MAGAZINE FALL 2026
The Bridge Builder
Robert “Bob” James (MBA/MHA ’99) doesn’t think of himself as just a networker. “I’m a bridge builder,” he says.
It’s a philosophy that has guided a career spanning corporate governance, law, healthcare, and now higher education. Today, as director of inclusion and engagement at Pitt Business, James is helping connect students, alumni, faculty, and business leaders around a common goal: creating a community where people can contribute, grow, and succeed.
A Full Circle Journey
After completing his law degree at Georgetown in the early 1990s, James was practicing business law, but something still felt missing. He was drawn to pursuing his MBA at Pitt Business. “I wanted to have a better understanding of business financial statements and also be well-positioned to be a Fortune 500 company senior leader and public company board director/audit committee member,” he says. He graduated in 1999 and continued his career, eventually working as an attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Then he pivoted into belonging and engagement roles at Highmark Health and as a strategic growth officer at CGT Staffing.
In February 2025, James rejoined Pitt Business, this time as a community leader. “I had reached a point in my career where I wanted to give back to the communities that had helped me if the opportunity presented itself,” he says. “I am truly honored to be able to leverage my wide-ranging experience, knowledge, and relationships to support our amazing university community.”
Belonging is Good Business
As director of inclusion and engagement, James’s job is to ensure that every student, faculty member, and staff member feels they belong and can thrive.
“Belonging is the foundation of community, and community is what allows everyone to actually thrive here, not just get by,” James says. “That’s true everywhere, not just on a campus. Organizations that build a strong sense of belonging have better outcomes for retention, attraction, and performance.”
In December 2025, James brought industry leaders together to discuss how AI can serve as a catalyst for deeper organizational connection at the Executive Roundtable: Advancing Belonging Through AI. The group discussed the fears many workers have of being replaced by AI and how creating a sense of community and value can mitigate those feelings. See pages 28 and 29 for more on the Executive Roundtables.
Building a Podcast
“Bridges Beyond Business,” is the platform where James can share his message on a broader scale. Nearly 10 episodes in, the podcast has covered topics including relationship building, advocacy for minority groups (including veterans and LGBTQIA+), and a special episode centered around the 2026 NFL Draft that was hosted in Pittsburgh. Charlie Batch, former Steeler and current NFL Draft Committee member, joined James for the episode.
“I started the podcast because I saw a gap in the business world. The stories and concepts tied to community and belonging that actually drive performance weren’t being widely told or amplified. I wanted to change that,” James says.
“The podcast’s goal is to extend Pitt Business’s voice and expertise on community and belonging beyond the classroom, connecting the School’s work to real conversations happening in industry, and to surface insight into experiences that would not otherwise be widely shared.”
How to Build Your Own Bridges
Pittsburgh has nearly 450 bridges, among the most in the world for a single city. They weren’t all built in one night. Much like a concrete bridge, your professional network takes time, energy, and a bit of strategy to nurture. James, a career networker, says: