David Robinson
Director of External Affairs
Manufacturing Renaissance
Chicago, IL USA
“I don’t chase money. I chase helping people—which, in turn, gives me everything I need.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationDavid Robinson
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
As a kid, I won a few writing awards, so my mother encouraged me to follow my writing and pursue a career in journalism.
I went to Morehouse College and earned my bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Upon graduating, I got a job writing for the Detroit News.
A few years later, my parents convinced their friend Harold Washington to run for mayor of Chicago, Illinois—he was elected and I joined his think tank, the Department of Economic Development.
I initially thought that working in policy and programming would be a brief stint and I’d go back to journalism, but as I gained experience and got promoted, I fell in love with the work.
Throughout my career, I’ve ventured down other paths—from entering the corporate world to owning my own company—but I’ve always made my way back into roles where I could help my community.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Director of External Affairs
I work toward creating sustainable development anchored in manufacturing.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Non-Profit Organizations
Helping People
Day to Day
A lot of my work revolves around communicating with various people and organizations. For example, I'll communicate with people at the Wall Street Journal or NPR to get a story out about a facet of our work. I'll also spend time writing releases. I'll communicate with Congresspeople and their staff to discuss policy. I also make sure any informational interviews are set up for success in terms of space, tools, and people. Every day typically consists of several meetings as well.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for everyone
Find a mentor. Mentors have been very influential throughout my journey. It's incredibly helpful to have someone on your side with good, solid information to help guide you through uncertain moments.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I'm invincible. It's all about me."
