Hatchcast Extra: Innovate State ft. Rob Smith

The Hatchcast

Rob Smith, CEO & Founder, The Phluid Project / GET Phluid / The Phluid Foundation has created a brand, combining his retail profession with his passion: a commitment to social justice.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Rob began a thirty-year retail career orchestrating multi-billion dollar businesses through merchandising, e-commerce, marketing, product development, and supply chain management.

He worked his way through Macy’s for over two decades, working within four divisions and finishing with his final position as GMM/EVP Macy’s Corporate in product merchandising.

Gaining new experiences, Rob became GMM/EVP at Victoria’s Secret direct. He was the Children’s Global Chief Product Officer for Nike, Levi’s Jordan, Hurley, and Converse with Haddad Brands.

Rob mentors numerous fashion brands and designers, leads the CSR committee as a member of Steve Madden Ltd’s Board of Directors, and raises critical funds for LGBTQIA+ organizations.

Today, Rob leads and manages The Phluid Project, a leader in gender-free fashion. Phluid, joining a global movement of freedom, authenticity, and self-expression, leads with values, a powerful community, and a fearlessness to challenge the status quo. Phluid thoughtfully expands into new spaces where they can offer insight, education, and impact, including GET Phluid (gender-expansive training) and The Phluid Phoundation, a nonprofit supporting the most at-risk members of the LGBTQIA+ community (trans women of color and homeless queer youth).

Rob lives in NYC with his husband, Rod Grozier, and his dog, Jackson.

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Hatchcast is made possible by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Michigan State University in collaboration with the MSU Innovation Center, the MSU Entrepreneurship Association, & MSU Women in Entrepreneurship.

Original Music & Sound Design by Kakia Gkoudina and Karina Stankowski

Engineered & Edited by Will Rowan

The Hatchcast is co-hosted and produced by Gabe Hales, Gabe Berke, Diego Fernandez, Danielle Tice, Karina Stankowski, Charlotte Bachelor, Will Rowan, & Aaryn Richard.