Beyond the Bio

One of the unexpected perks of producing the Florida 500 each year is that it satisfies a very specific curiosity: What are all these influential people actually like?

We spend months examining their accomplishments, their companies, their careers and how they’ve made their mark across Florida — but that’s only part of the story.

The real fun begins when the questionnaires start rolling in.

Every year, we ask the influentials to tell us more than what’s on their resume. This year, we wanted to know everything from where they think their industries are headed to the advice they’d give the next generation. We asked about the organizations they’re passionate about, the habits that help them perform at their best and the positive change they’ve made within their organizations, industries, communities and our state.

We also asked a deceptively simple question: What do you do in your downtime?

It turns out that question reveals far more than you’d expect. Titles tell you what someone does. Downtime tells you who they are.

Their answers reminded us that even Florida’s busiest leaders make time for the things that keep them grounded.

As in past years, the Florida 500 is full of musicians. Florida Polytechnic University President Devin Stephenson is a classically trained pianist, while Tampa Electric President and CEO Archie Collins sings, plays acoustic guitar and writes songs.

Others find their reset outdoors. Baptist Health South Florida President and CEO Bo Boulenger is a lifelong surfer who also enjoys free diving and fly-fishing, while Moffitt Cancer Center Chief Bioengineering Officer W. Gregory Sawyer spends his free time woodworking and restoring old trucks with his sons.

The common thread? Even people with demanding schedules need something that brings them joy when the workday ends.

We also asked about their favorite meal after a long day. The answers ranged from family favorites to comfort food to special indulgences. Some chose barbecue, chicken pot pie or a classic cheeseburger. As Visit Lauderdale President and CEO Stacy Ritter put it, “Even though Greater Fort Lauderdale has experienced an amazing upward culinary trajectory, including our first Michelin-starred restaurant, I am a cheeseburger, fries and milkshake kind of girl.”

When we asked how they recover from setbacks, there wasn’t one universal answer. Some pointed to family, mentors, faith or exercise. Others emphasized resilience and perspective. The details differed, but the message was remarkably consistent: Success isn’t defined by avoiding challenges. It’s defined by how you respond when they arrive.

The same was true when we asked about the habits that keep them performing at their best and the advice they’d share with the next generation. Stay curious. Keep learning. Surround yourself with good people. Never underestimate the value of consistency.

By the time we’d finished reading hundreds of questionnaires, one thing became abundantly clear: The people in these pages are accomplished, certainly. But they’re also thoughtful, funny, reflective and refreshingly human.

Reading their responses inevitably made me wonder how I’d answer the same questions.
My downtime? Lately, it’s making ice cream. I enjoy experimenting with flavors you won’t find in the grocery store — lavender honey, apricot-vanilla-pistachio and whatever else sounds interesting. I’m also working toward visiting all 175 of Florida’s state parks.

Recovering from a setback? Usually by overthinking it for about 24 hours, talking it through with people I trust and eventually realizing the world didn’t end after all.

As for the habit that keeps me performing at my best? I’d love to tell you it’s an impeccably disciplined morning routine, but it’s really three things: getting enough sleep, taking a daily bike ride and making lists. Lots of lists. Whether I always remember where I put those lists is another matter.

As for the positive impact I’m most proud of making, I hope this publication is part of it. Every year, it gives us the opportunity to celebrate the people shaping Florida’s future — and, just as importantly, to share the stories behind their success.

That’s what makes the Florida 500 more than a list. It’s a reminder that influence isn’t measured only by titles or accomplishments. It’s reflected in the lessons people learn, the communities they support, the habits they build, the advice they share and, yes, even what they order after a long day.

So as you turn these pages, I hope you’ll look beyond the names you already know. You might discover a leadership lesson, a shared hobby, a philosophy worth borrowing — or, at the very least, a new dinner recommendation.