Allow me to (re)introduce myself:
I’m Britney Robbins – native of Quincy (IL), youngest of four (by 7 years), aunt to 12 and graduate of The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. My story and work history is varied. I’ve done a lot of things, in a lot of different spaces – in a short period of time. I’m a big believer of experiences and experiential learning. I’m an advocate for constant growth and evolution and an active participant in living your truth, your purpose and bringing your full self into every space you enter. I’ve worked within Chicago’s entrepreneurship and tech community for the past 11 years working within some of Chicago’s top venture capital firms and incubators including, Cleveland Avenue, Sandbox Industries, Lightbank and 1871. I’ve written a children’s book (2015, The Adventures of Buster & Duval) and in 2016, I started The Gray Matter Experience – a non profit dedicated to unlocking the self-determining power of Black youth and strengthening their ties to community through real world experience in entrepreneurship.
Fun fact: My degree is actually in Rhetoric – with a concentration in Creative Writing and an English minor. I was in love with words growing up – always have been. Even writing this now, my heart is full thinking of how much joy and freedom writing has brought me throughout my life. Writing was the first place I ever felt safe sharing my feelings, my thoughts, my ideas. As someone who grew up extremely shy – it became my preferred way of communication.
In an effort to honor my inner child, my creative side, my passions and gifts, I’ve decided to start sharing more of what goes on in my world and the lessons that I’m learning through each experience. Some posts will serve as words of wisdom and truth I’ll put into the book I’m writing, some of them I hope will help and heal you, while some are simply observations from my experiences that may help inform your own work. But in everything you read, I ask only one thing of you – take what you need and leave what you don’t. Not everything that is mentioned will be relevant to you, but the things that resonate, those things that give you pause, encourage you to dig deeper, take that as your confirmation to go deeper into that discovery, unlearning, relearning and healing.
While I don’t claim to have all of the answers, I know there is value to be had in the writings I’ll share with you. I have been very blessed in my life – from various experiences I’ve had, the tables and rooms I’m invited to occupy, to the perspective gained and lessons learned along my journey… This blog is my way to share knowledge, perspective, wisdom and somewhat of a blueprint for those of you navigating your own journeys.
I’m just the messenger.
Britney
Just The Messenger 