Robin Helfand

An alum of McKinsey & Co., Procter & Gamble and Dean & DeLuca, Robin Helfand moved to the Berkshires twenty years ago to launch her small business consulting practice and what she fondly halls her ”passion project”, Robin’s Candy Shop in Great Barrington, a destination for kid of all ages. Robin is a member of Rotary International, The Specialty Food Association, Mass Retailers Association, 1Berkshire & the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. She sits on several private and nonprofit Boards including the Community Development Corporation of Southern Berkshires, where she is the lead Board member on Small Business Consulting Assistance. Robin also sits on the Advisory Boards of Berkshire Busk and the Downtown Great Barrington Cultural District. She co-founded the Entrepreneurs Forum, an organization that meets periodically to discuss topics of relevance to our community of entrepreneurs. The forum has grown to a membership of 150+ entrepreneurs throughout the region. Robin attributes her career path and community engagement to wisdom from her father-- a physicist at Bell Labs. He taught her the value of "creative thinking" and how to pivot in the face of challenges. Robin calls this "Entrepreneurial Thinking." It is the subject of several articles and webinars Robin presents through 1Berkshire, The SBCOC , the CDCSB's Consulting program and in her private practice.