Description:
In this episode of The Builders, Matt sits down with Rob Broadhead, founder of RB Consulting, to explore the experiences that shaped his business-first approach to technology. What begins as a story about curiosity and problem-solving quickly becomes a reflection on early failures, missed assumptions, and hard lessons learned inside consulting firms and startups alike.
Rob shares how watching software projects struggle, not because of bad code but because of unclear business problems, fundamentally changed how he thinks about building systems. From enterprise consulting to scrappy startups, each setback became a data point, teaching him that technology only works when it serves clearly understood processes and constraints.
The conversation turns pivotal as Rob recounts the accidental founding of RB Consulting, including launching his company just one day before September 11, 2001. Navigating uncertainty, stalled projects, and shifting markets forced Rob to refine his thinking. Those early failures didn’t slow him down. They shaped the philosophy he still operates by today: business clarity first, technology second.
Key Takeaways:
- Early failures often reveal what theory and training cannot
- Most software problems begin as business problems
- Setbacks in startups provide a practical education in operations
- Incremental progress beats over-engineering
- A business-first mindset creates more durable systems
Rob Broadhead
Rob is a veteran software architect, entrepreneur, and mentor with over 30 years in technology and business. He’s the founder of RB Consulting and the voice behind the Develpreneur Podcast, where he helps developers and business leaders turn ideas into real-world success.
Rob’s passion is helping people build better — smarter systems, stronger teams, and more meaningful careers.
THE MEAT OF IT!
1. A Natural Problem-Solver From the Start
- Questioning the “right way” to do things
- Early signs of a builder’s mindset
2. Learning Inside Big Consulting Environments
- Exposure to enterprise projects and large systems
- Seeing where projects quietly go wrong
3. When Technology Outruns Business Clarity
- Software failures caused by misunderstood problems
- The cost of skipping business discovery
4. Startups, Setbacks, and a Practical MBA
- Wearing every hat in early-stage companies
- Learning business through real consequences
5. The Accidental Beginning of RB Consulting
- Running out of runway and being forced to choose independence
- Forming a company before having a grand plan
6. Building Through Failure, Shock, and Uncertainty
- Launching just before 9/11
- Adapting when projects and funding evaporated
7. A Business-First Philosophy Emerges
- Why understanding the business must come first
- Laying the groundwork for how Rob builds today
Check out these related Episodes:
- Episode 254: Dan Daly – How He Used Brand, Vision, and Commitment to Build & Create Rapid Business Growth
- Episode 252: Oksana Kovalchuk – Rebuilding a 70-Person Agency After Collapse and Crisis
- Episode 249: Nikita Vakhrushev – Building Smarter E-Commerce Growth Through Email, SMS, and Retention
