Important To Me Episode 7. Luis Fortuno

Welcome to the seventh episode of Important To Me, a leadership podcast where leaders from around the world share their experience of ethical values-based leadership. I am your host David Benger and my guest today is Governor Luis Fortunio, former Governor of Puerto Rico, as well as former congressman from Puerto Rico, and now a partner at the International Law firm, Stepto and Johnson. Thank you so much, Luis Fortunio, for being here with us today. I was wondering if you could begin by telling us just a little bit sort of the highlights of your life story. What brought you to your particular positions of leadership, Congress, and your gubernatorial position, and what kind of work you've been doing since you've been in those offices? Sure. Well, I really was practicing corporate law and mining my own business, most of my professional life. Although I was active in politics and I had an interest in policy, actually public policy, was something that always attracted me. I served in the state level in the cabinet in the meat 90s, early to meat 90s, but went back to my law practice. My wife and I were racing my three kids and I was busy developing my law practice and growing it. Then it's interesting that I, a number of people in Puerto Rico approach me saying, you should end up in Washington, you will be a good representative of our aspirations in Congress and we only have one seat there. Why don't you think about it? And then that coincided with a request from the White House political office at the time, President George W. Bush, which 43 was in office. And they asked me and suggested the same thing. And I thought I could run for office that way, but to another. So I got in '03 into a very contested primary with three other individuals that had a lot more experience that I did. And ended up prevailing in that primary and then in the general lecturer in '04. So I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Congress and being the sole representative of the island in the US a lot in the House, but even in the Senate, the ACs and departments as well. And then one thing led into another and I ended up serving as governor as well four years later. But I really, I could not say this was a master plan. I would say things evolved in such a way that granted me the opportunity to serve and I believe every citizen who has that opportunity should do so for a limited period of time. Can you tell us a little bit about kind of mechanics of how that happened? How did you go from the law practice to service? You said you hadn't planned it, but how did it pan out in a little bit more detail? Sure. Again, a good number of people had started approaching me for whatever reason at the time and that I should run for that congressional seat. And after consultations, not just by family, but friends and people that political leaders on island as well as in Washington, I decided to move forward and I ran for office. The process re-involves going out there and present things in a recent for running for office. Oftentimes I meet with people that tell me that they want to run for office and the first question I always ask them is why? What do you want to accomplish? Why should you run for office as opposed to somebody else? And so I felt strongly that the island needed to be better represented in Congress, have someone who was really focused on getting to interact more fully with the administration at the time, George W. Bush. And I had a good relationship with the number of people in Washington at the time that were close to either the administration or in the majority. And I thought that's what the island needed at the time. And when you ask someone else the question of why they want to run for office, what is a good answer and what is a bad answer to that question? Sure. Bad answer is because it's my time. Okay. And I often get that answer from people that have been in politics or all their lives. And that's a terrible answer. It's not nobody's time. You must have a vision as to what you want to accomplish and why. And oftentimes it has to do with timing. For example, in my case, the fact that I had extremely good relations in Washington at the time for different reasons may tend that I end up in Washington representing the island. Because you want really to actually get the best out of that relationship and for the benefit of of your constituents. But a good answer must involve a vision as to where do you want to, what do you want to accomplish and why is that proper job for you? So that's what I would say. And so doing your time in Congress quite literally is a representative of Puerto Rico. But even after you take in your role as an ambassador as a representative for Puerto Rico quite seriously. And both both office and after I wonder how do you make sure that in the den of Washington, the voice of a relatively small island with so little representation is really heard and listened to? Repetition, repetition, repetition, and educating people that there's no reason why they should know that much about the island. And one thing that's important in a small town like Washington, believe it or not, I believe Washington is a very small town. And your work is really gold. And you must, when you talk with someone, you must make sure that you are in tarnely truthful, well prepared, well-breaked, and that you provide, whenever you're talking with, you provide that person with all the data, all the information, and that that person feels comfortable that he or she can rely on your work as to what you're saying. In this town, like I think in the so many other lines of business, your work carries a lot more weight than anything else and that is key. Good. What do you feel you had to sacrifice to get where you are? Well, apart from the obvious, which is