Boston resident Robert Williams, is the BPL’s newest Entrepreneur-in-Residence. He began his residency in November and offers one-on-one mentoring and group workshops to help patrons start their own businesses. Robert sat down with the Fund’s Elizabeth Swanson to talk about his work.
Can you tell us a little about your background in business and entrepreneurship?
I’m originally from Philadelphia and came to Massachusetts to attend Merrimack College. I later earned my law degree from the Massachusetts School of Law and completed a fellowship at Harvard. I started my career at Fleet Boston Financial, where I worked with business owners on financing strategies. That experience opened my eyes to the challenges entrepreneurs face—especially around resources and navigating the marketplace. That inspired me to launch my own firm, Executive Strategies LLC, to support business owners more directly.
What made you want to be the BPL’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence?
After the pandemic, I relaunched my firm and was looking for a place to work and refocus. That search led me to the Boston Public Library and the Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC). Once I met the team and saw the incredible resources available, I was hooked. When the opportunity to become Entrepreneur-in-Residence came up, I jumped at it.
What has been the most exciting part of the experience so far?
Introducing people to the Library’s resources. The KBLIC is a hidden gem—a true jewel in the city—and I love being able to share it with colleagues, business owners, and friends.
With a grant from Bernstein Private Wealth Management, the Boston Public Library Fund (BPLF) is proud to support the Library’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence program.