entrepreneurs, it's purpose over profits
Barbara speaks and writes on all stages of entrepreneurship from start-up through growth, exiting and reinvention. Her work builds on her personal experience as a Wall Street executive, serial entrepreneur and Entrepreneur in Residence at Columbia Business School and Hofstra University.
Barbara began her career on Wall Street, where she became one of the first women on the board of Dean Witter.2 Then, she transformed two family’s companies: FPG International, now part of Getty Images, and Acoustiguide, which is now Espro Acoustiguide.
Barbara is one of the entrepreneurs who shares her story with us for our special video series, 'Flight paths." Watch highlights from her interview.
Entrepreneurship is a lifetime state of being
Career milestones
Career milestones
Completes first sit-in in 2nd grade
Advocates for girls to be able to carry the flag into school assemblies
Enters Wall Street, works on IPOs
Becomes one of the first women on Dean Witter’s board
Leads FPG International
Earns recognition for bringing diversity to stock photography industry
Sells two family-owned companies she was leading
Recognizes the difficulty of life after an exit
Joins business groups and works with Columbia Business School
Becomes chair of Women Presidents’ Organization in NYC and adjunct professor at Columbia
Studies and writes about entrepreneurs
Becomes an Entrepreneur in Residence at Columbia University and Hofstra University
“Entrepreneurs don’t start businesses to walk off with millions.”
Barbara is passionate about working with business owners. Her expertise lies in helping business owners “through their sticking points, especially helping them think about life after exiting." An entrepreneur can be wildly successful in their businesses, yet struggle with other aspects of their life," she says. “An entrepreneur’s reason for being is to take action and solve problems. I like to enable effectiveness.”
Ever wonder why you were put on this planet? Here’s an exercise that helps Barbara. Every New Year’s Day, she writes her “dream obituary.” It may sound grim, but this habit pushes her to focus on achieving a life of her choosing. Now she's on a mission to help business owners and to help women capture more of the political and economic pie.
Barbara shares lessons learned from selling a business
“You have to remember, an idea is not a business.“
Barbara is the lead author of two Columbia Business School whitepapers, Life after an Exit: How Entrepreneurs Transition to the Next Stage, and The Owner’s Journey: Experiences shared and lessons learned from entrepreneurs who successfully sold or transferred their businesses to family members.
Today Barbara continues as both an entrepreneur and inspiration for other entrepreneurs. She is a speaker and author, and serves as a consultant, coach and board member for privately held companies.
