On the March 3 episode of the Facility Voices podcast, David Trask, at ARC Facilities, sits down with Robin Cowie, Chief Executive Officer of Skillmaker, to explore how immersive technology is reshaping the future of skilled trades. Robin’s journey begins in South Africa, where his father, an industrial psychologist, used film to train gold miners who couldn’t read or write — an early lesson in meeting people where they are. That philosophy carried Robin from filmmaking and video games to building hands-on, tech-enabled training solutions for today’s workforce.
Now at Skillmaker, Robin is focused on closing the skilled labor gap by accelerating competency through virtual reality, mixed reality, and smart glasses. He shares how immersive training can elevate entry-level technicians, preserve institutional knowledge, and empower teams to work smarter — not harder. It’s a conversation about innovation, respect for the trades, and the human side of technology in motion.
Tune in to the “Innovating Through the Trades Shortage” episode to hear Robin Cowie’s story and insights from the front lines of facilities management.
Each episode of Facility Voices includes supplementary content that expands on key themes and insights from the conversation. You can find that additional material at: Access Episode Takeaways.
Connect with David Trask on LinkedIn.
Guest: Robin Cowie, Founder & CEO
Skillmaker.ai, Immersive trades training development
Robin Cowie is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Skillmaker.ai, where he leads the development of immersive training for skilled trades and vocational fields. He previously pioneered VR-based electrician training as CTO at Promising People and served as Senior Narrative Producer at Electronic Arts, contributing to six AAA titles including Madden NFL: Longshot. A co‑founder of Haxan Films and producer of The Blair Witch Project, Robin has raised over $20 million in private equity to advance technology and media ventures.
