Zoe Taylor, PMP

I attribute my success to perseverance, especially after Hurricane Michael. I focused on seeing a bigger picture than what was currently happening instead of being complacent with where I was at. I had a vision for where I wanted to go, even though I didn't know what it looked like or how I was going to get there. I just knew I needed to do the work to be prepared when the door opened, whatever that door was. So I was constantly learning as much as I could about my positions, my program, and my field. Whenever I had downtime at work, I was reading articles about new innovations in my field and in the healthcare industry, looking at what was happening around the country, not just in Florida, to be ahead of things before they finally came to us. I would learn my position, take my responsibilities very seriously, and then spend time learning what I could about the industry and how other state governments were doing things. That's how I found the gap in our employee assistance program. By researching how other states were doing things, I discovered that we were the vendor's only customer that did not extend services to household members and dependents. I focused on being ready for the next step, knowing that I wanted to go further, just not knowing what it looked like.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is: don’t wait to take the leap. I’ve learned to be confident in myself and my abilities. I don’t wait until I feel completely “ready” to pursue leadership opportunities, sometimes the uncertainty is part of the journey. I trust my skills and knowledge, and I’ve found that leaning into challenges, even when unsure, often leads to the greatest growth.

I would say first, take a leap of faith. Don't let your perception of yourself hold you back. Allow other people to decide if you are right for a position or a job. Don't limit yourself by what you think you're capable of doing. Put in the work with your skills and building your knowledge, and take the leap of faith. When I was young, I was in a very different time where with state government, you had to put in your time and your years. You didn't become a chief until you were in your 40s. We have chiefs now that are in their early 20s. I wish I had been in a different time, but it is amazing to see young women being a chief in state government. Most of the time, they surpass what state government can offer them and they move on to private companies in amazing positions.

In my field right now, some of the biggest challenges include keeping pace with legislative-driven changes that require rapid bill analysis and implementation, ensuring governance and compliance across very large contracts, and managing resource constraints that are typical in lean state government operations. At the same time, there are significant opportunities to make a meaningful impact. I’m focused on creating standards and structure in growing areas of the program, identifying and promoting no-cost or in-network services, like wellness programs, telehealth, in-network specialists, to increase member utilization and improve lives, and enhancing member access.

The values that guide me in both my work and personal life are honesty, transparency, and professional courtesy. I believe in approaching every situation openly, respecting others’ perspectives, and focusing on getting the job done through collaboration. I also value learning from others, recognizing the skills and expertise they bring, and building strong, capable teams, because I don’t need to be the smartest person in the room to achieve meaningful results.