KAY RAWLINS

CLUB FOUNDER & SVP OF COMMUNITY & SOCIAL IMPACT, ORLANDO CITY/ORLANDO PRIDE, ORLANDO

Orlando City Soccer Club was founded in 2011 and has been a Major League Soccer team since 2015. Orlando Pride joined the National Women’s Soccer League in 2016. Together, the two teams employ more than 250 and play an active role in the Central Florida community through volunteerism, support for local nonprofits and board service. A new focus, Rawlins says, is “connecting our Orlando Pride players to the business community as they start to consider what they will do when they retire from soccer.”

EDUCATION: Radbrook College, U.K. (BS)

IF I WERE GOVERNOR: I would focus on finding solutions to our ever-growing unhoused population. It is a complex issue, but at the heart of it is the lack of affordable housing.

MENTOR: I have been fortunate to have many mentors at different stages of my life and career, however, Kelly Cohen has been not just an amazing friend but also a source of great advice, a rock in a crisis and endless fun.

LISTENING: So hard to pick one. I listen to a lot of soccer podcasts and am an avid reader, but I do like the podcast How I Built This with Guy Raz. So many fascinating stories of entrepreneurs and dreamers.

INSPIRING FLORIDIAN: John Rivers of 4 Rivers and now 4 Roots Foundation. His vision for 4Roots Farm ... will serve to inspire revolutionary change in Florida’s food system through education on sustainable and regenerative farming, advancements in agriculture technology and research in culinary medicine via the launch of the Culinary Health Institute. His ability to inspire so many other leaders and companies to join this venture is remarkable.

MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA: You are never too old to set new goals or to dream a new dream; dream big and dare to fail.