the finished gain, you don't go to go or make money. Yeah. Apart from that, which is obvious, I would say there were some personal aspects that were affected. And my wife and I tried as best as possible to make up for that, but we had for kids, and they had needs, and when I ended up in Congress, they were just turning into teenagers, which is a difficult time in anybody's life, life, and that was very, very difficult. The other thing is your privacy. And the fact that you are subject at times to attacks on a Ngu endo that may affect your family, and you want to protect them, of course. That is a terrible byproduct of, I would say, especially now, they with social media and 24-cent cable news, it makes it more and more difficult. In the good old days, there will be newspaper about once and then the morning most likely, and you will have a whole day responsible that people were more respectful of your privacy and of the truth. Whereas now, you can go into social media with a fake name and create an issue for epidemiological opponents. And that is terrible. But that's just a way to. Did you feel like you learned anything and pointed about yourself from being in the spotlight like that? Yes. First and foremost, I. You find your inner strength. And number one, in standing up to what you think it's correct. And secondly, I would say you also in that process, look for and underscore what's important in life. And for my wife and I, you know, in doing those years, there were great days, but there were some tough times as well. I would say, you know, our faith and our family and people that were close to us before and after. We were in public service. I actually gained a special place in our lives. And to this day, that's still the case. You mentioned your faiths. Can you talk a little bit more about the role that faith or religion has played in your life? Yes. Well, I see it as a. Not just providing you with the inner strength needed to continue moving forward, but also as a compass that can help you guide your. your moves on your policy decisions when you're in debt. And those kinds of things are being dealt. And the fact that you can rely on that faith to try to find out what's the correct answer and the correct, you know, the right steps that we've taken, I would say, can be very important as well. And in addition to kind of the religious component and, you know, looking within yourself when you are in those moments of doubt or crisis, how do you decide whom to look to, whom to lean on, whose advice or criticism to trust? How do you make that decision? Well, certainly you must trust the people around you. And one actually guiding principle that I had was that I always tried to actually engage and retain people working with me that no more about the specific area that, you know, whatever it is, you know, they were efforts in. But I wanted people that were smarter than I was, that no more than I did, and that I, and that were true to, of course, I know honest, so that I can lean on them in that sense. You also need your quiet time. And I had every morning my quiet time, the beginning of the day, and that had to do with my faith and, and, you know, the fact that you could relate to your God, whatever it, you know, the meaning you give to God in your private life, what it, my sense, in my case, I had a very small next to the governor's pension, and I would go there every morning at the beginning of the day to get ready for the day. What, on that note, what role does routine, either daily routine or weekly routine or something like that, play in your life? Do you think it's important to have that kind of daily structure? Yes. Otherwise, you fall into reacting to whatever is happening that day. And that day, the structure, for example, I, when I was in Congress, you know, once a week, on the same day, every, every week, we would have a staff meeting of my district office and my Washington office. When I was governor, we split up our capital into four different groups by topics. And, and I would need with each one of those four groups of my cabinet to discuss specific issues within agenda once every two weeks. I must have structure. Otherwise, you go and move forward. Otherwise, you end up just reacting to whatever is happening that day or that week. And you don't get to much, I certainly, you don't have an agenda. That, that's what we want. I've spoken with people that have served in, in, in cabinet positions that served in my cabinet. And, and one of, you know, I specifically, you know, one of their complaints that I heard was, that I could not believe that, you know, that, you know, when, when these people served with somebody else before or after, that they would not be disciplined and a structure to accomplish things. And there were some that would, I would rarely see the governor. And when I saw the governor, it was just because he wanted to give a speech on something that, where I, I was an expert on, you know, I was working on, that is, that, that means that, this person in the cabinet was, you know, on his or her own. And there was no direction and no, I know, no accountability. So I believe in structure. Okay. A slightly lighter question. What is the most memorable meal you have ever had? Oh, my God. Well, I, I, I've had, I would say, a number of those. I would say, with my fan, normally, and, you know, celebrating something special. So, you know, so that's, but there's more than one that I would say, fans out. I've been to state dinners. I've been to, I mean, with, you know, with Royalty, you know, and all that. However, most terrible will always, you know, be some of those celebrations that our family has had. And that I will always cherish those were interesting. The other one, state dinners, whatever, but, but, but, you know, it's not the same. You're not