Aug 29, 2016
Representative Edwin “Ed” Narain is a dedicated member of the Tampa Bay community and has served in various civic leadership roles for more than two decades. I've known him personally for almost 20 years from our time working together in Student Government at USF. In November 2014, Ed was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as the State Representative for District 61 and he is presently running for the Florida State Senate District 19 race, with hopes of making a bigger difference for his community, city and the state of Florida. Listen on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher Radio or TuneIn In this episode, I asked Ed: 02:45 What are you most grateful in your life right now? 06:25 Was there a specific moment when you realized what you were born to do? 07:45 What have been some of the biggest things you learned about yourself since taking the State Representative seat? 09:30 How do you find the right people for your team? 10:50 How do you prepare for really big moments speaking publicly? 12:30 How do you remain in a confident and positive mindset throughout the pressures of an election season? 14:30 What's one of the biggest mistakes you've made as a politician and leader? 16:20 How do you make time for your wife and children, in the midst of this busy election season? 17:20 What are some of the key attributes someone should be looking at Ed Narain for? Why Ed and why now? 26:20 An inspiring message from Ed Narain on the 3 Fs, taking action and just doing it! Links and resources: EdNarain.com Ed Narain on: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Edwin's Book Recommendation: All Labor Has Dignity" (King Legacy) by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Edwin Narain's Bio Edwin “Ed” Narain is a dedicated member of the Tampa Bay community who has served in various civic leadership roles more than two decades. The oldest of three sons born to Aubron and Yvonne Narain (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Ed moved to Tampa in 1994 to attend the University of South Florida. There he was elected President of the Student Body (1997-98) and was voted USF’s First Fall Homecoming King. While at South Florida, he partnered with the United Way to develop the first Student driven United Way campaign and received the Department of Student Affairs first Student Leadership Award. In 2015, he received the USF President’s African American Advisory Committee’s Ike Tribble Kente Alumni Award. Ed works has worked with several organizations that are committed to helping children and the working poor. He is a member of the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, and served for several years on the Hillsborough County Head Start Policy Council and the Hillsborough County Community Action Board. A Life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., in 2008 he was honored as the Tampa Alumni Chapter’s Man of the Year. In 2010, he earned the alumni chapter’s Leadership Award for guiding the chapter to its first Southern Province Chapter of the Year Award as President. Professionally, Ed is a Regional Director with AT&T and is a three-time Florida Top Performance Manager of the Year (2009, 2010 & 2013). He has also earned two AT&T Summit Awards given to performers within the top two percent of the company (2005, 2013). A member of Leadership Florida’s College Leadership Florida (Class I) and Connect Florida (Class IV) statewide leadership programs, Ed earned a BA degree in Psychology and a Masters in Business Administration from Saint Leo University. In 2013, he completed a Leadership Certificate and earned a Jurist Doctorate degree from Stetson University College of Law where he also received the Dean’s Award for outstanding service to the law school. In November 2014, Ed was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as the State Representative for District 61. As a freshman legislator, Ed was elected Chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus,