H.R. Brereton (Gubby) Barlow, CEO of Premera Blue Cross, is a native of South Africa. Before joining Premera in 1997, he worked as chief financial officer of AHI Healthcare Systems Inc., a primary and specialty care provider network. He has also worked as a financial officer at Health Net, a major subsidiary of Health Systems International, and as a partner at the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche. Barlow holds an M.B.A. from the University of Cape Town.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?

My first job was as an auditor for Deloitte & Touche. I learned "Trust, but verify!"

What is your idea of happiness?

Happiness is boating on Puget Sound with family and friends.

What is your most significant achievement?

Building a fabulous team at Premera that earned us the 2007 J.D. Power recognition for achieving the highest member satisfaction in the western U.S. We ranked No. 3 in the entire nation.

What business decision do you most regret?

In hindsight, there are many things one would change. The secret is learning from your mistakes and not repeating them.

What talent would you most like to possess?

Singing. I cannot sing a note.

What personal trait would you rather not have?

Sometimes, I hold my family to higher standards than I should. However, we always expect the best of our children, don't we?

What trait bothers you most in others?

Superficiality.

What is the most overrated virtue in an executive?

Toughness for the sake of toughness. An executive should be fair and balanced and exercise thoughtfulness in execution of decisions.

What do you most fear?

I fear simplistic solutions to highly complex problems. Too often, society is attracted to quick "fixes" that don't address the real problem.

What attributes do you like most in a person?

The four "Ts": Trustworthiness, Talent, Team player and Tenacity.

Who in history do you most admire?

Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela. Churchill saved us from the tyranny of Hitler. Mandela transformed a dictatorship into a democracy that works.

If after death you could come back as another person or thing, what would it be?

If I can't come back as my favorite person - my wife - I'd like to come back as someone like the "Iron Man," Cal Ripken Jr. He played baseball like I think life should be played: with integrity, fire and a love for what he was doing.

What is your favorite place in Washington?

San Juan Island.

When were you most happy?

I couldn't be happier than I am now.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Ernest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer. Although a historical figure, his leadership and courage rises to mythical proportions.

What is your most valued possession?

Possessions come and go. I value my family's health and my health most.

If you could change one thing in Washington, what would it be?

Washington needs to set education (kindergarten through graduate school) as its highest priority. Education will sustain the competitiveness of our children and grandchildren as well as ensure their health and welfare.

What is the single most important thing we can do to cut health care costs?

Let's be honest with ourselves. Health care spending won't be dropping any time soon. The good news is we can moderate the growth. There's not one key, but three. We must take more responsibility for our own health. Second, there's plentiful evidence reporting that we could save 30 percent if the U.S. mimicked medicine's best practices in our lowest-cost regions. Third, we should form comparative effectiveness studies to pay for what works best.