The Journey
Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Robiar “Robi” Smith comes from a legacy of resilience, resourcefulness, and entrepreneurship. Long before she became a history-making business owner, Robi was learning the foundation of the pest control industry through her family. What began with her father—who taught her the trade and instilled in her the discipline, work ethic, and practical knowledge that would later shape her career—became the starting point for a journey Robi would ultimately transform into something much bigger.
A wife, mother, former IT professor, and MBA holder, Robi’s path has never been one-dimensional. Her professional experience spans education, technology, and business leadership, all of which prepared her to step boldly into a male-dominated industry and make her mark. As founder and CEO of R.B. Pest Solutions and The R.B. Premium Products, Robi became the first woman to lead a service-based and retail-focused pest control company to this level of visibility and impact. Under her leadership, the company has secured significant governmental contracts and a partnership with Home Depot—an extraordinary accomplishment in a space where women, and particularly Black women, remain underrepresented.
What makes Robi’s story so compelling is that her success did not emerge out of nowhere. It was built on the shoulders of what was passed down to her, and then expanded through her own vision, courage, and determination. She took what her father placed in her hands and turned it into a company, a platform, and a movement.
Legacy
For Robi, legacy is not simply about what she builds—it’s about what she passes on. Her story is deeply rooted in generational impact: a legacy that began with her father, was cultivated through her own leadership, and is now being extended to her daughters. Through R.B. Pest Solutions, Robi is not only creating a thriving business; she is showing her daughters what it looks like to lead with excellence, own their space, and build something that can outlive them.
As a Section 3, MBE, WBE, and DBE certified pest management company, R.B. Pest Solutions represents more than a business milestone—it represents access, opportunity, and proof of what is possible. Robi has helped break open doors in spaces where pest management companies have historically been overlooked, securing city contracts that had never before been awarded to a company in the industry. In doing so, she has created a blueprint not only for other women and minority-owned businesses, but for her own daughters to witness firsthand what legacy looks like in motion.
Her legacy is both personal and professional. It lives in the contracts she has secured, the barriers she has broken, and the example she is setting at home. Robi is building a business her daughters can be proud of, learn from, and perhaps one day carry forward themselves. That is what makes her work bigger than pest control—it is the story of a family legacy being preserved, expanded, and reimagined for a new generation.
Beyond the Business
Beyond the accolades, partnerships, and media recognition, Robi is a woman deeply committed to family, community, and purpose. She is a mentor, a coach, and a leader who believes success means little if it is not shared. Whether she is hiring locally, creating opportunities for others, or pouring into people who are trying to find their footing, Robi leads with integrity, compassion, and a deep sense of responsibility.
That same heart extends to her role at home. As a wife and mother of daughters, Robi understands that the most meaningful work she does may not always be seen on stages, in boardrooms, or in the press—it may be in the everyday example she sets for her family. Her life reflects the balance of strength and service, ambition and care, vision and values. She is not simply building a company; she is building a legacy her family can stand in.
From the Women’s Expo and the Chicago Defender to NBC, Fashion Week, the BET Awards, and recognition from Black Enterprise, Forbes, and AfroTech, Robi’s influence continues to grow. Yet at the center of it all is a woman who understands that success is most powerful when it creates room for others—especially those closest to her. Robi’s story is one of faith, family, impact, and inheritance: a woman honoring what was handed down to her while courageously preparing the next generation for what’s ahead.