Courtney de la Bretonne Hart, 37
Senior Regional Marketing Manager, Hancock Whitney
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Managing a $5 million event for Microsoft at 23 years of age.
- Earning a Masters in Business Administration.
- Managing to keep a work-life balance as a working parent.
COMMUNITY:
Volunteers with several organizations, serving on the board for Forum 35 while also participating in Dance for Big Buddy and the American Cancer Society’s Best Dressed events.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY?
Coco Chanel: The Legend and The Life by Justine Picardie
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
A psychologist. I took one psychology class freshman year of college…yeah, changed to mass comm right after!
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
I started working at 13, over the summers, filing medical records. I learned that I definitely needed to stay in school.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
I worked at TCBY, but I can’t eat dairy!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Ginos—Arancini. All day, any day!
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Not many people can say they truly love their job, but I can. Every day is different, some more challenging than others. But, being happy in my job every day is a pretty remarkable achievement.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
This one goes along with the question below—I spearheaded numerous recovery efforts post floods and Hurricane Harvey. We had a mother in Houston that wasn’t able to get milk for her baby. When I received that email, I searched for a route to Houston from Baton Rouge. I found one, turned to a colleague and off we went. Seven hours later, the hugs and tears we received made it all worth it.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA” MOMENT?
I spent quite a lot of time assisting our teams and community after the floods and Hurricane Harvey. It was during those difficult times that I really understood how wonderful our team is. Until those tragic events, many people didn’t venture far from their office. After, it became one company, one team. It didn’t matter what your title was or where you worked. It was only about helping each other and our community. Looking back on those times, it was incredibly challenging, but I’ve never been so proud to work on such an amazing team.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
I try to do it all. I have had to learn to ask for help. I manage quite a large territory. I can’t be everywhere at all times. Asking for help wasn’t easy, but I’m glad I finally did.
WHAT GIVES YOU PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATION?
I do a lot of behind the scenes work. When I see a project come together, there is no better feeling!
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
When given a task, there is no need to follow up. It is always done right the first time.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Facebook and Instagram
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
Lots! And probably 300 emails.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
Anything below 20%
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
225
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Probably Amazon. I can order anything from anywhere and it magically shows up at my door!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Facetime! What a great invention. Even though I travel a lot for work, I can still see my kids every day!
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
The video game Fortnite. I know every parent reading this will agree.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
5 a.m. for a workout.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Depends on the day. Normally on the go.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
Wait, I’m a grown up?
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Hotel Mousai, if you haven’t been there…BOOK IT NOW!
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
My first horse, Chocolate Bon Bon. She was a beautiful black saddlebred.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
I’d love to travel in time to see how the pyramids were built!
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
There are quite a few, but most popular are Bad Bob and Buckweat.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
I’m not really superstitious.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
Ever meet those people that make you want to be a better person? Well, I have…Selina Atiyeh. She has not only taught my children some of their most valuable skills, but she has taught me how to be a better mother. She gives every person she encounters her all, and never asks for anything in return. She’s a mother, a mentor, a teacher, a guidance counselor and the hardest working woman I have ever met. She has touched hundreds of lives in her career. I hope one day she understands how much she means to her extended family.
FAVORITE DRINK?
“The Brooke”—vodka, soda, splash of cranberry with a lime.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
“Don’t Stop Believing”—Journey
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
“Elf”
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Better be someone fun!
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
You will have your heart broken. You will go through many challenges and fail. But, never give up. Take the risk. Always remember to eat dessert first, life is so uncertain.
PETS?
Two bad little mini-schnauzers that need to be trained.
HOBBIES?
Spending time with my family and friends, football, volunteering, cooking and making sure all the wine that enters our house is safe to drink!
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
I moved to New England for graduate school and met the love of my life in a bar. In all fairness, it was after watching an LSU game with the LSU alumni up there. And like every good Southern lady, I brought him back down south. There may have been a few incentives involved: Mardi Gras, football, Pat O’ Brien’s and crawfish.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
I recently took on a rather large project that challenges me daily. It’s been incredible, but very time consuming. I’m thankful that I have an awesome support system at home and work to get me through it. Geaux Tigers!
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Shielding my kids from the negative on social media. I know they will see it, but I wish I could keep them away from it.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Seeing the revitalization of Mid City.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Never give up. Always be a team player. Get in the trenches with your teams. I promise it will go a long way.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Yes indeed! We have lots of family here. We are building a beautiful new home right now. I’m looking forward to my significantly larger closet!
IF NAMED QUEEN FOR A DAY, WHAT IS ONE CHANGE YOU WOULD MAKE IN BATON ROUGE?
Margarita truck! We have trucks for ever other type of food. Why can’t we have a margarita truck that rides around neighborhoods and plays a song like the ice cream truck? I know the parents on my street would run out!
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BATON ROUGE; WHAT WORKS AND WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT?
I think we have a wonderful quality of life here in Baton Rouge. Our culture, food, celebrations, college sports…amazing! We just need to fix the traffic already.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
Almafi Coast, seeing the pyramids and watching my children grow and be successful in life.
See the entire 2017 Forty under 40 class
