FabulousARIZONA.com | Fabulous People: Robin Graber

This article was originally published on FabulousARIZONA.com.

Robin Graber is the co-founder and vice president of Liminal Public Relations & Communications, a new firm that made its Phoenix debut in the fall. “Our goal is to act as senior-level advisors and strategic partners, creating communications programs that deliver lasting impact.” Learn about Robin Graber…

Follow at: @liminalprc

Hometown: Montgomery, Indiana.

Favorite ways to spend your free time in AZ: Reading, working out, and trying new restaurants around the Valley.

Current obsession: The Throne of Glass book series; I’m on my third re-read.

What inspired your start in your career path: I actually moved to Arizona to go to law school and decided to take an internship to fill the time before classes started. When the internship ended, I realized law school wasn’t the path I wanted to take. A few months later, that same agency reached out because they were hiring, and I took the position, and I’ve loved it ever since.

Your biggest accomplishment and why: Learning to let go. For much of my life, I held onto anger and was always ready for a fight. But over the past few years, I’ve realized it’s just not worth the energy. Now, I focus on doing what I can, with what I have, where I’m at, and then I let it go. That shift has allowed me to enjoy the moment, live with empathy, and move through life with more peace and understanding. When you’re not looking for the fight, you start to truly see people and situations for what they are, which has made me a better leader, communicator, and person overall.

The biggest obstacle you overcame: Honestly, it was exceeding the expectations people had for me from a young age. I grew up below the poverty line, lost a parent early, and came from a family with no college background and a history of substance abuse. So people didn’t expect much from me, and honestly, sometimes neither did I. But I found my way, I worked my way through college (which took me seven years), got out of my hometown, and even when I decided against law school, I found a good job that led me to co-founding our own PR agency. Plus, everything that could have held me back (or did) has ended up making me better at handling challenges and expedite my current career.

Someone who inspires you and why: My co-founder, Samantha DeRose. Since we started working together almost five years ago, she has taught me so much about PR and leadership. She’s kind, organized, and a total go-getter, the person who makes our work life actually make sense. We constantly joke that I’m the Type-B to her Type-A personality. So much about us is opposite, and that’s exactly what makes our partnership so effective for our clients.

But it’s not just about work. Samantha gives people the space to be themselves and really shine in what they’re good at. I couldn’t be doing what I do today without her. I mean, she was the one who gave me my first internship and then called me when they were hiring. Even back then, it felt like we knew our partnership was something special. I’ll always look for an opportunity to brag about her because she’s a rockstar at everything she does, and I’m incredibly grateful to have her as my partner in building this business.

Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Learn how to write. I don’t have a communications or journalism degree; my background is in political science and international relations, but if you can’t step into your client’s shoes and write from their perspective, PR probably isn’t the right fit. Every firm has its own style for pitches and press releases, and that’s something you can learn on the job. But if you struggle to put a few clear paragraphs together, you’ll likely find the work frustrating. Even with AI, strong writing stands out (and strong writers can spot AI) and is the foundation of everything we do in PR.

What’s a little-known fact most people aren’t aware of about you: I grew up in a pretty split world. On my mom’s side, it’s your typical German Catholic family, but my dad grew up Amish (yes, with the beards and no electricity) and his family is a mix of Amish and Mennonite. It’s definitely given me a unique perspective on life.

What makes someone fabulous: For me, it’s a combination of personal style and the way they leave a room. I love seeing women not only killing it with their style, but also in their careers, personal lives, and everything they do. I’m big on living with empathy, which doesn’t mean just being the “nicest” person in the room, but really understanding others, seeing things from their perspective, and making thoughtful decisions that reflect that awareness. It’s that mix of confidence, style, and emotional intelligence.

This article was originally published on FabulousARIZONA.com. View it here.