Robin Mullin’s story begins with a unique challenge and an incredible gift. Born legally blind, her parents didn’t realize this until she was over two years old. When she received her first pair of tiny blue cat-eyeglasses, it was like a whole new world opened up. Robin spent an entire day in the yard, marveling at the individual blades of grass she had never seen before, only perceiving a blur of green before then.
This lack of sight helped Robin develop a strong sense of the energies around her, allowing her to understand people and places in a way most people couldn’t. Even after surgeries corrected her vision as an adult, she still cherishes the peaceful, blurred world she once knew, always seeking the harmony and interconnectedness she felt then.
Robin’s entrepreneurial spark ignited from her desire to spend as much time as possible with her children. As a single mother, she needed flexibility and freedom in her work hours. She started by doing part-time jobs during school hours while gradually building her own business. She quickly realized that her enthusiasm for her venture far surpassed that for her paid positions, solidifying her commitment to becoming a full-time entrepreneur.
A few years after her divorce, with her life stable enough, Robin took the leap to fully invest in her business. She poured her creative energy into growing a marketing tool called SoulGate, designed to promote local events and services supporting personal growth and wellness through direct mail. Robin did everything herself, from graphic design to stuffing envelopes. While SoulGate grew slowly, Robin’s entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. She launched a second company to monetize her passion for teaching expressive arts.
Robin’s summer art camps for kids, named “Artrageous Adventures,” sold out six years in a row. She also taught Mask Making and other classes for adults, hosting workshops and appearing at conferences across the country. Her reputation grew, and she was soon asked to host private events for special occasions and corporate gatherings. This led to the creation of “Artrageous Parties,” a branch of her business offering a wide variety of creative art experiences.
For Robin, the biggest motivator in starting her business was freedom. She wanted the freedom to choose her work hours and the joy of doing what she loved. Seeing the positive impacts for participants in her creative groups, fueled her curiosity about bringing these techniques to organizations. Her passion for crafting positive, inclusive cultures within teams grew as she returned to college to study leadership at age forty. With a Master’s in Organizational Leadership, she focused on creating environments that foster innovation and collaboration while in senior corporate positions before becoming a consultant. Robin believes that the role of a leader is to create a safe space where each team member’s potential can bloom. She emphasizes the importance of feeling safe, seen, valued, and cared for, fostering trust and encouraging creativity.
To stay focused and motivated, especially during difficult times, Robin makes time for frequent mini-retreats. These retreats, which she takes about once a month, help her pause, reset and stay connected to her soul’s essence or inner compass. They include elements like deep breathing, meditating, day-dreaming, journaling, art and spending time in nature – all which allow her to clear her mind and reduce stress. This retreat practice helps her keep a big-picture perspective and find creative solutions to challenges.
Balancing work in the world and inner life is crucial for entrepreneurs and leaders, Robin believes. Her mini-retreats, however long, remove her from routine and provide space for intuition and creativity to flow.
Robin’s message to Womenpreneur readers and aspiring girls and women is clear: “Start with listening to your heart and focus on what brings you happiness. Your life is always moving toward something. Your destiny is to bring into form something you wish to create. So, choose to keep your focus on what you think is amazing, uplifting, beautiful, and joyful. And take good care of yourself along the way.” Robin Mullin’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, creativity, and a deep connection to the world around her. Her ability to turn challenges into opportunities and her dedication to fostering positive, inclusive cultures inspire women everywhere to dream big and pu
