Robin Roberson is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience improving business operations through innovative solutions. As co-founder and former CEO of WeGoLook, she transformed insurance and gig economy workflows, leading to a $36M acquisition. She held leadership roles in North America’s insurance tech space and is now co-founder and President of Agentech, a SaaS platform revolutionizing claims processing with AI agents, boosting efficiency by 3-4x. Robin is also an investor in BuildArray and advisor to AptlyDone. A frequent speaker at industry events, she’s most proud of being a mom, dog lover, and breast cancer survivor.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
My early years were spent in a small rural farm town in Oklahoma. I didn’t have much of a relationship with my biological father and was adopted by my alcoholic stepfather when I was 4. We lived in a trailer on my grandfather’s land with no television for several years. Despite the challenges, I was a voracious reader. By 4th grade, I was devouring autobiographies of trailblazers and entrepreneurs, dreaming of success. My grandfather gave me a National Geographic book, and I would pretend to be a travel agent, helping people book imaginary trips to the places I read about. I even circled items in the Sears “Wish Book,” driven by an early desire to create a better future.
Life at home was far from easy. My parents argued often, and I endured years of mental and physical abuse. Yet, I was fortunate to have incredible basketball coaches, teachers, and family members who provided encouragement. At 16, I moved in with my grandmother, working three jobs while maintaining a 4.25 GPA and graduating high school.
In college, I met a baseball player and soon became pregnant with my first son. I dropped out of college and started working in sales for the Washington Post’s cable division. As a single mom, I quickly fell in love with earning commissions and was nationally recognized as the youngest sales leader for two consecutive years. I was promoted to regional sales manager and later to lead my own system in Mississippi, where I thrived and spearheaded the rollout of dial-up internet services. Teaching others how the internet worked ignited a passion in me—I was fascinated by email, website development, and learning about internet tools like spiders and cookies.
While in Mississippi, I met the love of my life. Tragically, he passed away in a car accident eight months after I gave birth to my second son. As a single mom of two boys, I struggled to balance work, school activities, and home life. I knew I needed more flexibility, so I took a leap of faith and started my first company.
That was 22 years ago, and I’m proud to say I’m still going strong. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been worth every step.
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business/initiative? What motivated you within to say YES, go for it?”
While I had explored additional revenue streams alongside my full-time job—dabbling in Mary Kay, real estate, and marketing consulting—it wasn’t until 2009 that an idea truly sparked. A friend was considering purchasing a high-end projector on eBay but wasn’t sure if the seller was credible or if the item would work as advertised. That conversation led to the concept for WeGoLook—a company that would leverage the gig economy to provide onsite data capture of any asset and deliver detailed reports to potential buyers or commercial clients.
Having spent lots of time using customer relationship management platforms, I had already seen the immense power of organic internet leads and believed the future of commerce would largely take place online (back when Amazon was still primarily a book retailer). The potential for WeGoLook to serve eBay customers became my focus. I couldn’t stop thinking about how it could fill a critical need, the steps and processes required, and the broader applications for the idea.
I started working on it in my spare time, refining the concept and laying the groundwork. Eventually, I took the leap of faith to pursue it full-time—a decision that wasn’t easy, as it meant giving up a steady paycheck and benefits. But the drive to turn the idea into reality outweighed the risks, and I never looked back.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
Wow, this is a tough question—the change I’d like to see in the world. Is it too cliché to say “world peace”? Lol.
On a serious note, I would love to see more young women feel confident enough to take risks and chase their dreams, whatever they may be. It can be a lonely road, especially when focusing on doing a few things exceptionally well. As women, our responsibilities outside of work—family, home, and life—can be both taxing and the most wonderful blessings.
Balancing family, faith, business (including caring for your team), and community involvement often leaves little room for ourselves. My greatest wish is that young women prioritize their health while pursuing their dreams, whether that’s running a company, raising a family, or both. I learned this the hard way—I always put everyone and everything ahead of my own health, and in 2020, I was diagnosed with two types of breast cancer.
If I could shake every young person out there and deliver one message, it would be this: Focus on a few priorities that matter most and make your health one of them. Because a healthy world is a happy world!
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
My perspective on women in leadership is simple: the most qualified and best-suited person should lead, regardless of gender. As a board director for an $11 billion bank, I’m one of the few women at the table, and I’ve learned that men and women often bring different leadership styles to the table.
To women aspiring to lead, I’d say this: be the kind of leader you would want to follow. Do the work, engage meaningfully with male counterparts, and remember—this isn’t a competition between men and women, despite what some might suggest. Men often approach leadership with confidence and decisive action, and there’s no reason women can’t do the same—just with our own unique flair. 😉
I’ve always loved the saying, “Don’t wait for your ship to come in—swim out to it.” That’s exactly what women need to do. Put in the effort, promote your results, and put yourself in the same rooms and conversations as men. Join roundtables at conferences, start conversations, and make yourself seen.
Take the metaphorical hammer to the “glass ceiling”—because that’s all it is: a metaphor. There’s no invisible barrier where men are floating above, and women are stuck below. The opportunities are there, and we just need to go after them. Go for it!
What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
The most important lesson I’ve learned in my professional journey is to stay focused on one or two specific products or solutions and become exceptional at them before scaling or adding new features. Your energy is far more effective when concentrated, like moderately filling one or two buckets, rather than trying to fill six to ten. I used to wear an arrow necklace to remind myself to stay focused and keep moving forward. When I shifted my focus to just two industry solutions, I found tremendous success.
On a personal level, I’ve learned that the same effort we put into our businesses must also be poured into our children. It makes for long days, but the rewards are beyond measure. My children and dogs are my world outside of work (though now that I’m an empty nester, I’m ready to find a tall, dark, and handsome partner to travel the world with!).
Don’t forget to carve out time for yourself—whether it’s a spa day, a walk with a friend, or just a moment to recharge. Surround yourself with women who understand the unique challenges you face. That’s why I love the Fuzia platform—it brings together women leaders who inspire and support each other. Together, we can achieve so much!
My personal mottos (I have two of them): Work hard, play hard! Don’t follow the crowd…it’s crowded!
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
If I can be successful, anyone can. Growing up very poor, experiencing childhood trauma, having a baby in college, not graduating college, and losing my eldest son’s father many years ago, the odds were stacked against me. As a single parent to two boys, I statistically shouldn’t be where I am today—but resilience is a cornerstone of entrepreneurship.
I could have made a million excuses to settle for a life similar to what I grew up in. But instead, this small-town farm girl helped
revolutionize how the insurance industry approaches desk adjusting. Who would have thought? Certainly not me. But along the way, I’ve learned that anything is possible.
The world is full of amazing opportunities waiting to be captured. Yes, we will fail—it’s inevitable. But what matters most is not dwelling on those failures and ensuring you have more wins than losses in the end. Whether your goals are personal, professional, or both, you can achieve them. Believe in yourself, stay resilient, and keep moving forward. You’ve got this!
