Dr. Rob Lion is a professor of human resource development at Idaho State University and a dynamic speaker, consultant, and business owner with over 20 years of experience in workplace culture, leadership development, and performance improvement. He specializes in helping clients build human-centric, sustainable systems and initiatives that align organizational needs with employee well-being, driven by the belief that “work should fuel the human spirit, not drain it.”
As the co-founder of Black River Performance Management, Rob draws on his extensive background in human behavior, the psychology of work, opportunity recognition, and relationship development to advise business owners and executives. He has a wealth of ownership experience across industries including food and beverage, personal fitness, and business development, and has dedicated over a decade to economic growth through a community-focused lens.
Rob is recognized for crafting people-first solutions thatenhance workplace culture. His approach integrates sustainable and strategic performance improvement practices, empowering individuals and organizations to build effective teams and networks. His students and clients appreciate his innovative methods and creative approaches to enhancing workplace practices.
In addition to his teaching and research, Rob collaborateswith leaders to develop clarity in their planning and leading processes. He emphasizes the importance of a people strategy, recognizing that even the most robust strategic plans are merely ambitions without an adequate understanding of staff talents and organizational attributes. His evidence-based frameworks provide rigor to decision-making, addressing challenges related to data utilization, staffing, succession planning, and employee engagement.
Rob’s expertise also includes helping organizations preparefor the future, ensuring that their plans are actionable and informed by the latest research in psychological and behavioral sciences. He is committed to building robust systems that support organizational goals by leveraging existing assets and fostering open communication at all levels.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Rob enjoys travel, flyfishing, and mountain biking. His passion for empowering individuals and transforming organizations makes him a highly sought-after thought leader in his field.
Connect with Rob on LinkedIn andlearn more about his work at Black River Performance Management.
