Gianpaolo Parodi IFA’s Post

Congratulations to Gail McGovern on her upcoming retirement and a truly extraordinary career. I have never been as inspired by a leader as I was by Gail when I had the pleasure of working under her team at the American Red Cross. Gail not only turned around an organization that was struggling financially, she also managed to centralize and bring efficiencies, grow donations, bring amazingly innovative approaches to blood collections in order to help more patients in need, to name a few. It also amazes me that as the humanitarian need grew with the impacts of climate change – worsening wildfires, rise in number and strength of hurricanes and tropical storms, an increase in tragic shooting events that impacted all corners of the nation…Gail strategized, pivoted, innovated and worked tirelessly to meet the needs of those served by the American Red Cross. She also cared deeply about her employees. Entering into COVID with a new baby at home and adjusting to life as a family of 5 – I teamed up with two other amazing colleagues who were also moms. We believed, and were hearing from other employees, that the American Red Cross should have a paid parental leave – for new parents, but also for our “sandwich” generation, increasingly caring for both their children and aging parents. Gail assembled her leadership team, they listened to us, they asked us thoughtful questions, they allowed us to make recommendations for the plan and shared with us they also believed it was important and had been having conversations. In mere months, the plan was designed, announced and implemented for American Red Cross employees everywhere. I will always carry with me – and it has left an indelible mark on my heart – a quote Gail used often when working with employees on projects and initiatives: “It's okay to make a mistake; just try not to make the same mistake twice." To me that meant, have the courage to dare greatly without reservation about what happens if you fail. Flop. Come up short. It’s okay to be scared. BUT DO IT ANYWAY. Without this lesson – without Gail’s quiet resolve and confidence in her people to lead with heart and courage – I never would have taken the risk to follow my life’s path and dream to open a mental health clinic to help others and expand access to mental healthcare across New Hampshire and the country. #SleevesUp #HeartsOpen #AllIn

🇺🇸 This Memorial Day, we want to remember and honor the many heroes who helped build this country into what it is today. The legacy you leave behind is more than just your name. Your legacy is also what you give to others—not just financially, but by leading by example during your lifetime ☝️ What legacy will you leave behind? 📲 (503) 292-8990 📧 clientservices@caresslaw.estate 🖥️ https://bit.ly/3mrzRLT #estateplan #estateplanning #estateplanningattorney #estateplanninglawyer #caresslaw

On this week's blog, John and Ashley Marsh update us on the status of Marsh Collective, and also reflect upon their journey getting to this point. https://lnkd.in/gwtGDgTA

If you want a glimpse at the extraordinary heart, soul, and intellect of New York’s Chief Judge, watch this short video of his remarks at our recent event.

Having an up to date Will is one of those things we all need but so often put off doing. Its great advice to have a Will, but also to think carefully about how its written and the story below highlights the potential pitfalls.

Doris Duke, the heiress to a huge tobacco fortune, chose her personal butler, Bernard Lafferty, to manage her estate. Concerns about his intentions grew when Duke became ill, and Lafferty already had a hearse waiting outside the house while she was still alive! Upon her death, Lafferty inherited Duke’s fortune of $1.5 billion and immediately settled into a lavish new lifestyle. The Will was challenged and eventually led to the removal of Lafferty as the executor, but by this point he’d already spent a significant amount of the fortune. This cautionary tale highlights the importance of choosing the right person as the executor of your Will. In our latest article, we give our top tips for choosing a suitable person to execute your wishes: https://bit.ly/47zJEVg #FlyingColoursClientCentred

Karen's legacy will forever serve as a reminder of what we can achieve. Let us be "impatient with boundaries", push the limits, and embrace change with open arms. May we approach challenges fearlessly and with unwavering determination, seeking opportunities for growth and innovation. And most importantly, let us remember the importance of inclusivity, diversity, and making a positive impact in the lives of others. What a difference Karen made and how blessed were we to have her as the Executive Director of the USC Folks Center for International Business. Let us all strive to have a little bit of Karen in us. https://lnkd.in/gjHh4wZQ

Staying on the topic of royals, this Sunday I'm reflecting on the idea that royal families are actually some of the world's oldest family offices. With diverse activities, investments, and operations here's some inspiration for family offices. Latest on Forbes #familyoffice #royalfamily https://bit.ly/3S5g1Vn

When did you meet your first guide and mentor in business? For me, it was in April 1977 at Long Crendon County Combined Primary School, over a game of tennis-ball football at morning break. After a messy parental divorce and a couple of years away from the village where I was born, I returned to the school after a two-year gap. My previous friends had moved on, and I found solace and friendship with a boy who’d arrived since I’d been away. Last weekend – unbelievably more than 45 years since we first met – I had the huge pleasure of spending a couple of days with Peter Russian and his family in their new home in Brookline, MA, on the fringes of Boston. Here we are, riding the T-line to eat lobster rolls in Quincy Market. We had fun – of course. Catching up, learning about their new adventure in business as well as family life, kids adjusting to new schools, and the travails of dealing with Fall leaves. But for the past few years, as we’ve both been actively building and scaling our businesses, we’ve developed a new relationship. We’ve become accountability buddies, probing and testing one another, offering guidance and perspective on fortnightly calls that we term “Yalta”. Transatlantic Zooms usually, enabling us both to focus ON the business rather than getting trapped IN the business. Something – I’d wager London to a house brick – neither of us would have imagined we’d be doing back in 1977, when our minds were more focused on the day’s holiday we’d be getting for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. #accountability #businessplanning #businessdevelopment