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Prestigious Women Awards Honorees: Debbie Fiorino

Debbie Fiorino serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Owned Brands. She has P&L responsibility for the company’s B2B brands ‒ Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., as well as the company’s owned House Brands which include CruisesOnly, Cruises.com, CheapCruises.com, Vacation Outlet, Cruise411, LuxuryOnly, CheapRentalCar.com. With more than 30 years of experience in business and leadership, Debbie offers expansive knowledge in driving strategic plans for growth.

Favorite quote: “Influencing others for my benefit is manipulation. Influencing others for their benefit is motivation. Influencing others for everyone’s benefit is leadership.”

Fun fact: I have been named a Godmother of a River Cruise ship the AmaSiena with AmaWaterways. The christening is planned for July of 2021.

How do you unwind after a long day of work? Dinner with my husband and son and a Netflix or Amazon Prime series.

What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them? Early on it was confidence, not believing I could be “that person.” Other leaders faith in me inspired my decision to continue to take opportunities. Along the way I realized I don’t need their confidence in me—I just need my own.

What has been the most monumental moment of your career thus far? Launching a new brand – Dream Vacations

Who are your role models? Prior leaders and current leaders. I have had three significant leaders in my career, two of them women: Elaine McCarthy and Kathleen Federico. The other a male leader—my current CEO—Brad Tolkin. They pushed me and continue to push me when I need it.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? If you never hear no, you will never hear yes.

What advice would you give a young woman at the start of her career? Don’t be afraid – you don’t need to know everything to jump into an opportunity – you will learn as long as you are open to learn from others and open to yourself being self taught.

How does being a woman has impacted your career? I have been fortunate that in every company and in every position I have had supportive men and women in my life. That includes leadership and family. My husband took on the non-traditional role of staying home with our son so I could continue to pursue my career to enrich our lives.

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Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.