About Pam Iorio

Download Pam Iorio's Bio (PDF)

Pam Iorio, former two-term Mayor of Tampa, Florida has blazed trails, managed crisis, united adversaries, and successfully led the 54th largest city in the United States. She left office with a remarkable 87 percent approval rating.

Now Pam offers her many talents helping organizations build strong and effective leaders. As a keynote speaker, workshop and meeting facilitator, Iorio’s fresh, straightforward approach to leadership not only inspires and motivates, but provides immediate actionable methods and ideas that will help professionals at all levels lead with integrity and achieve optimal results.

Pam is currently the Leader-in-Residence at the John H. Sykes College of Business at the University of Tampa where she guest lectures on leadership and assists the College in the development of their leadership programs.

Iorio has held top executive leadership positions where she transformed bureaucracy, advanced unpopular change, and successfully navigated through tough financial times. As mayor, the crime rate in Tampa declined 61.5 percent and financial reserves tripled even during a recession. First elected to public office at age 26, Iorio was the youngest person ever to win a seat on the Board of County Commissioners for Hillsborough County, Florida. At age 27 she was selected as Chairman of the Board. In 1992 she was elected for the first of three terms as the county’s Supervisor of Elections. In 1999 she served as the president of the State Association of Supervisors of Elections, where she served as spokesperson for the organization during the highly – publicized 2000 presidential election in Florida. In 2003 Iorio was elected as mayor of the City of Tampa and re-elected in 2007 with a margin of 79 percent.

Throughout Iorio’s career she has served as a director and chairperson on numerous government, economic development, transportation, education, and community sector boards.

Iorio graduated from The American University in Washington, D.C. with a BS degree in Political Science. She holds a Master’s degree in History from the University of South Florida. She has published articles on civil rights and political history and is regularly sourced on national media stories concerning government, leadership and economic issues.

She has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, as well as on national broadcast venues including CNN, FOX News, MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, and The Today Show.

Her first book, Straightforward, Ways to Live and Lead, is scheduled for release in November 2011.

About Pam speaking with your group

Download Pam Iorio's Speaker Info (PDF)

Iorio believes our country needs to develop leaders who embrace a straightforward leadership style. Too often we see in business and in government ineffective leadership that fails to effectively communicate, bring people together and address critical problems.

Pam Iorio has been successfully leading organizations. She’s battled through controversy, tragedy, and a national recession and still produced results. She turned around challenging situations and met critical goals.

An inspirational, captivating speaker, Pam Iorio’s program topics include:

• Straightforward Leadership
• Tough Times, Leading in a Crisis

• How Change has Changed, Leading in Transition

• For further information on having Pam speak to your organization, click here

About Pam's new book
Straightforward: Ways to Live and Lead

Download Pam Iorio's Book Info (PDF)

In Straightforward: Ways to Live and Lead, Pam Iorio examines the qualities, traits, characteristics and competencies of the straightforward leader. It is for the individual who is ready to improve his or her leadership abilities and achieve more. Straightforward leadership is distinctly direct, clear, honest, strategic, and respectful. It provides room for compromise and seeks to bring people together instead of dividing them. This brand of leadership is pragmatic, not ideological; solution based and results oriented. It empowers others and recognizes the importance of on-going development, learning and change.

Leadership makes and breaks companies, communities, and organizations every day. The difference between the successes and the failures always starts and ends at the top. Today, leaders need a host of new skills and a fresh mindset to drive growth and build sustainable organizations.

In her first book since leaving office as mayor of the City of Tampa, Iorio shares her inside perspective to help readers succeed. The book provides a straightforward approach that imparts practical insight, the wisdom from hands on experience, and proven methods to improve any leader's ability to influence, drive change and accelerate progress.

Iorio's candid stories, from government, business, and non-profit organizations, as well as from other accomplished leaders, reveal real-world solutions. The lessons she draws are essential for managers and leaders at all levels who want to achieve results and advance their careers.

Straightforward is not about theory; it focuses on actionable ways to become a stronger, more effective leader by:

• Developing Your Inner Leadership Qualities
• Being a Person of Substance
• Learning How to Manage Crisis and Cope with Tragedy
• Knowing that Change Has Changed
• Living a Centered Life

The book is available November 1, 2011