Prospera Financial Services Celebrates Carolyn French in Honor of Women’s History Month
If you were to ask anyone in the industry, Carolyn French is a trailblazer. In 2018, she founded LiveOak Wealth Management with two objectives in mind: to serve her community and her clients. Carolyn’s commitment and work ethic have earned her accolades and continue to serve as model for her success – which began many years ago…
Hailing from northern Louisiana, Carolyn now calls Lafayette her home. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northeast Louisiana University – and received her PhD in Historical Geography & Anthropology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Prior to her career in the financial services industry, Carolyn was a teacher on both the high school and college levels – and she served as a Socioeconomic Consultant for the U.S. Department of the Interior. While in that role, she was responsible for Environmental Impact Statements related to offshore drilling in coastal waters. She also represented the agency at Congressional hearings on sensitive subjects related to the oil and gas industry. Carolyn served as a consultant for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Naval Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These significant roles undoubtedly prepared Carolyn for the future she found in finance where her responsibility for advocating for the best interests of the environment translated well into representing the best interests of her clients.
Perhaps the only thing that can rival Carolyn’s resume and professional accomplishments are the achievements she has been recognized for in her philanthropic endeavors. Carolyn founded or was involved with others in founding multiple non-profit organizations, including the Lafayette Public Education Foundation, the Career Achievements Award Committee, and Connections for Women – just to name a few. She also has served on the boards of various service organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the Acadiana Symphony, the Industrial Development Board, the Better Business Bureau, the finance committee of Lafayette General Hospital, and the Education Committee of the Chamber of Commerce.
Carolyn spent many years working with the Shining Light Foundation and with the Ministerial Alliance. She also spearheaded an AIDS Task Force to increase community awareness of the illness. She has been recognized with awards from many of the organizations she has led or worked with, including: The American Cancer Society, Girl Scouts of America, Faith House, Alpha Omicron Pi, and the Louisiana Rotary Club. Notably, Carolyn was president of The League of Women Voters, Friends of Music, Toastmasters, Professional Women’s Club, and the American Association of University Women in Lafayette.
Outside of her official affiliations with numerous non-profit organizations, Carolyn is – and has always been – a tireless advocate for learning. She not only provided weekly classes on finance and investing to her clients for over 18 years, she also served as the “Learning Fairy,” speaking to hundreds of community members about the importance of education.
It would be impossible to overlook Carolyn’s commitment to her community and service, but the most important things in life to her are not titles or awards. To Carolyn, her greatest achievement is living in such a way that you are always known – as she says – as a person who is “honest, kind, and good.”
Indeed, Carolyn has achieved that and much more.