At Momentive, we believe leadership is defined not just by strategy and outcomes, but by impact, purpose, and people. In our Moments of Impact: Inspiring Leaders series, we’re shining a light on team members who lead with intention and service — both in their work and in their communities.
Meet Rob Miller, Senior Vice President of Association Strategy at Momentive Software and a Certified Association Executive (CAE). Rob’s professional journey spans decades of entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership in the association space, but his most meaningful contributions often happen off the clock.
A Coach, A Mentor, A Champion for Youth
Rob’s passion for mentorship started on the ice — literally. A lifelong hockey player, he spent nearly a decade coaching high school teams in the Washington, D.C. area, despite not having children of his own in the sport.
“I have a passion for working with kids, especially high schoolers,” Rob shared. “They’re very moldable at that age. I loved mentoring them and challenging them to be better people and grow to be good contributors.”
For Rob, team sports became a vehicle for developing essential life skills — collaboration, leadership, and resilience — that mirror the demands of the professional world.
“Sports teach you to compromise, to work with others, to lead,” he said. “And I took so many lessons from coaching that made me a better manager and leader at work.”
Extending Opportunity: Mentorship Beyond the Rink
After hanging up his skates, Rob turned to new ways to give back, most notably through Year Up, a nonprofit focused on helping young adults without access to college navigate the transition into the workforce.
“The organization pairs students with mentors to talk about what they’re learning, help with resumes and interviews, and really prepare them for that first job,” he explained. “Each year they pair up a mentee with a mentor. It was incredibly rewarding.”
Even now, his mentoring continues in less formal ways. Through his active presence on LinkedIn and deep ties to the association community, Rob frequently connects with professionals looking to advance their careers and gain industry insights.
“I do a lot of ad hoc mentoring now, especially with people who want to grow in the association space. I’m always happy to give back in that way.”
Giving Back to the Entrepreneurial Community
As a successful founder of multiple software companies, Rob has also invested time and expertise into mentoring early-stage entrepreneurs.
“I’ve served on a bunch of start-up boards — mostly because I had walked that road before and could share my experience,” he said. “These founders are trying to get things off the ground, and they need someone who’s been there to lean on and help guide them.”
Though those board seats were business-oriented, Rob saw them as another form of service.
“It was mostly volunteer. For me, it was about helping them succeed — just like the kids I coached or the mentees I worked with. It all comes down to supporting others.”
“I Always Feel Like I Get More Than I Give”
When asked about the personal and professional impact of his service, Rob reflects with humility and gratitude.
“It centers you. You see how kind and thankful people are; how much they care,” he said. “Those experiences bring joy and I always feel like I get more than I give.”
He also believes volunteering creates long-lasting relationships that extend beyond the moment.
“It builds trust. And sometimes, years later, that trust makes all the difference in a professional situation. But you don’t do it for that. The people who volunteer for the right reasons are where we see those relationships persist.”
Rob encourages those who are searching for an opportunity to give back to start by looking inward.
“Find something that brings you joy and aligns with your skills. Don’t force yourself into something that doesn’t fit, because you won’t stick with it,” he said. “The best volunteer work is where your passion meets your strengths.”
Purpose in Practice
For Rob, the opportunity to serve mission-driven organizations isn’t just part of the job—it’s the reason he’s stayed in this industry for the majority of his career.
“Every one of these organizations has an important mission that they are driving,” he said. “We’re not the ones directly saving lives, but through our software, we’re helping them do it more effectively.”
From supporting pediatricians at the American Academy of Pediatrics to walking the halls of the American Diabetes Association, Rob draws deep satisfaction from enabling organizations that serve the public good.
“That’s why I’ve been drawn to associations and non-profits,” he emphasized. “The people we serve are deeply committed to their missions — and that inspires me to keep showing up every day.”
A Moment That Matters: Volunteering Dreams
If Rob could spend a day volunteering anywhere in the world? No hesitation — he’d go right back to the ice.
“Drop me on a frozen lake in Minnesota or Canada and let me help kids skate for the first time,” he said with a smile. “Seeing that joy, that moment where they feel the wind and freedom, that would be my perfect day.”
From hockey rinks to boardrooms, Rob’s impact is grounded in mentorship, fueled by purpose, and defined by a lifetime of lifting others up. We’re proud to have leaders like Rob in our Momentive community — showing that when we lead with heart, the ripple effects are endless.
