Georgia Southern’s Director of Business Incubation joins International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) board of directors

Director of Business Incubation of the Business Innovation Group (BIG) of Georgia Southern University, Sheffie Robinson, DBA, has joined the board of directors for the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) and those that lead them. 

With experience mentoring and championing entrepreneurial efforts both in and out of institutions of higher education, Robinson demonstrates a deep commitment to helping others thrive. This dedication is evident in Robinson’s leadership at BIG, where she has played an important role in expanding entrepreneurial opportunities throughout the region. 

“What makes the BIG unique is that we meet entrepreneurs where they are,” Robinson explained. “Through the Georgia Enterprise Network for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GENIE), founders in rural and small-town Georgia have the same access to resources, expertise and networks that people usually associate with big cities. Our incubators in Statesboro, Metter and Hinesville anchor a broader network of partner organizations across the state that support our founders. We connect the University’s talent and research capacity directly to the businesses that drive our regional economy.”

According to Robinson, it can be a misconception that businesses fail because they aren’t trying hard enough. However, she explained that there are a lot of small mistakes that anyone can make while opening a business, and Robinson, along with leaders at BIG and InBIA, seeks to prevent those startup errors before they ever start. 

“Most founders don’t fail for lack of effort; they stall because they don’t know what they don’t know,” she said. “A good mentor shortens that learning curve, helps them avoid costly mistakes and opens doors to customers, capital and partners they couldn’t reach on their own.” 

InBIA has provided a wide range of resources, training and thought leadership to empower ESOs to create meaningful skills, collective knowledge and comprehensive resources to help organizations run efficiently and promote startup business success for over 40 years. 

One of only six leaders selected for the board of directors, Robinson began her role Oct. 1.

“I’m looking forward to bringing the perspective of rural and regional incubation to an international conversation,” she explained. “So much innovation happens outside major metros, and I want to make sure those programs and founders are part of how our industry defines best practice. I’m also excited to learn from incubator and accelerator leaders around the world and bring those ideas back to Georgia Southern and the communities we serve.”

However, her achievements go beyond this new role alone. In 2021, Robinson was named the winner of the EmpowerHERaccess Cloud Solution of the Year Award by Women in Cloud, and was also honored as a Top 10 Under 40 and Top CEO by the “Mississippi Business Journal.”  In addition, she holds numerous professional certifications in workforce development, project management and Agile methodology. Robinson also holds professional training in clinical sociology and sociotherapy. 

For Robinson, the ability to support innovators and entrepreneurs is a passion built over nearly three decades. She looks forward to maximizing her skills as a leader and mentor within this new role. 

“I love the moment when someone realizes their idea is real,” she said. “I’ve been a founder myself for most of my career, so I know how isolating it can feel. Watching an entrepreneur land their first customer, hire their first employee, or secure funding they were told they’d never get is incredibly rewarding. Every one of those wins also strengthens a community, and that’s what keeps me in this work.”