Visionary brand builder and father of two Rob Harvey pivots to education.
Rob Harvey is a visionary brand builder with more than 20 years of experience elevating unique voices and guiding industry leaders to new technologies. As an executive within the music industry, he defined mainstream culture by breaking 50 #1 songs and promoting artists across multiple genres. He held influential positions at two major record labels before transitioning to Spotify, where he leveraged real-time data, consumer insights, and customer feedback to champion new business models and elevate brands globally.
His ability to amplify brands and identify gaps in the market led him to pivot to education, where Rob recognized a need for better STEM and computer science-based education technology. As executive chairman and co-founder of FTW Robotics, he pioneered the Build | Fly | Code program and released a first-of-its-kind curriculum to schools across the United States.
For The Win Robotics is home to Hopper®, a drone designed to revolutionize STEM and computer science education through its Build Fly Code® learning platform. This comprehensive platform includes drone hardware and software, computer applications, and fosters community and connection. It endeavors to offer instruction, resources, and experiential educational interactions for students and educators at all levels.
The core of Build Fly Code revolves around providing the means to build Hopper, alongside activities that introduce students to the fundamentals of flying and coding. The curriculum is inspired by Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, showcasing real-world drone applications in fields such as search and rescue, aerial surveillance, precision delivery, and first response.
What prompted you to make the leap into education?
The common denominator over my career is a dedication to elevating unique voices and guiding industry leaders to new technologies using creativity and data. My journey into education began when I realized the profound impact that early exposure to learning has on both individual futures and society as a whole — sparked by my eldest daughter's entry into kindergarten. Observing how classrooms had remained largely unchanged for decades, despite rapid technological advancements, sparked an idea that led to the founding of For The Win Robotics. Six years later, we've grown with a dedicated team that delivers on our mission to bring future-ready skills to students nationwide.