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Robin Roberts:  Positioned for Success
By Carol Moore

Published July, 2004 "Northwest Indiana Business Journal"

Carol interviews Robin Robins

"Position yourself for success," says Robin Roberts. "Look at the big picture but focus on the small stuff, and good things will happen to you." Roberts, news anchor at ABC Television's Good Morning America, says she made some sacrifices along the way to success. During an interview before her recent appearance at Valparaiso University, she noted that hard work, persistence and her spirituality helped, too.

When I asked why she came to Indiana, Robin said she really enjoys coming to universities. She said the audience thinks it's there for her, but really, she's there for them. She wants to ask them what's important for them. She said she gets a real key to politics and to pop culture. She also said she gets to "pontificate" about her life experiences, and how she positioned herself for success.

She will always love sports, she says, "No matter what sport it was I loved it, loved it, loved it. Loved every aspect of it, seeing how fast I could run, competing against someone else, etc." In fact, she proudly told me she became the Mississippi state bowling champion at age 13.

Robin credits Title IX for her college education, since she had a basketball scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana University, where she was Freshman of the Year, and was named to the University's Athletic Hall of Fame as third-place all-time leading scorer with more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

When she graduated, the WNBA didn't exist, so she never had the opportunity to play professional sports. When I asked if she was ever sorry she didn't, she said that at the time she was sorry, but now she's grateful because otherwise she might not have applied herself in the classroom. She said "because we didn't have a professional league, I got up and went to my eight o'clock class." She graduated cum laude, with a degree in communications. "Of course," she added "as an athlete, you always want to see if you can take your game to the next level. I could have gone to Europe to play, but I got a job offer, in my field, in communications, so I decided to take that."

During her tenure at ESPN, she covered everything from the "Dream Team" at the Barcelona Olympics, to the Women's World Cup Soccer Final at the Rose Bowl, anchored SportsCenter, and hosted In the SportsLight, ESPN Classic's Vintage NBA, and provided coverage of the LPGA. She didn't want to be known as a basketball announcer just because she'd been a basketball player. When ESPN took over the NCAA women's tournaments in 1996, she proudly covered women's basketball for the next seven years. She said she'd always wear her tennis shoes in the booth, joking that she "still had a little bit of eligibility, and if the players got hurt, they could call up to the broadcast booth and I could go down to play."

Robin said she made the change to news for growth. The subject matter is different, but the approach is the same. Journalism is journalism. She remains a contributor to ESPN, but she loves Good Morning America. She said she's just grateful that the audience accepted her. She knew she could do it, but worried that they'd say, "what does Robin think she's doin', sitting next to Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer? What does Robin know about news?" Charlie and Diane are wonderful, she added, very supportive. "I could not have done it, made that transition, without them. . . I just sometimes want to pinch myself, knowing all that they have done. . . to be a small part of their team. It's mind-boggling to me sometimes."

On a personal note, we talked a little bit about what makes Robin tick. She said she was actually on her way back to New York after a visit with her brother and his family in California. Her nephew, Lawrence Roberts, was up for the Wooden Award. On what she likes to do, she said, "I really enjoy reading, I'm athletic, I'm a Pilates fiend. I'm very low key. . . I'd rather be around those people who knew me when and appreciate me for that, and I appreciate them too."

As we concluded our conversation, we talked about things we had in common. Most difficult interview — with a lawyer. Biggest obstacle — gender. Favorite leisure activity — kicking back with a trashy novel. Finally, as I thanked Robin for making time to talk with me, she thanked me!