The desire to be in control of his own success has been the driving force behind Rob Wilson’s entrepreneurial efforts.
Once receiving his Bachelors’ degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and his Masters’ in Business Administration from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, Wilson has been on the fast track to success.
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| RESEARCHING FOR A SHOW—Rob Wilson, vice president and financial advisor at Blazer Capital Management, is known as “Hip Hop’s Financial Advisor.” (Photo by Diane I. Daniels)
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After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh he worked at Deloitte LLP. After receiving his MBA before branching out on his own in 2009 he worked for Smith Barney for four years.
“My prior employment and educational path has steered me toward entrepreneurship as well,” said Wilson. “At Deloitte I had the opportunity to travel and meet people and Smith Barney provided a solid financial and investment base.”
While attending CMU he received a full fellowship for the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. He explained that the program is the country’s preeminent organization for promoting diversity and inclusion in American business. An alliance of leading American business schools some of the country’s top corporations; its mission is to enhance diversity in business education and leadership by helping to reduce the serious underrepresentation of African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Native-Americans in its member schools’ enrollments and the ranks of management.
Considered one of the top in his field, Wilson is the vice president and financial advisor at Blazer Capital Management his independent financial and investment advisory firm based in Pittsburgh. He is known as the “Hip Hop’s Financial Advisor.” His clientele focuses on entertainers and professional athletes.
“Some of my clients are the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL and NBA players and a young rapper name Tyga,” he identified pointing out that his overall goal is to help people of all income levels. “My goal is to help people to invest wisely and to start building wealth.” He says he works with entertainers and professional athletes, what is considered the hip-hop generation because they comfortably spend their money on $200 sneakers, sporting their high priced bling-bling and other expensive items, but need help when it comes to being financially savvy. “I want this generation to start building wealth so I advise and work with my clients to start investing and saving.”
Passionate about his craft and helping people build wealth, Wilson not only educates and advises his clients, he shares financial information through numerous mediums. In his hometown of Pittsburgh bi-weekly he hosts a financial segment Money Monday on the 9 a.m. KDKA Pittsburgh Today television show. He has appeared as a guest on NightTalk on PCNC and has been featured in the Pittsburgh Business Times and Black Enterprise Magazine.
Creative topics for the television segment include, How to Create Your Own Financial Independence Day, How to Make Money on Your Vacation and Should You Invest in the Facebook IPO or Should You go to Vegas? During the segments he discusses current issues like investing in Facebook or JP Morgan Chase makes suggestions concerning business, credit, insurance or investing as well as suggests books to read.
His website; www.robwilson.tv is also full of information and carries blogs and YouTube videos of his television segments.
A native of the Hill District and a Schenley High School graduate, Wilson recalls that he did not grow up in the best neighborhood but lived in a household where his mother and grandmother exposed him to opportunity. “I was taught not to let people impose their limitations on me.”
When questioned as to why he remains in Pittsburgh when so many young people his age leave the city, Wilson said, “This city provides tremendous opportunity for those who want it. It provides the ability to be a big fish in a small town.” He also pointed out that the location is convenient making it easy to travel.
Thankful for his 35 years of life he says the accomplishments he is most grateful for is the process in which he acquired his education, the good jobs he had and the opportunity to start his own business. “I am glad that through the opportunities I have received I am able to be a mentor and role model to others.”
Considering himself a television personality, blogger and mentor, Wilson takes his responsibilities seriously. Working with young people he is showing them that there are many different ways, outside of being an athlete or entertainer, to live the type of lifestyle that they want to live. He is creating and recently launched a video series called, The Best Kept Secret. The 7-10 minute video, he said will expose young people to a variety of career options available to them. The video is created from the field trips he has taken young people on inclusive of the taping of his television series, the offices of businesses, doctors, lawyers, accountants and other entrepreneurs. “The video series will demonstrate to the young people that hard work provides rewards.”
Wilson is a recipient of the New Pittsburgh Courier’s 50 Men of Excellence and has been honored as one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.
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