enjoying it the way you are enjoying the company of your family. Sure. How have you chosen mentors in your life? And how would you recommend to a young person approach somebody whom they admire to begin a men type relationship? Well, I, I would say we should look for people that. That no more than you do. That are hopefully wiser than you are. And that will, you know, tell you whatever that person may want to tell you. Just the way this with no sugar coating or any of that. I'm so straightforward. And that's what I would say. There has to be chemistry. Of course. But that's, that's what I would say. I also would suggest reading. I always enjoy reading about. People that that help positions authority. And try to learn from their experiences as well. And I would suggest that that's something you also want to try. Okay. So read more. Graphies of people have accomplished the kinds of things you want to achieve. Exactly. That helps also. Okay. But of course that personal interaction is unique. How do you identify your weaknesses? And then after having done that, how do you decide either I'm going to work on strengthening this weakness? Or I'm simply going to recognize that this is a weakness that I have and I'm going to leave it be. Again, if I mentioned earlier, I try to when I was in those positions of authority, I try to bring people to work with me that. Would actually either no more than I do or compliment me. And in that sense, I, you know, I would, it comes naturally in terms of what do you need to compliment your strength. and weaknesses. How do you know about it? I would say it's at some point it comes obvious. And of course it becomes obvious if you have a category of close-knit group of people with whom you work on a daily basis that are straightforward with you and and and and eventually you recognize what your strengths and weaknesses are because they are evident. Okay, and how do you reconcile flawed heroes? You know when you try to create a narrative either a larger narrative like the story of a place that you represent or kind of heroes for your own personal edification and goals. How do you reconcile the fact that many of the people that we look to are actually far from perfect? Well nobody's perfect and and you know what I have seen however is for example some of those inspiring leaders had serious family issues and and knowing that and having read about that my my wife and I made it a point to try to be there for children and and not allow for my years of public service to affect our children's growth process and develop it. I think we you know we did pretty well and and we talked about it but it was a conscious decision we were we were concerned about the issue and we made it a point for them to have as normal a teenage life as possible but with direction and and and and certainly letting them know that that we were there for them. We live in a in a very divided polarized time. Do you have any advice or insight on how to create spaces for conversation that's substantive and that moves the dialogue forward rather than either the echo chambers that people tend to live in whether that's your social media or what not or the kind of shouting matches that often play out as well either on social media or increasingly in the streets. How do how do we create a greater civil discourse? I believe diversity is strength that would be diversity of ideas ideology and so on and so forth. I learned that's done when you quietly sit down with someone that may not be on your side of the aisle and and and try to tackle a problem or an issue and there's strength in that in that it is very important that that again the 24/7 cable loose cycles social media and the way for example during mandering operates that if you do that in many parts of the country that is really rewarded. Actually some people that do that in the US end up losing an internal primary whether it's the right of the left and and that is and should and you know I doesn't lend itself to to creating those faces so I would say that you know we have to look into our political system and and it buyers some I believe some some changes in Puerto Rico we have accomplished a mechanism whereby every 10 years after the census we create the different districts that are created they tend to be pretty competitive and and that actually helps at times in having no choice but to understand that the elections are going to be closed and you must you must work with every one of those sides of the aisle and those are the ones that are going to be rewarded in the political process. I think we can do more of that. Okay so I've been finishing these interviews with a kind of questionnaire but before I move into that questionnaire I wanted to ask are there any aspects of leadership that I haven't asked you about that you have thoughts on that you want to share. I said if you given the chance people should serve for a limited period of time. I want to underscore limit the period of time for some people a political career is it's a lifelong commitment to only be in politics or in public service and do that for forever. I think it's a major mistake you want new perspectives and new visions on a regular basis but on top of that if the purpose of your public service years is to stay in power to get reelected you lose perspective of what's right or what's wrong and there'll be times when thought decisions have to be made and instead of making those thought decisions you'll be making what's politically experienced as supposed to what is correct and you have to avoid that and again I hope I'm making myself clear that that's why a limited public service you know is better than than than than just you know trying to get reelected over and over again like some people think is the reason for rotting and staying in public service. Okay so moving