Brian Murphy serves as founder and CEO of Tampa-based ReliaQuest, which boasts a global workforce of over 1,000, offices in the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, India and the Netherlands, and a valuation of more than $1 billion. The latter makes his company a unicorn, the term for a privately held company of such valuation – a global rarity.

And ReliaQuest now has a certain kick to it: The company in June became title sponsor of the former Outback Bowl college football game – creating the ReliaQuest Bowl, which will continue to be played at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium on New Year's Day.

Murphy said the four-year agreement would help boost awareness of his company.

The word has long been out about Murphy: Florida Trend in 2021 included him for a fourth straight year in its Florida 500 list of the state's most influential business leaders and was recognized for his entrepreneurial achievements in 2017 with EY's prestigious EY Entrepreneur of The Year® Award.  His company has received accolades from publications such as Fortune and Entrepreneur, plus from entities such as Deloitte, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship in the College of Business.

He also carries a torch for FSU – continuing to serve on the College of Business Board of Governors and on the Seminole Boosters Board of Directors. In 2017, he served as keynote speaker at FSU's spring commencement ceremony.

He remains a major supporter of the college and university – giving personally and through ReliaQuest to create the ReliaQuest Analytics Teaching Lab in Legacy Hall, the future home of the college, and to serve as lead sponsor of the FSU Sales Institute's International Collegiate Sales Competition.

Also, Murphy and his wife, Renee, were among the first to contribute to FSU's Renaissance Campaign, which aims to restore a national-championship caliber to FSU's football program.

Murphy credits his success to a mantra that inspires him to "do the simple things savagely well" and a grit that he discovered and embraced at Florida State.

"To be successful in business, you have to be accountable, adaptable and laser-focused," he said.

His eldest brother, Robert, enrolled at FSU in 1986 and earned a degree in accounting. That launched Brian's love of the football program and university.

Upon graduating in 2000 with degrees in accounting and finance, he began his career as a management consultant with PwC in Tampa.

He launched ReliaQuest in late 2007. After surviving for a few years on the strength of IT work and engineering, the company built a customer base and reputation that in 2011 made him the first recipient of the college's Recent Alumni Achievement Award.

Customers today include KKR, American Eagle Outfitters and Campbell's, among hundreds of other top companies.