Robert Wise, 38
CEO of ITinspired
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Growing ITinspired revenue by 165% from 2014 to 2017, tripling the staff and customer base.
- Being one of 285 companies nationally to earn Inc. magazine’s Best Workplaces of 2018.
- Earning a rank of No. 2,584 on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America list in 2018.
COMMUNITY:
Supports Junior Achievement, Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, American Red Cross, Nepris Inc. Virtual Volunteer and the BRAC Teacher Externship Program. Also serves on the Junior League Community Advisory Board and The Arts Council Board of Directors.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY
Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach to Customer Service
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Originally I wanted to be a fireman. After hearing about my dad’s army career, I wanted to be a Special Forces Green Beret just like him.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
When I was 9 years old I moved from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to New Orleans. I went to my first Mardi Gras parade and realized I could make some extra money recycling bottles and aluminum cans left out after parades. So I worked for myself. I would go to the parade to catch beads, and as soon as the last float passed, I was picking up anything that could be recycled in trash bags and bringing it back home to store until I made a large recycling trip to cash in the money. I would also cut grass, wash cars around the neighborhood and do odd jobs. I made my own flyers and had referrals from past customers. It taught me that hard work, customer service and word-of-mouth advertising could make a business thrive.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
I spent two summers working as Boudreaux T. Nutria, the mascot for the New Orleans Zephyrs. During the day I would work in the main office making sales calls, and on game nights I would perform in the mascot suit. I wouldn’t call it the strangest job I’ve ever had, but definitely the hottest.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
You can’t beat The Overpass Merchant. I love going there on Tuesdays when they have the Chicken Fried Chicken lunch special. My favorite dishes are the Hot Lonnie and Billy Ray Cyrus sandwiches with a side of chicken skins or cheese curds.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Being honored as one of Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces of 2018
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Creating a solid company culture and team environment at ITinspired where I get to see, play and work with the amazing work family and team we have assembled.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA” MOMENT?
This is best described by a quote from Teddy Roosevelt: “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Sometimes you have to say no to others in order to say yes to yourself. Saying no is hard for me—I want to say yes to everyone and everything.
WHAT GIVES YOU PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATION?
I draw inspiration from the people I work with, the opportunities I see for growth and positive change in doing business, and finding efficiencies or solutions to problems that positively impact people and businesses.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
I had an employee tell me that they loved their job and the people they worked with so much that their paycheck was more like a bonus. I’ll never forget hearing that and how it made me feel.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Yes, Facebook and Instagram with a sprinkle of LinkedIn.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
I usually text around eight to 10 people a day. I send approximately 20 to 30 emails a day.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
5% and I’m on the hunt for a charger with a vengeance.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
None, I can’t stand to have unread email messages.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Waze and LastPass
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Drones and self-driving cars
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
The alarm clock
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
7:30 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
No breakfast
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
I strive to be someone who brightens up a person’s day and inspires others to be the best version of themselves they can be.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
24—when I got my second job out of college and signed a lease on my own apartment in Spanish Town
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
A nine-day Tiger Cruise on the USS Makin Island (LHD 8) from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to San Diego
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
A little red fire truck I had when I was 3 years old. It had a bell and two white ladders that would always fall off as I was pedaling it up and down the sidewalk of our neighborhood.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
I’d want the ability to fly so I could skip traffic, take in an amazing view and zip through the sky feeling free as a bird.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
Rubbertoe or Robert Earl
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
I’m not superstitious.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
Simon Sinek
WHICH FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
Emmet from “The Lego Movie”
FAVORITE DRINK?
Arnold Palmer (half sweet tea and half lemonade)
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
Michael Jackson hands down!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
“Airplane”
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Ron Burgundy in “Anchorman”
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Embrace your strengths, don’t fear failure, trust your instincts and always answer the phone when your parents call.
PETS?
A black cat named Sirius Lee Wise.
HOBBIES?
Hunting, bow fishing, audiobooks, listening to music, volleyball and practical shooting.
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
I was held at gunpoint and robbed in high school. The robber left the scene in his truck and I chased after him in my car. I’m glad I did, because less than a mile later he ran a stop sign in front of a cop. I told him that he robbed me at gunpoint and he was immediately arrested. That night I remember telling myself I could’ve been killed and my closest family and friends wouldn’t know how I truly felt about them. To this day I express my true feelings, gratitude and appreciation to everyone I meet.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
Becoming debt free is my biggest personal goal and I’m making steady progress. Professionally, I hope to prepare our company for the next stage of growth and success so we can minimize our growing pains.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Lack of focus on the importance of mental health and mindfulness. We need to stay present in the moment and pay close attention to the psychological and emotional well-being of ourselves and those around us. Without drastic change we can expect drastic results.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
The opportunity to improve and impact the world we live in is vast and rich. People are called to action and willing to make a difference in their lives and communities now more than ever because we are more connected and communication is easier. The power of people and positivity can achieve amazing results.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Congratulations on a job well done! Continue to develop and demonstrate your servant leadership to make Baton Rouge the best city it can be.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
My roots are firmly planted in Baton Rouge with my family and business. I don’t foresee leaving anytime soon. I love Baton Rouge and I’ve never felt more at home in a city like I do in BR.
IF NAMED KING FOR A DAY, WHAT IS ONE CHANGE YOU WOULD MAKE IN BATON ROUGE?
I would make a four-day work week the norm.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BATON ROUGE; WHAT WORKS AND WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT?
Baton Rouge has a great foundation and collection of culture, cuisine, industry and amazing people that sets us apart from other cities. The ability to create or cultivate your own personal and professional growth is right here in the Capital City. Baton Rouge has made some great improvements to our quality of place, but we still have more work to be done. I wish our city was cleaner and had less trash visible on our roadways, better public education, communities safe from violence and crime, and infrastructure improvements to ease our traffic issues.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
Cross country motorcycle trip on U.S. Route 66 with my brother; travel to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji; and throw tomatoes at the La Tomatina festival in Spain.
See the entire 2017 Forty under 40 class
