Running Your Own Race: Marc Ehrhardt on Leadership, Legacy, and Letting Go
“Are you trying to be as good as he was—or as good as you are?”
That’s the question Rufus Cressend poses to Marc Ehrhardt, president of The Ehrhardt Group and guest on this episode of Constructive Interference.
The result? An honest, wide-ranging conversation on what it means to lead a legacy business, trust your team, and grow into the leader you’re meant to be—not the one others expect.
From Son to Successor: The Ehrhardt Group’s Evolution
Marc Ehrhardt didn’t set out to run his family’s PR firm. In fact, his path started in Chicago, working for one of the largest independent PR firms in the country. But when the opportunity came to return to New Orleans and join the business his father and stepmother built, he took it—with a binder-delivered job offer and a sense of purpose.
“I didn’t take the financial risk to start the business, but I carried the emotional weight of keeping it alive.”
Over the years, Marc helped double the size of the firm and lead it through a generational transition, eventually becoming president and majority owner. But the transition wasn’t just structural—it was personal.
The Weight of Legacy
Working in a family business means carrying more than a job title. It means dinner table conversations bleed into boardroom decisions. It means your wins feel personal—and so do your losses.
Marc reflects on this dynamic with remarkable vulnerability:
The pressure of making his father proud.
The emotional complexity of managing alongside family.
And eventually, the grief and clarity that came after his father’s unexpected passing in 2022.
Letting Go to Grow
One of the most powerful themes in this episode is trust.
Marc shares how he’s learned to step back and empower his leadership team—not just to survive, but to scale.
“If I needed someone named Ehrhardt to do every important thing in this business, I’d never leave town. I’d be 450 pounds and on my third heart attack.”
He credits his team’s shared values and high standards as the key to his trust. But the bigger shift? Learning that trust isn’t about them—it’s about us. It's about letting go of control in order to let others rise.
Leadership Isn’t Inherited—It’s Chosen
For Rufus, the conversation hits close to home. As someone building a multigenerational company with his own daughters, he’s keenly aware of the fine line between protecting them and preparing them.
Marc offers this insight:
“I had to figure out why I wake up every day—because I’m not just running the business my father built. I’m building the business I believe in.”
That’s what it means to run your own race.
Final Thoughts: Measure Backwards, Lead Forward
Whether you're stepping into a family legacy, building your own empire, or simply trying to become a better leader, Marc's story is a reminder of what matters most:
Trust your team.
Know your values.
Celebrate the journey—especially the messy, imperfect parts.
And stop comparing your path to someone else’s blueprint.
Because real leadership?
It’s not about being the next someone.
It’s about being the first you.
Listen to the Full Episode
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Learn More About Marc Ehrhardt
📍 President, The Ehrhardt Group
📌 Serving leaders and Fortune 1000 companies in the Gulf South
