Craig Robinson: From CEO to Author & The Pursuit of Happiness
- Greg Inglin
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
In this conversation, Craig Robinson opens up about his pivot from the C-Suite to author, mentor, and advocate for the pursuit of happiness. After attending MIT and Harvard Business School, Craig’s climb up the corporate ladder was impressive and his leadership skills put him at the top of some of the country’s largest real estate firms. However, Craig was seeking fulfillment in other ways that led to a pivot and his desire to take a different path. Craig talks about putting ego aside, seeking personal growth and joy by investing in what mattered to him most: relationships, career, and faith. This self-discovery led to better life balance, mental health, and his desire to research and write a book on happiness.
Craig also reflects on his heritage and the impact of his ancestors, highlighting the significance of understanding one's identity. This is a great conversation for those that are seeking change, big or small, and how choosing curiosity over conviction can open our minds to new possibilities.
What you can expect from this episode:
How the influence of African American leaders in Atlanta inspired Craig.
How education and mentorship played a crucial role in Craig's success.
Why Craig's journey was not linear; it was filled with challenges.
The importance of nurturing individual talents in children.
Embracing change and adapting to new opportunities is essential. Fulfillment comes from focusing on purpose, community, and being stretched.
How pursuing a portfolio career can lead to greater balance and joy.
Why courage is essential when changing life priorities.
Why happiness cannot be crowdsourced; it must come from within.
How relationships are key to long-term happiness and health.
Examples of how small, intentional changes can lead to greater happiness.
Curiosity is more valuable than conviction in personal growth.
Guest Resources:
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Want to skip to the good part? Here’s this episode’s segments:
00:00 Roots in Atlanta: A Journey of Influence
02:58 The Power of Education and Mentorship
06:01 Understanding Heritage and Identity
09:07 Navigating Academic Challenges and Opportunities
11:58 The Role of Community and Support
14:53 Finding a Path in Real Estate
17:51 The Importance of Networking and Seizing Opportunities
20:48 Seasons of Career Growth and Leadership
24:02 Embracing Leadership and Personal Fulfillment
30:23 Finding Your Flow: The Key to Fulfillment
31:44 The Courage to Pivot: Embracing Change in Career
36:01 Happiness: A Choice or a Discipline?
39:39 The Role of Relationships in Happiness
48:11 Wrestling with Identity: The Ego's Impact on Happiness
51:22 Surprising Insights: What Really Brings Happiness?
55:40 Creating Space for Happiness: Small Steps to Big Changes
About My Guest: Craig Robinson is an experienced independent board director, c-suite executive and advisor for commercial real estate, professional services and technology companies. Craig currently serves as an independent director for Lessen, Roofstock, and Second Nature. He is also a Strategic Advisor to Dunes Point Capital, a private investment firm that has invested over $5B in industrial and service companies since 2001.
Over the course of his career, Craig has led business units within both large global public companies and private mid-cap growth businesses. He was most recently the Chief Growth Officer for Industrious (now CBRE) and prior to being a CGO, built and led Powered By We, a hyper-growth business unit at WeWork providing real estate technology, development, and management services. Previously he was the CEO of Global Corporate Services at Newmark (NASDAQ: NMRK) where he led all sales, operations and platform investments for their corporate real estate outsourcing business.
Prior to Newmark, he was President of Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CIGI), U.S. Region, where he was responsible for $1B+ in annual revenue, 5,600 real estate professionals, and 150 offices. He is a member of the Harvard Business School Alumni Board and has served as advisor to several growth companies, including StateBook International, Climate-X and Pacific Program Management (now Cresa). Craig earned his MBA from Harvard Business School, and his BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Outside of work, Craig is a founding member of the Leadership Now Project where he is a passionate advocate for working and fair democracies.