AFROTECH Conference 2023: After helping a Company earn Millions as a Chemical Engineer, Robert F. Smith wanted to be on the other side of the equation

After earning a company millions of dollars, Robert F. Smith wanted to be on the other side of the equation.

Before Smith became a billionaire, he worked as a chemical engineer for several years.

When he graduated from Cornell University and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1985, Smith was satisfied with his salary, which during AFROTECH Conference 2023, he revealed amounted to US$36,000 at one point.

“I got my first job out of college and I made more money than my dad made at the peak of his career and I was like, ‘Wow. I mean, life is just wonderful,'” Smith said on the Innovation Stage during the “Powering Forward: Creating a Shared Digital Future” panel held at AFROTECH Conference 2023.

However, it wouldn’t have been possible if he didn’t shift his mindset while working a salary job.

While reading about Black professionals on Wall Street in Black Enterprise, Smith realized that there was little disparity in terms of ability between him and the individuals earning millions of dollars annually.