Chez NENEN Episode 6 - Honesty and Intentionality: A Sister’s Support and the Power of Community (w/ Frances Bellegarde)
Haitian Proverb
“Mache chache pa domi san soupe.”
“Those who seek don’t go to bed hungry.”
What You’ll Hear
00:05:00 - “Mandles”… ShopRicardo.com sells AMAZING candles called “Slick Wicks”
00:10:00 - Community like no other… Frances and I reminisce about the community we built while in Massachusetts
00:15:00 - “Why Am I Here?” … Frances talks about the importance of fostering employee buy-in
00:20:00 - Hating HR… When your frustrations fuel your passions
00:25:00 - Standing in the Gap… Frances talks about how her mom instilled in her the desire to go above and beyond for others
00:30:00 - Skills Transfer… Frances’ past roles have set her up to fix “the things”
00:35:00 - “Because I’m Right”… What happened when Frances prayed for wisdom
00:40:00 - Sister Sister… Frances talks about her intentional relationship with her sister
00:45:00 - Auntie on Duty… Being an involved Auntie
00:50:00 - Being a NENEN is Really HR … Pouring into your godsons and goddaughters, making them “good capital”
00:55:00 - Deciding what your life can be… Frances sets her life up through a series of intentional conversations
01:00:00 - Do your own thing… Frances thinks through what her own life will be like when she becomes a mom
01:05:00 - We’re going to talk again… Because there’s so much more!
My dear friend, Frances, and I dive deep into the complexities of human resources, the power of community, and the profound journey of postpartum. Frances shares her personal experiences supporting her sister through postpartum, highlighting the importance of intentionality, empathy, and unwavering support. Discover how Frances (a passionate champion of people, process, and purpose) navigates her professional life in HR and her personal role as a dedicated aunt, embodying the spirit of a "maternal benefactor" for her niece and nephew. Our conversation explores the essence of building strong family bonds, fostering a supportive community, and facing life's challenges with faith and resilience.
Key themes and insights from this conversation include:
Human Resources vs. Human Capital: Frances passionately distinguishes between Human Resources (employer compensating the employee) and Human Capital (employee compensating the employer), emphasizing the invaluable resource that people are to an organization and the importance of aligning employee well-being with business goals.
Community and Intentionality: Both Jovia and Frances highlight the significance of intentional community building, whether in professional settings, personal friendships, or family relationships. Frances' approach to sisterhood and aunt-hood exemplifies this intentionality, actively curating supportive and meaningful connections.
Postpartum Support: Frances shares her personal experience supporting her sister through postpartum, underscoring the challenges and the need for empathy, presence, and practical assistance for new mothers. This also ties into her future venture, Blossom with Love, a postpartum care service.
Personal Growth and Self-Awareness: Frances discusses her journey of self-discovery, including her initial aversion to HR, her realization of her natural strengths (like being an "achiever" and her prayer for wisdom), and how these have shaped her professional and personal life.
Resilience and Faith: The conversation touches on navigating life's "terrible" and "impossible" moments with faith, trusting in a larger plan, and finding joy and purpose even amidst challenges.
Legacy Building: Frances's intentional approach to raising her niece and nephew, providing clear expectations of community, and standing in the gap for them, reflects a desire to build a positive legacy for the next generation.
Haitian Heritage and Entrepreneurship: The discussion briefly touches on Haitian heritage through Ricardo and Co. (a gift shop celebrating Haitian culture) and Blossom with Love (a postpartum care service), showcasing entrepreneurial spirit rooted in personal experience and cultural pride.
Up Next: On November 15th, Gloria Mayfield-Banks takes the stage. If you know, you know that Gloria took the direct sales world by storm when she became not just a multimillionaire, but the highest earner in all of Mary Kay Cosmetics history… not to mention being the subject of a case study and an alumn at Harvard Business School. As a member of the Nenen Steering Committee and a dear friend and mentor, Gloria joins me in talking about motherhood, leading women, and of course… gratitude. Join us for our special Thanksgiving episode of the Chez NENEN Podcast with Gloria. (Airs November 15, 2025)
