Best and Brightest: Grace Daughtry

Grace Daughtry

Senior Account Executive

JDPR

Greenville

27

Born and raised in Greenville, I was happy to find my way back home to the Upstate after attending College of Charleston and beginning my career in the Lowcountry. My childhood spent along the Saluda River gave me a profound appreciation for the people and places that make South Carolina so wonderful. It also shaped how I give back, through volunteer work with South Carolina Environmental Law Project, Gills Creek Watershed Association, Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force, and initiatives alongside my JDPR colleagues. I've hoped to leave each corner of South Carolina I live in, better. Professionally, I've worked across health care, public affairs, corporate communications, and beyond – helping organizations translate complex ideas into digestible messages that build trust. Regardless of the tactics, communication is ultimately about serving and connecting people. Looking ahead, I hope to continue partnering with organizations making a meaningful difference in the communities, using communication to educate, connect and create a positive impact. Our strongest communities are built by people who stay curious and remain engaged.

Favorite Quote and Why: "To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty. To find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exaltation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived – this is to have succeeded." The world we live in today feels tumultuous, and those close to me have expressed agony over not knowing which efforts to prioritize – which fires to put out, where to volunteer their time and financial resources, what organization to champion. This quote, to me, expresses that if you are doing something – anything – with the explicit intention to make the world better through that act, then you are living well and have succeeded. Consider the starfish flinger story; we cannot save all of them, but it makes a difference to the one that is saved.

Definition of a Successful Leader: To me, a successful leader is someone who chooses empathy first. The strongest leaders take the time to understand what motivates each person, recognize their unique strengths, and help them grow confidently. Rather than setting a set standard of success, a true leader meets people where they are, thoughtfully (and kindly) challenge them, and create opportunities for them to learn and lead. Helping others discover what they're capable of is what allows people to thrive.

Advice to 18-Year-Old Self: If I could give 18-year-old Grace one piece of advice, it would be to say yes more: say yes to the opportunities that feel a little intimidating, introduce yourself to people you admire, ask more questions, listen closely to people's stories, and stay endlessly curious. Each conversation has something to teach you, and each experience adds another layer to your character – to who you are becoming. I'd also remind her that the more you focus on learning about the world, the less you'll worry about how the world sees you. Confidence is something you build through experience, curiosity, and connection and not something that magically happens to you someday. Most importantly, don't make yourself smaller because someone else is unaccustomed to your enthusiasm, your voice, or your way of seeing the world. The qualities that make you feel different today may very well become the ones you're most grateful for tomorrow.