Chapter 9 - THE ASHFORD SEAT
For years, Harrison assumed I had no interest in investment work.
Partly because I let him.
I had built my own career in nonprofit governance before Poppy was born.
Then scaled back.
After the divorce, I began attending Ashford Capital meetings more often.
Not to take Dad’s job.
To use the rights I already had instead of pretending they were inconvenient.
I joined the risk committee.
Then the investment-governance board.
My specialty became related-party transactions.
Of course.
The first policy I pushed through required:
Independent review when family members sat on both sides of a deal.
Written acknowledgment from every conflicted beneficiary.
No treating silence as consent.
No “family understanding” exceptions.
Dad read the draft.
“Subtle.”
“Thank you.”
“That was sarcasm.”
“I know.”
He voted for it anyway.
The policy became known internally as the Caldwell Rule.
I hated the name.
May you like
Everyone else loved it.
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