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The Other Side of Potential
Over time, the conversations we choose to have begin to reflect what matters most.
If you’ve been part of this podcast, you’ve heard me speak about human development, systems thinking, and the ways we make meaning of our lives and work. That work continues—and remains at the core of my coaching and professional practice.
What has changed is the space where I am choosing to have a different kind of conversation.
After the death of my son, Michael, I felt called to create a more personal place—one that speaks directly to the experience of loss, and to the questions that emerge when life no longer looks the way it once did.
That space is now Beyond the Loss.
This podcast is for parents who have lost a child, and for those who support them. It is not about fixing grief or finding closure, but about understanding how we continue to live, to make meaning, and to become—after loss.
If you are looking for my current podcast,
you will now find me there.
I invite you to join me on Beyond the Loss.
You are welcome.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wqQ8MwCty4eJAiZ8VroUV?si=0b4c5d3bab6a4b64
The Other Side of Potential
Episode 336: Belonging and Significance with Franco Lombardo
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Dr. Sharon Spano and Franco Lombardo explore the profound impact of emotional safety, belonging, and self-worth—especially in high-net-worth families. Franco shares his personal journey from wealth management to deep emotional self-discovery, uncovering how our relationship with money is often tied to childhood experiences and our sense of significance.
For more than 20 years, Franco Lombardo has been a trusted advisor and coach to some of the world's most successful and affluent families. With a background in wealth management and a personal journey of emotional self-discovery, Franco has developed deep insights into the unique pressures facing high-net-worth families—not only in sustaining their financial wealth but also their emotional wealth.
As a global expert on the emotional impact of money and wealth on relationships within family businesses, Franco is dedicated to helping families find, create, and maintain emotional safety by developing new governance models that contribute to stability, continuity, and long-term legacy. He is the author of multiple books, including his latest release, Safe Space: Governance in Action.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- Emotional Safety & Belonging: At the core of human fulfillment is the need to feel emotionally safe and to belong. Without this foundation, we unconsciously seek validation in external ways—like wealth or status.
- Money as a Substitute for Significance: Franco shares how his early success in wealth management led to an unhealthy cycle of using money to prove his worth, only to realize that true belonging is an inside-out job, not an outside-in one.
- Recognizing & Managing Our Alter Egos: We all have default behaviors rooted in childhood experiences. Franco discusses his “Cuban” alter ego—a persona that emerges when he feels insecure—and how recognizing these patterns can lead to growth.
- The Role of Family of Origin: If we don’t establish a clear sense of belonging within our family structure, we often struggle to feel grounded in other aspects of life. Franco’s work helps families create emotionally safe environments that foster long-term stability, not just financial wealth.
- Self-Acceptance as the Key to Transformation: The path to emotional wealth begins with accepting every part of ourselves—both the strengths and the flaws—without playing favorites.
Transcript: Here
Resources Mentioned:
Book: Safe Space: Governance in Action
Website: https://veritage.ca/
Sharon Spano:
Website: sharonspano.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD
Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/
Book: thetimemoneybook.com
Contact: sharon@sharonspano.com
Substack: substack.com/@drsharon
The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/