4 - Straight Talk: Doing Business with Corporate America with Robin Billups

Robin Billups is the Founder and CEO of The Billups Group, a dynamic consulting firm that brilliantly connects women and minority-owned companies to large corporations, allowing these businesses and local economies to thrive and grow. Affectionately known as “The Connector”, she leverages more than 30 years in the financial services industry to advise both novice and savvy businesses on the nuances of doing business with Corporate America. With a heart for underserved and underrepresented communities, she passionately advocates for diverse businesses as a public speaker and advisor to numerous decision-makers at Fortune 500 companies. Robin is known for her advocacy, coaching, collaboration, and straight talk.

Listen in on this authentic and inspirational conversation:

Prior to launching her consulting firm, Robin led the business development efforts for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the largest third-party certifier of women-owned small businesses in the country. Robin previously served as the National Supplier Diversity Manager with U.S. Bank, one of the largest banks in America. During her tenure, she developed strategies to diversify the supply chain associated with the bank’s operations.

Robin’s career began in commercial real estate construction financing where she focused on conventional, secondary market as well as community development bond and tax credit transactions.

Though she is known throughout the Los Angeles market, Robin hails from St. Louis and is a graduate of the University of Missouri/Columbia. She is also an alum of the USC Minority Program in Real Estate and a Certified Supplier Diversity Professional. She is an active community leader, serving on several nonprofit boards and mentoring a host of next-generation colleagues. Robin is married with two adult sons. She and her husband, Kenneth reside in Inglewood, CA. Robin’s faith is the cornerstone of her life, and she gains inspiration from gospel and blues music.

Let’s end this blog with a testimonial from one of her corporate clients:

“I was and continue to be impressed with Robin's energy, high moral fiber and commitment to building bridges between corporate America and members of the women and minority business community. She is forward-thinking, and bottom line focused which make her efforts pay off for those who work with and for her.”