Going Far Together: Leadership Lessons & Career Wisdom from Communications Veteran Robert Collins

In this insightful episode of the Career Wanderlust podcast, host Jolie Downs sits down with communications maestro Robert Collins. Robert is a senior marketing and communications executive with over 20 years of experience in the B2B and consumer tech industries. He has launched and managed marketing programs for global giants including Cisco, HubSpot, SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Sony Electronics, and IBM. Robert has led tech practices at prestigious firms such as Fleishman Hillard, Shift Communications, RacePoint Global, and Lewis Communications. Beyond his professional achievements, he's an avid comic book collector, movie trivia aficionado, and speaks at conferences about the evolving role of digital and social media in driving organizational growth.

Content Sample:

Robert shares his revolutionary cereal box analogy that transforms how businesses should approach communications strategy—focusing not just on ingredients but on the compelling visual story and the "prize inside" that truly captures audience attention. His surprising revelation about community-building through the Social Media Breakfast initiative demonstrates how one small leadership opportunity can explode into a nationwide movement. Most uniquely, Robert unveils his unconventional hiring philosophy that prioritizes character and work ethic over traditional résumé achievements, challenging standard industry practices with remarkable results.

Key Takeaways:

• [00:02:00] When feeling doubts or sensing problems in your career, take immediate action rather than ruminating—this decisive approach unlocks forward momentum.

• [00:04:00] True leadership is about articulating vision clearly while inviting team members to find their own pathways to achieve goals, not prescribing how they should work.

• [00:11:00] Effective communication strategies should create a "vision" rather than a checklist, focusing on the compelling story that will engage your audience, not just tactical execution.

• [00:32:00] In hiring and team building, prioritize character and work ethic over perfect résumés—look for commitment and resilience that demonstrate true potential.

Memorable Quotes:

"You can go fast by going alone, or you can go far by going together." 

"We don't rise to the level of our goals. We fall to the level of our habits." 

"The media do not care about your company, your product, or your leadership team. They care about what they think is important to the industry." 

Suggestions:

Subscribe to the Career Wanderlust podcast to continue gaining insights from leaders transforming industries. 

Follow Robert Collins on LinkedIn for ongoing thought leadership in communications and community building. https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbyrnecollins/

If you're looking to add exceptional talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team, check out paradigmstaffing.com for access to top-tier professionals.

This insightful session was hosted by Jolie Downs with Paradigm. For more on career evolution and growth you can connect with Jolie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joliedowns/ 

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Ending Note:

What would your career look like if you started focusing on building communities rather than commodities? As Robert suggests, sometimes our greatest professional breakthroughs come from following our authentic interests—like robots and donuts—rather than conventional paths. We'd love to hear about your own career wanderlust moments in the comments below!