Episode 336: Belonging and Significance with Franco Lombardo

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: [e-mail]

Substack: substack.com/@drsharon

The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/