Mount Pleasant Magazine 6.3

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GH: We were Indian, and
we were looked upon as
being different. Growing
up was hard. I didn’t fit
in anywhere racially. But
our parents stressed the
idea of unity and to find
similarities with others, not
differences. I still believe in
that concept, to unite and
not divide.
MPM: What is your back-
ground? What gigs during the early years helped you?
GH: I had great jobs. I did my parents’ accounting,
then I was assistant to a chiropractor while I attended
Clemson. Then I did an internship with Liberty In-
surance’s Audit Department. I learned to understand
numbers through that experience – and I learned to
understand people through working with the chiroprac-
tor. Today, as governor, I deal both with people as well as
benchmarks and goals.
MPM: What was your first
experience with public ser-
vice, and what impression
did it leave?
GH: I was not interested
in politics in high school
or in college. But I did
notice, through the family
business, how many of our
dollars the government was
taking. And I became inter-
ested. Once I ran for office,
the only option was to win. I remember knocking on doors
with the kids in the back seat, getting to know the district.
MPM: What advice do you have to offer our readers who are
considering public service or simply pursuing a personal dream?
GH: Two things: We need women as leaders and as public
servants. Women bring a lot to the table. When you feel
fear, push through it and realize how strong you are. And
trust your gut. Never second-guess yourself.
Gov. Haley with American Red Cross volunteers at Team South Carolina
Day in Sumter.
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