Alumni Spotlight - Robert Riley BA '13, MBA '18

Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2025

UNOH Alumni Robert Riley BA '13, MBA '18

Written by: Contributing Columnist Melanie Barnas-Simmons, VP for Instutitional Advancement and Alumni Relations

Robert Riley’s journey from the baseball diamond at UNOH to the boardroom at Lendmark Financial Services and the launch of his own consulting firm is a story of growth, grit, and gratitude.

Raised in Springboro, Ohio, Robert spent over a decade in Lima before settling in Sidney, where he now lives with his wife, Beth (“B”), and their growing family—which includes three young children, ages 7, 4, and 1 and 1/2, with a fourth on the way, along with their two long haired German Shepherds, Rye & Zayed.

Robert credits much of his career development to his time at UNOH. “My experience at UNOH proved to be incredibly important to my career,” he says. “Being part of the baseball program reinforced values like teamwork, hard work, and discipline—qualities that continue to serve me every day.”

But it was the MBA program at UNOH that truly propelled his professional advancement. “The MBA program was the game changer,” Robert explains. “The courses directly aligned with what I was seeing in the real world. I walked away with practical tools that I could immediately apply to my role at Lendmark, which helped accelerate my career. It was affordable, flexible, and deeply impactful. I’ll always be grateful for how easy UNOH made it for me to level up in life.”

In recent years, Robert has taken that momentum and poured it into a new venture: Pinnacle Leaders, a personal and professional development consulting firm. What began as a side hustle grounded in his own journey of self-investment has evolved into a passion project with a powerful purpose.

“I started my business because it means a lot to me personally,” he shares. “About five years ago, I made an intentional decision to invest in myself—and the return has been immeasurable. I only wish I had embraced this mindset earlier in life.”

Through Pinnacle Leaders, Robert now offers coaching and consulting services for individuals, teams, and organizations looking to grow. His offerings include personal development coaching, career guidance, leadership workshops, morale-boosting sessions, and tailored mentorship—all rooted in the belief that investing in people leads to powerful outcomes.

To learn more or connect with Robert, visit www.pinnacleleaders.net or find him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-riley-mba/ 

Category: Business, Health, and Occupational Professions

Keywords: Alumni, Robert Riley