Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Abby Draper. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Abby, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
The short and sweet answer is that I was taught growing up — and even still reminded as an adult — to always treat others how I want to be treated. That said, like most people I’d imagine, I want to be treated with kindness and respect. Both of which are given through the lens of generosity. With that, my overall mission in all that I do, be it personally or professionally, is to be generous with my kindness, thoughtful with the generosity of my respect and when I am able to, offer generosity to others that may be in need of some extra love.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been a strategic communications professional with a focus on public relations and integrated marketing for over two decades. Before creating and launching Abby Leigh Studio, I accelerated my career pretty quickly at agencies of all sizes.
I started my career at a boutique agency in Baltimore where I was focused on traditional media relations. This was at the advent of brands being curious about leveraging social media to cast a wider net and I became passionate about learning more. With tenacity, I proactively absorbed everything I could about marrying traditional PR outreach with social media on behalf of the agency’s clients. After persuading my boss to let me try a few things I was able to prove success and in turn, created the agency’s first social and digital media department.
A larger agency in the area caught wind of what I’d done and poached me to work for them. I proved to be an asset to some of its largest clients and accelerated my career pretty quickly. Ultimately, I was managing a fully integrated client based in Orange County so the company asked me to move to LA to open its first west coast office. I did so and after two more successful years, I took a breather from agency life and practiced PR, social media, influencer marketing and networking on my own, which has been incredibly lucrative and also a lot of fun.
Since then I’ve moved to Charlotte where I am continuing to pursue freelance and consulting opportunities while also publishing creative writing features and developing a voice for The Studio.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Honestly, the most impactful learning started early on and continues to flourish as I grow professionally and that is to thoughtfully select a solid mentor — or two, or three. People that inspire you, who are candid with you in a meaningful way and who are willing and happy to be on your side through the good, bad, wonderful and ugly, you know they have your best interests in mind, always.
The first mentor I owe most of my successes to is my father. He is a well-respected executive who defines thoughtful leadership. He is, always has been and always will be my number one go-to when I need counsel at work and outside of work. I am very lucky in that way and I hope that others he’s coached appreciate the opportunity because it can be rare.
My second mentor is a woman who managed me earlier in my career. I will never forget writing a press release for her to review and her returning it to me FULL of red-lined edits. I was so embarrassed, but as she and I talked through it and as I got to know her, I truly appreciate that she didn’t “sugar coat” her feedback. It made me stronger and more articulate with my writing skills. Which, has absolutely paid off. 20+ years later, I still rely on her. She and her family have also become great friends of mine and I know, no matter what, she will remain honest with me and support every endeavor I pursue.
The third mentor is actually a group of professionals I am incredibly fortunate to know and to have “grown up” with in the industry. In fact, Abby Leigh Studio conducts “5 Questions With” interviews with so many talented, strong, smart and savvy “mentors” that I know serve as aspirational to those that read. Check out the interviews for some daily inspo!
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
This goes back to my earlier response and it’s something I can (and often do) speak to ad nauseam. My parents have always instilled in me — and my incredibly brilliant attorney brother — to treat others how we want to be treated. It sounds so simple, but as we all know in the state of the world over the past several years, it’s unfortunately a challenge to many to follow that golden rule.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abbyleighstudio.com
- Instagram: @abbydraper
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/abbyldraper
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/abby-draper
- Twitter: @abbydraper