into the sort of closing questionnaire here where do you get your news are there any publications books podcast that you look to for news and has that ancient since before and after you were in office. Well I read more than one newspaper daily to try to get different perspectives and I read more than one newspaper you know not just from the US but I also read a newspaper European newspaper as well so I be one of the names. Sure if you were willing to share yeah. Sure I well I start with the World's Journal every morning but just because it it's not only covers politics but it also covers the economy and business and I have an interest in that in that space but then I move on and I read a left-meaning European newspaper in Faiz and then I read a newspaper in Puerto Rico and and then I had beats and pieces from political and the Washington Post to compliment whatever whatever I didn't pick up in anything else that I was reading. Okay if you could have any three people living or dead but not fictional at your home for dinner who would you invite and what would you talk to them about. It will be Margaret Thatcher run over in and pulled you unfold the second. Wow and the reason for it I think they transformed the world yeah they were forced to record with and they transformed the world at a very difficult time the world is very different from what it used to be what I was in college because of the three of them and I think you would just be fascinating to listen to them and learn from how they they want about it. Wow phenomenal I would love to be a fly in the wall at that dinner party. You know I met Thatcher. Oh really? Yes I met Thatcher once. I never met Reagan nor book don't fall to seconds. I only wish I had. What is your favorite book? I I mentioned that I like biography but this was an interesting book and it was it's called it was written it's about the war of independence and the declaration of independence and the drafting of the Constitution and and that's what is it called Brothers. Founding brothers. Hmm. I felt because he was not just focused on one, we're not just focused on one figure. He would be actually, it would be based on the interaction of the different great figures that came up with the idea that this country would be declaring the end and be built on the principles that it was, you know, that are its foundations to this day. And I just found it to be fascinating. What is your favorite film being there? Oh, movie, that last movie that that figure sellers picked. Okay. What is your favorite work of art or piece of music? I, I wouldn't say, I couldn't say one piece of art. I enjoy a lot of John Merleau, Pablo Picasso, that group of painters during that period of time, you know, in the early, early 20th century. And some that came after them, like with Fredo Lam in Cuba. But this, I think this, you know, I love their work of art. So John Merleau, Picasso, but then people that came after then following their footsteps, like with Fredo Lam. I, I, I, I, Thoroughly and Jordan, and I, when I go to Spain, I, I, I go back, let me see, you know, where the work is, it's shown here in the US as well, but in Spain, you, you find a lot more of their work. And, and, and Thoroughly enjoy, enjoy that, I must say. I, I like back. So I, I enjoy that music as well, but I, I particularly like seeing their paintings, these paintings. What quality do you appreciate most in your friends? Honestly, and, and consistency, in the sense that, you know, you're there, you know, and the going gets off, you're there, what, you know, it's time to enjoy and celebrate. You're there as well. So someone that is consistent in that sense, I also appreciate that. Who are your favorite fixed heroes? I'm not sure I have favorite fictional hero per se. I'm not really a fictional, though I always enjoy Superman and Batman and all that. But, but I, I, I, I couldn't tell that I have one that is my favorite. I, I really, you know, you know, don't watch, you know, those movies or any of that. I enjoy that when I was a kid, but as I grew older, I preferred actual real figures and biographies. And, you know, and that's what I enjoy the most. Okay. What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt or would you like to have attempted? Well, I wish I had the talent to play an instrument, a musical instrument, and, and be able to play with it with a band or something like that. I don't really, you know, I have one that I would love, you know, but I would, I wish I had the talent which I don't. To play an instrument, any instrument, and be able to play with a band or an orchestra or whatever. I'd have that talent. And I admire that from people that do have that talent. Of the things that you own, what would you say is sort of the most sentimentally valuable to you? What is the first thing that you show to your guests when you have them over? Well, I, I, I have it in my office. And it's, it's a painting in the late 19th of my great, great grandfather. And it was given to me my, my, my grandfather when I grew up in the city of Loders from law school. Wow. And I have it in my office, 1896 painting. And he, Emmy Rae, from Catalan Regional Spain to the Caribbean. He was a physician. Okay. And the final question, if heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say to you when you arrive there? Well, I, I believe heaven exists. And hopefully God will go over my, my life and say, with your flaws and, and, and your strength, you know, overall you, you were trying to do what's best and you're welcome here. Luis, thank you much for your time and for your insight. This has been extremely valuable and very interesting. I bless you again, David. Thank you. Yeah, this, this has been great. Thanks so much. Thank you so much for listening to episode seven of Important To Me, a leadership podcast.