Stephen Mumford, 37
Chief Operating Officer, Baton Rouge General Medical Center
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Playing a key role in expanding the operating room at Baton Rouge General, including the opening of a hybrid OR.
- Earning an MBA at LSU in 2017.
- Becoming the Chief Operating Officer at Baton Rouge General in 2018.
COMMUNITY:
Member of the Baton Rouge Health District Shared Services Task Force and active in Hospice of Baton Rouge.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY
Hardwiring Excellence by Quint Studer
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Professional baseball player
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
When I was 15, I worked at Clegg’s Nursery on Siegen Lane restocking plants and helping customers. That experience made me appreciate what it is like to work hard and earn my own money. I used my knowledge from that job to take on some landscaping jobs on the side, which sparked my interest in business.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
I am a healthy eater so I would say the blackened shrimp salad at Bistro Byronz’s.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
The family I have started. My wife Andrea and my two boys, Will and Alex, give me so much joy.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
I would have to say that being named Chief Operating Officer at Baton Rouge General has been the most fulfilling moment to date. This has been one of my professional goals for a while and I am so fortunate to be given the opportunity to lead at such a wonderful organization.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA” MOMENT?
It wasn’t necessarily a moment, but over the years I have learned that no matter how smart you are, how great your ideas are or how hard you work, you have to foster relationships with people that are rooted in trust in order to get them to engage and follow.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
I can’t do everything myself.
WHAT GIVES YOU PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATION?
A challenge always inspires and motivates me. The easiest way to get me motivated is to tell me that I can’t do something.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
I’ve had colleagues tell me that I am a genuine person, and that is something that is very important to me.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
I stay away from social media as much as possible. I keep up through my wife’s Facebook account. That being said, I love technology and have totally bought into the digital movement.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
You don’t want to know! Probably 100 text messages and 200 emails. I started using the screen time feature on my iPhone that tells me how much time I spend on email, calendar, text, etc. It creates awareness for me to not be so attached to my phone.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
10%
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
23
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Waze. It’s a huge time saver for me. I use Amazon all the time as well.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Has to be the iPhone
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Social media
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
5:30 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Black coffee
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
There is so much negativity out there so I try really hard to stay positive.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
When Andrea and I got married and bought our first home together.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Spain—Madrid and Barcelona
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
My first freestyle BMX bike
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
I wish I could sing, but it’s not happening.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTICIOUS ABOUT?
LSU football. This year I have a lucky purple shirt that I’m going to keep wearing on Saturdays as long as we keep winning.
FAVORITE DRINK?
Pellegrino. Adult beverage: Old Fashioned
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
Coldplay
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
“Rocky IV”
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Actively seek out bullies and try to make a change.
PETS?
We have a 14-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Rex.
HOBBIES?
Golf, fishing and watching Will and Alex play soccer and football
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
Getting accepted into nursing school
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
In my new role, continuing to support our patients, staff, physicians and community
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
My kids growing up in a world that is so connected via devices, social media, etc. I am guilty, too, but where do we draw the line?
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
The millennial population is a bright young generation, and I think they will do great things for our community in the coming years.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
I would say congratulations and seek out people who want to be mentored and help them. We have a lot of talent here and we need to continue to develop it.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Yes, for sure. Baton Rouge is home and always will be.
IF NAMED KING FOR A DAY, WHAT IS ONE CHANGE YOU WOULD MAKE IN BATON ROUGE?
Fix the roads and traffic issues.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
- Trip to Italy
- Get a real estate license
- Grow old with my wife Andrea
See the entire 2017 Forty under 40 class
