ABOUT ROBERT

Business Innovation Pioneer & SMB Transformation Expert

Robert S. Livingston is a business builder, framework developer, and relentless champion for SMB business owners determined to create sustainable success. With over four decades of hands-on experience across industries and leadership roles, he's dedicated his career to helping business owners master the fundamentals that drive lasting growth, profitability, cash flow, and enterprise value.

Robert is the creator of the BusinessWiser™ ecosystem—a complete five-tier system of booklets, diagnostic tools, frameworks, strategic cash flow analysis and learning platforms designed specifically for resource-constrained SMBs in the $2.5M–$25M range. As the architect behind the eight flagship WISER™ Frameworks (including DRIVERwiser™, CASHfloWiser™, and PROFITwiser™) and pioneer of revolutionary human-AI collaboration methodology that scales proven business expertise, he has transformed complex financial concepts into practical, Done-for-You/Do-It-Yourself tools that deliver consultant-grade clarity without consultant overhead.

His philosophy is simple but transformative: master the basics, especially cash flow, and everything else follows. He's built his life's work around this core belief, guiding SMBs to regain clarity, control, and confidence in their businesses.

Pressure-tested with 170+ SMB owners across manufacturing, distribution, retail, and services, Robert's methodology addresses a foundational truth: most businesses don't fail from lack of ambition—they fail from lack of clarity and cash. Robert pioneered the DFY/DIY model specifically for SMBs who operate with limited time, money, and manpower, ensuring every tool can be completed using only existing business data.

His approach extends beyond quick fixes to create what he calls "a durable moat around your business"—systematic cash flow mastery that strengthens the business, enhances owner wealth, and improves quality of life. When SMBs see clearly, act decisively, and grow sustainably, they move from reactive firefighting to proactive cash leadership, making business ownership rewarding rather than overwhelming.

The Foundation: Four Decades of Real-World Leadership

His journey began at the University of Southern California, where he earned his BS Magna Cum Laude and MBA — but his real education came later, in the trenches of day-to-day business leadership. At Mobil Oil, Mattel Toys, and PepsiCo, he sharpened his focus on core financial and operational principles. But it was as a CFO, Managing Director, President, and CEO across small and mid-sized businesses ranging from $3 million to $100 million in revenue where Robert truly forged his expertise.

In these roles, he didn't just manage — he transformed. He learned firsthand how mastering cash flow and operational fundamentals isn't optional; it's survival. His leadership extended across Finance, Sales, Operations, Marketing, Product Development, HR, and beyond, always applying his "back to basics" approach to build stronger, more resilient companies.

As an entrepreneur, Robert has successfully built six businesses of his own, giving him an insider's view of the challenges and opportunities SMB owners face daily. His work spans industries — from oil, toys, quick serve restaurants and food manufacturing to publishing, software, accessories, sports apparel, and more — proving that timeless business principles transcend sectors.

The Innovation: Revolutionary Human-AI Collaboration

After retiring from executive leadership in 2018, Robert launched a consulting practice and formed a unique 20-member Advisory Circle of manufacturing and wholesale SMB business owners ($2.5M-$25M revenue). Through six years of consulting work combined with continuous Advisory Circle collaboration, he developed and field-tested practical frameworks that consistently delivered measurable results.

This deep consulting experience revealed a crucial insight: while his methodologies were proven effective, traditional one-on-one consulting could only help one business at a time. Recognizing the broader need for these tools across the SMB community, Robert pioneered a breakthrough approach to scale his validated expertise.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, he developed the first systematic human-AI collaboration process that uses artificial intelligence not to create business strategies, but to systematically document and scale the tools he had already developed and validated with real businesses. This revolutionary methodology maintains complete executive credibility while achieving digital efficiency — enabling thousands of SMB owners to access consulting-grade strategies that were previously available only through expensive one-on-one engagements.

The Mission: Transforming How Business Expertise is Shared

Today, as the developer of multiple frameworks, host of the BusinessWiser Podcast, publisher of the BusinessWiser Blog, Video Channel, and Newsletter, and founder of C-Suite2goDIGITAL, Robert is on a mission to impact thousands of SMB professionals worldwide. His goal is clear: to spark a nationwide return to business fundamentals while demonstrating how experienced executives can efficiently share their proven methodologies with the broader business community that needs these tools.

Through his innovative human-AI collaboration process, Robert is setting a new standard for how business experts can scale their knowledge while maintaining authority and credibility. Every BusinessWiser framework represents systematized wisdom from four decades of corporate leadership, validated through real consulting implementations, and refined by his ongoing Advisory Circle of successful business owners.

Robert believes every SMB owner deserves to lead a business that works for them — not the other way around. Through his frameworks, tools, and groundbreaking methodology, he continues to help owners replace complexity with clarity, make smarter decisions, and create businesses that deliver freedom and long-term success.

Transforming how experienced executives share proven knowledge with the SMB community that needs it most.