From CPA to “Dream Team” Builder: Assistants, Culture by Design & Scaling Smart with Rob Levin

What happens when a CPA turns publisher, face-plants in print at the wrong time, and then builds one of the fastest-growing talent companies serving small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs)? Rob Levin, co-founder and CEO of Work Better Now, joins Debra Pearlman to unpack his 30-year entrepreneurial journey — and share why every business owner needs a full-time assistant, how to build a culture by design (not default), and the precision process behind matching A-players from Latin America to U.S.-based small and mid-sized businesses. We dig into: the rise, fall, and lessons from New York Enterprise Report; the moment a single assistant transformed productivity and life; screening 4–5K applicants a month to find the top 1–2% “WBN-certified” professionals; balancing hard skills, soft skills, and cultural fit in hiring; designing job descriptions with clear KPIs and evaluation criteria; Rob’s upcoming book, The New Talent Playbook—and why offshore talent is no longer optional; and why referrals fueled early growth—and what’s next for marketing and sales. Actionable, transparent, and loaded with gold nuggets—this is a masterclass in leverage, leadership, and building your Dream Team.