Kevin Gillen has been in the banking industry for some 40 years, and a Tampa Bay and Sarasota executive for Synovus Bank since 2020. On this episode of From the Corner Office, Kevin and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about the power — and perils — of AI in banking and other sectors, and some of the trendlines Kevin sees in the region’s economy the rest of 2026. They also talked about Synovus Bank’s transition to Pinnacle in the merger between the two institutions and why hiring is so important to maintain a strong culture.

3 Takeaways:

1. (12:20) Be ultra selective with who you hire
2. (14:00) People first mentality
3. (19:20) Change is a breeder for opportunity

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Kevin Gillen, Regional President, Gulf Coast, Synovus Bank/Pinnacle Financial Partners

(02:15) Rapid fire questions - Book recommendations, dream dinner meeting, tv shows, and emojis

(09:00) Synovus and Pinnacle merger

(14:35) Kevin’s top level thoughts on AI

(19:50) Expectations for Sarasota-Bradenton market

(23:45) What are you looking forward to in 2026?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

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Rebecca is an ADHD and executive function coach, and founder of Mindful Communication. Based in Sarasota, Rebecca is a speech language pathologist and author of the book, “The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction.” She has been studying listening behaviors and activities for more than 25 years. On this episode of From the Corner Office, Rebecca and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about what mindful listening can do for executives and leaders as opposed to actively listening, and why that’s even more crucial in the AI, high-distraction era. She also talked about key steps any leader can take to be more mindful when they listen to others.

3 Takeaways:

1. (14:45) Get comfortable with silence
2. (17:30) If we listen with curiosity, the speaker really feels like we care
3. (23:50) “Get into the movie of the speaker”

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Rebecca Shafir, founder, Mindful Communication

(04:40) What is Mindful Communication?

(06:15) What is mindful listening?

(09:30) How do you work with leaders that have ADHD?

(12:00) Working with physicians to become better listeners

(14:10) How do you help your clients be better listeners

(17:10) Curiosity and clarity

(18:55) Why should we be better listeners in the AI era?

(20:55) Example of how better listening could have been used to implement an AI tool

(23:30) Practical ways for busy leaders to be better listeners

(26:50) What is coming up for you in 2026?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

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Dev Iglesias has been with FPL for nearly a decade, working her way up from a marketing and communications role. Well-known in the Sarasota-Bradenton community for being one of the faces of FPL’s storm and outage response teams, Dev got into this field after initially chasing a career in sports communications and marketing. On this episode of From the Corner Office, Dev and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about how she got into the customer service side of the power and energy business, her leadership mentors and how she keeps a positive outlook and attitude among what could be chaotic and confusing situations.

3 Takeaways:

1. (11:20) When you speak 1:1, it lowers defenses
2. (15:35) Empathy is the most important leadership skill
3. (22:00) You can be uncertain, just be honest

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Dev Iglesias, Director of external affairs for Southwest Florida region, Florida Power & Light

(07:15) Gut instinct or data? Winning or not losing?

(09:00) Dev’s role at FPL

(10:40) Dealing with negativity?

(12:50) Growing up in a large, tight-knit family

(15:20) Must-have leadership characteristic

(16:15) Mentors

(18:20) Hard to hear feedback

(21:10) Leading in uncertain times

(24:40) Preparing for an emergency

(27:45) What is coming up?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.