Meet Robin White | Small Business & HR Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robin White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robin, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I grew up in an entrepreneurial family, working for family businesses from the time I was 13 (that was the year I could officially go on payroll) until I graduated college and went out in to the “real world” to prove to myself I could be successful on my own. Having my own business was always something I wanted to do. After a 10 year career in HR, I left the corporate world and went back in to business with family and co-owned and operated a 24/7 restaurant with two of my siblings and my mom. After selling the restaurant in 2018, I started working for a large employer organization as an HR consultant. I worked with over 90 small businesses to help them navigate California’s complex employment laws, develop organizational strategies, and policies and procedures to help optimize their business effectiveness. I learned so much in my time there but most importantly, I gained the confidence to know that I was good at it. I realized very quickly that my clients required far more attention than I could give them with such a large book of business, so after two years, I knew it was time to go out and do it on my terms.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the co-founder of Guided Leadership Solutions. We are a San Diego based human resources consulting/coaching firm that specializes in helping California small business owners avoid legal trouble, develop their team and get back to doing what they love. My passion is helping “micro” small businesses – those with under 50 employees. From a young age I saw first hand the challenges business owners face when having to work in and on their business. Often times they are so overwhelmed that they lose sight of the original passion that had them starting their business in the first place. With our business, we set out to practice what we preach; we have worked from day one to build a business with a strong foundation that is scalable. We have also been open minded to our own shortcomings and have invested in outside expertise from the beginning for guidance and support. It has not been easy, but we are learning every day and are so proud of the work with are doing and the impact we have been able to make for so many business owners in the short time since we launched our business (about two years ago).

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a San Diego native and love that there is so much to do here – too much, how do I narrow it down?! One of my favorite places is the San Diego Zoo so that would be a must on our itinerary. We would also spend a day on the beach and rent a kayak in La Jolla Shores. There are so many wonderful hikes in the San Diego area so some of our mornings would be filled by setting out on different outdoor adventures – Torrey Pines, Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, and Cowles Mountain are among my top choices. Visitors know that if they are coming to our house, they will be treated to a Mexican food feast with carne asada from Kennedy’s fresh off the grill. As far as eating out, we would definitely catch a sunset on the deck at Monarch in Del Mar while enjoying happy hour.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It may sound cliché but I have to tribute all of my professional successes to my parents. They owned and operated many businesses over the course of my life and instilled in us a strong work ethic and the understanding that we could do or be anything we wanted to be. By the time I graduated college, I already had extensive experience in many different industries including manufacturing, retail, call-centers, and restaurants. That well-rounded business knowledge lead me to a successful HR career setting me apart because I could understand the full business and not just what I call the HR silo. My dad passed away in 2010 (his passing was a big reason why I ended up going back in to business with family) but I like to think he is watching over us and cheering me on in this new business venture. My mom still gives me the regular pep talks I need when feeling the strain of starting a new business from scratch.

Website: www.guidedlead.com

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/robinewhite

Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/guidedleadershipsolutions/

Image Credits
John Menvielle