RACHEL CONE
MANAGING PARTNER, THE SOUTHERN GROUP, TALLAHASSEE
Cone joined The Southern Group in 2017 as a partner and in 2019 was named managing partner of the firm’s Tallahassee office, where she’s played a key role in building one of Florida’s highest-grossing lobbying firms. Rachel began her career as a military reporter at the Florida Times-Union. She later served as external affairs director for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, was chief of staff to Gov. Rick Scott and served as interim secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation.
EDUCATION: Auburn University (BA)
IF I WERE GOVERNOR: Ninety percent of government runs on its own. The trick is to figure out the other 10% that doesn’t and push like hell to make the changes you want to see happen. On day one, I’d signal a new era of civil discourse, where it’s possible to disagree without being disagreeable. From there I’d focus on making sure businesses could grow faster and operate more efficiently in Florida than any other state in the nation.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED: Perhaps the earliest lesson I learned was in my first job as a newsroom reporter and it’s held true ever since. Everybody has a story to tell, which becomes a window into what motivates them. When you give them space to tell it, they will show you what they care about, how they manage conflict, and what it takes to earn their trust. It’s a lesson as important for cub reporters as it is for politicians and business executives.
