We recently had the chance to connect with Brent Broussard and have shared our conversation below.
Brent, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
For me, the first 90 minutes of my day start off with prayer and reading my daily devotional. Starting off the day with prayer is essential to me mainly because it helps me stay grounded and rooted in my faith as a Christian. I have also started writing in my journal in the morning to write down some positive affirmations and some self-motivation. Once I’m done with my prayer time, then it’s time to hit the gym. Health is wealth and I’m trying to be here on this Earth as long as God allows me to continue to see another day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Brent P. Broussard. I am the Executive Director of Acadiana Vanguard Institute for Youth Development, which is a nonprofit organization in Lafayette, LA. Through this nonprofit organization, I teach youth ages 10-18 life skills such as financial literacy, mental health practices, job and interview skills and preparation, postsecondary education readiness and mentoring. I have been doing this for roughly 4 years now and we now have programming within 2 schools working with 5-8 grade students. I am also the CEO of The Broussard Enterprise Group, LLC., which is a small business development firm helping entrepreneurs get their business ideas started from a side hustle to a legitimate business. I am a certified life and business coach to help those entrepreneurs reach their goals and attain knowledge of where to go when they want to get business capital.
I am very involved within the Lafayette community and have been recognized as a community leader. I am a volunteer and board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana. I am also the Vice President of Operations and Programming for the 100 Black Men of Greater Lafayette, Inc. where we focus on the 4 pillars of the future, education, health and wellness, economic empowerment and mentoring. I am also currently on the Lafayette Parish School System Superintendent’s Advisory Panel, where I serve with other local educators, entrepreneurs and community leaders to help shape what the students in Lafayette are going to be seeing in the near future for their education and working closely with the superintendent on attaining goals for the students in the parish.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
I can say I get my work ethic from my parents. They truly instilled in me the value of working hard and putting an effort into whatever you want to ascertain for yourself. That’s one thing I can say that stuck with me throughout my life and even now in this journey of entrepreneurship, it takes hard work and dedication to attain the goals that I set for myself at the beginning of the year. It’s the value of working hard and staying the course that people will recognize you for the work you put in and not the complaints of what didn’t work or what should have happened. I keep my head down, stay focused on whatever the task is in front of me and don’t look for the accolades. They will come when the time is right.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, especially within the first year of me stepping out on my own to guide this entrepreneurial ship. At that time, I felt like I had very little support from friends and the community, I felt like nothing was coming to me the way I planned it out, There were times that I started speaking negatively about myself when things didn’t go my way or didn’t happen how I thought it would. I felt like it was a waste of time to build a nonprofit organization in a city that was already saturated with them. The only difference is, none of the others had a specific curriculum that was designed to help students be their very best and achieve the greatness that proceeds them as they continue to grow in life. I have great mentors that helped me when things were rough and didn’t seem like it was working and I am forever grateful to my mentors for helping me snap out of those negative thoughts.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think the one thing my friends and family would say that matters the most to me is giving back to the community. I have always had this feeling that I needed to give back to the next generation of youth that are coming up in the world and giving them the tools they need to succeed in life and society. This is what drives me to continue to build Acadiana Vanguard Institute for Youth Development to have a lasting legacy of reaching the youth that need the critical life skills that will help them be productive citizens in the community. Being a mentor to these youths, not just through the nonprofit organization, but also through my work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana and 100 Black Men of Greater Lafayette is a way for me to continue to leave an impact on the youth that I work with and help them attain their life goals.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
This is a good question. If I had to sit and think about the story that people will talk about me when I’m gone, I would hope that it would be one where I strived to be the best person I was able to be. I would think that people would speak on how resilient I was in the pursuit of building a successful business and giving back to the community in ways that would enrich society. I also think the youth that I have mentored over the years would tell others how much of an impact I had on their lives and how I was a part of their success in whatever they chose to do in their lives. I would also think that people would say that I am a man of integrity, a man who was trustworthy, a man who worked hard to achieve every goal he set forth and someone who was always there whenever someone needed help. These are just some examples of what I think would be included in my story.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebroussardenterprisegroupllc.com
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brentpbroussard
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brent.broussard
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