I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not aware of my last name.
I have early memories of being a small child and sitting through long dinners with my parents and grandparents when I was expected to represent our family by engaging other adults and having impeccable manners. There were countless lunches with my grandfather where former employees walked up to him and thanked him for the opportunities he had provided. I grew accustomed to walking past buildings with my last name in large letters above my head. I seldom went on class field trips to museums or other educational institutions without seeing a plaque revealing my family’s philanthropic efforts.
As I grew aware of my last name, I found that even my physical appearance represented something bigger than me. It was not uncommon to walk around Lenoir, North Carolina and receive questions like “Are you kin to the Broyhills? You have that Broyhill face.”
Over the years, the word “entitled” has become very popular in describing those of the millennial generation and even more so when referring to inheritors of wealth. “Entitled” holds a negative connotation, implying lack of work ethic and expectation. As I came of age professionally, I found that I could not escape this label of entitlement just as much as I could not escape my “Broyhill face.” I knew that I was raised to have a diligent work ethic and had a passion for learning and making an impact. However, I struggled to bridge the gap between the wealth of my predecessors and my own career path.
As I navigated my professional future and began ongoing studies related to human development and psychology, I realized that no amount of wealth or story-telling related to leaders of the past can equip and individual for success unless they are able to learn specific coping and resiliency tools. It is only in resiliency and strong self-awareness that one can avoid the unfortunate self-fulfilling prophecy of “entitlement.”
I have been trained to assist both individuals and groups with coping and communication skills that are necessary for long-term success. While I possess a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and am a licensed professional counselor, I have also spent time receiving ongoing group facilitation training through the Young President’s Organization and The Allender Center. Additionally, I possess a certificate in NextGen Family Enterprise Leadership from Kennesaw State University. Because of my experience, I offer a unique perspective to emerging leaders as they seek to navigate specific challenges associated with wealth inheritance. Subsequently, I seek to work with those who desire to move away from entitlement and into empowerment and self-actualization.
“Learning to choose is hard. Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard.”
Featured Speaker:
YPO: Southern 7 Chapter
UNC-Asheville Family Business Forum
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
Columbia Business School
Southeastern Family Office Forum
Family Enterprise Canada