Last night, the world watched as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, literally “told all.”
Racism, family feuds, suicidal ideations… it was truly a bombshell.
I have not watched the interview in its entirety, so I have little to comment on it.
However, what we know to be true is this: The Royal Family, like any family or organization, has its share of deep-seated issues. Issues that, from an outsider’s perspective, need to addressed. However, we are talking about an “organization” that has been in existence for over 12 centuries. In contrast, very few companies/organizations (5 to be exact) have existed longer than the Royal Family. That’s a lot of history to overcome.
Patrick Jephson, Princess Diana’s Private Secretary and Chief of Staff, stated this morning, many have tried to “out” the weaknesses of Britain’s family. Exactly zero have succeeded.
This brings up the question of which is most important, Brand Loyalty or Personal Authenticity?
The public will likely side with Harry and Meghan, but at what personal cost to Harry and Meghan?
When it comes to speaking out against an institution, do the benefits outweigh the costs?
In this age of authenticity, something to consider.
Published by JC Hurtado-Prater | Leadership Professor + Consultant
JC Hurtado-Prater serves as Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Leadership at the Fermanian School of Business at Point Loma Nazarene University where he oversees the graduate business and leadership programs. In addition, through his company, Bluestone Consulting, LLC, JC serves as a leadership consultant for executives and teams at global organizations such as Johnson + Johnson, Cisco, Visa, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Harbor Freight, Park Hyatt and more.
A veteran of the United States Army, JC earned a BA from UCLA, MBA through Saint Joseph’s College and is currently completing his doctorate in business administration through Indiana Wesleyan University. Passionate about community service in San Diego, JC serves on several local boards for organizations such as UC San Diego, South Bay Community Services, Thrivent Financial Southwest Region and Southwestern College Foundation. JC resides in the 4S Ranch area of San Diego, CA. In his free time, JC enjoys reading, working out and kayaking the California coast.
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