Robert grew up in a middle-class neighborhood. Ambitious from a young age, his parents both PhDs in education, instilled in him the virtues of hard work and education. A driven youth while in high school, he applied for an internship at Bell Labs only to be rejected. Robert never rebuffed, called their offices every Monday until they granted him the much-desired placement.

Robert went on to join and graduate from Cornell University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. After a stint working at Kraft Foods and Goodyear Tire, he furthered his education at Columbia University, obtaining an MBA.