Greenville Magazine - June 2008 - (Page 35)

in the lead From Tutus to Tough Issues Sallie Holder by Ly d i a di s h m a n photo by a s h L e y Fu L m e r he third time’s a charm for Sallie Holder. The 28-year-old employment attorney with Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, P.C. just received the Greenville Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year Award after being nominated twice before. She laughs as she relates the story of the awards presentation. “Just before the announcement, I leaned over to congratulate Jill Littlejohn from World Acceptance Corp. I just knew it would be her,” she says. “Then they started talking about the winner being a graduate of Vanderbilt, and I was thinking there couldn’t be two of us.” Her eyes shine as she finishes breathlessly, “then I heard my name!” T The Chamber award is offered in recognition for outstanding leadership and community service, and to date, Sallie Holder has led a charge on both fronts. Professionally, she says, “I was one of those weird kids that said at age five, ‘I want to be a lawyer.’” She never lost sight of that goal, even while majoring in human and organizational development at Vanderbilt University. It was a cutting-edge business degree complete with e-commerce classes and an internship that landed her at a major PR firm in New York City to study management styles and leadership and to offer analysis. “My friends all went to work for consulting firms,” she says, recalling how they tried to talk her out of law school because she didn’t have an English or history background. Holder didn’t listen. Instead, she secured a spot at the University of South Carolina law school. But it wasn’t until her second year, during a class about labor law, that she knew she’d found her calling. “The teacher used storytelling to explain the labor movement,” says Holder, “It was exciting. I could see myself working with this for a long time.” Pursuing clerkships in labor law brought her to the House Judiciary Department, then to Ogletree in Greenville. As a part-time associate she worked exclusively for Fred Suggs, who, she explains, “was totally tough on me. He expected the best.” Knowing Holder since she was a child, Suggs doled out his professional advice. “Even one word misspelled in a letter makes an impact,” she says echoing his serious tone, eyebrows raised. “He always said you can’t be the best if you are willing to accept mediocrity.” For all he demanded, the tough stance dovetailed neatly with the high standards Holder sets for herself. From taking ballet classes and performing, to equine competition, academics, work and community service, settling for anything less than exceptional is simply not may/june 2008 | Greenville maGazine 35

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Greenville Magazine - June 2008

Greenville Magazine - June 2008 Contents From the Publisher My Greenville Everyday Heroes Tackling Diversity Greenville’s Gone Global In The Lead From the Pros Anderson Suburban Sprawl Wellness The REAL State of Real Estate Something to Bark About Minority-owned Business A Look Back 1-Tank Trips Private School Resource Guide After Hours The Bulletin Around Town Viewpoints

Greenville Magazine - June 2008

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