Rachel Robinson

I attribute my success to my unwillingness to accept no. Whenever somebody says I can't do something, or maybe asks if I want to take notes or something like that, I don't know what it does, but it makes me go - not only am I about to do this, I'm about to do this 10 times better than they can, and I'm gonna come for their job next and they're gonna be my secretary. That's really it. I'm also thinking about the future, because now at this point in my career, it's about how do I start opening doors to make this pathway better for the next generation, especially within our country and technology. Technology has become so political, and it's going to get way more political, so I want to create better pathways for those coming after me.

The best career advice I’ve received is to think strategically about every move while staying grounded in discipline and purpose. Growing up with a single father who was both an entrepreneur and a chess player, I learned early on to plan ahead, adapt, and stay a few steps ahead of challenges. Being surrounded by strong influences, including a high-level attorney in my family, reinforced the importance of resilience, critical thinking, and showing up with intention. That combination of entrepreneurial spirit and structure continues to guide how I approach my career today.

My advice to young women entering this field is simple: if someone tells you that you can’t do it, take that as a sign that you’re more than capable—maybe even capable of doing it better. Don’t let male-dominated spaces intimidate you; your voice, perspective, and leadership are needed. Show up with confidence, trust your abilities, and don’t shrink yourself to make others comfortable. When you lead with authenticity and belief in yourself, you create space not just for your own success, but for others to follow.

Technology has become so political, and it's going to get way more political. That's one of the biggest challenges we're facing. I saw this firsthand during COVID-19 - they never tested the vaccine on women, which is why when I found out that women taking the vaccine would get 2-month-long periods, it made sense, because we never thought about what this mRNA vaccine would do to a woman's body. The intersection of technology and politics is creating real challenges, and I'm focused on how to navigate that while opening doors for the next generation in technology.

The most important value to me is that you have to help people. My family's history taught me that we're not free until we're all free, and that by helping people that are being kind of knocked down, you're doing the best business. It's very ingrained in me that helping others isn't just the right thing to do, it's also good business. I believe strongly in women supporting each other instead of competing. I see all the time where there's a job that comes up and two women are battling each other for it, and I think - sweetie, neither of you are getting the job, because there's a man who's already making $25,000 more a year than you who's getting that job. My big push is, hey ladies, if there's a boys club, why can't there be a girls' club? We need to stop fighting each other and start supporting each other, because these men don't need our help - they're already making more money than us.