We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jerome Daughtrey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jerome, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?
Corporate America often confuses polish with potential. There’s this rigidity to how “professionalism” is defined—usually through the lens of tradition and conformity—that ends up blocking out some of the most brilliant thinkers and creatives because they don’t have the veneer of what people are used to.
And the obsession with corporate bureaucracy and gatekeeping doesn’t leave enough room for non-traditional paths to thrive. And yet, some of the dopest ideas come from people who don’t “look” the part on paper. It’s completely possible—and necessary—for folks to be themselves, do incredible work, and not have to code-switch just to make others feel comfortable. I’ve found that the best work and best personal development happens when people don’t have to shrink themselves or shape-shift to be seen as valuable.
Jerome, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m one of those rare cases where I actually went to school for what I’m doing today, and I feel really blessed for that. I started my career at TBWA\Chiat\Day, then spent time at a boutique agency, moved into the entertainment industry, and eventually into consulting—where everything I’d learned came together.
Consulting taught me how to really think: how to dissect and diagnose problems at the root, not just treat the symptoms. That’s what separates me and my partner—our intention. We approach our work like a doctor would: getting to the core of the issue so the solution actually heals and creates lasting change.
But what I’m most proud of is our commitment to service—not just in the work we do, but in how we show up in the world. Every member of our team champions and brings to life a service project aligned with their passions. We’ve sponsored food drives, helped restore communities in Altadena after wildfires, created educational programs and donated equipment to places like the iconic St. Elmo’s Village in L.A., and built a mentorship program to give folks real-world experience—cutting through the red tape of traditional internships. That’s what really drives me.
That’s what I love to do. It’s not just about doing great work for us—it’s about leaving something better behind everywhere we go.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
I actually met my business partner when I was his intern!
I was still in school and had to complete a senior project, so one of my fraternity brothers connected us, and from that first intro, it was a wrap. We had shared interests, a genuine love for our culture, and, more than anything, aligned values on how we view the world.
There’s always been a brotherhood between us, a deep mutual respect. We’re rooted in service, always learning, and always looking for ways to pour back into our communities. Even after the internship, we found ways to build together—no matter where life or work took us. Eventually, the stars aligned, and I joined his company, and we’ve been locked in ever since. It’s bigger than business—legacy, purpose, and genuine love for our work and the folks we do it for.
Any advice for managing a team?
I believe great leadership is about keeping people connected to work that genuinely inspires them—and that inspiration doesn’t always come from serving a client. Sometimes it’s rooted in serving your community, mentoring others, or simply creating something that gives back. We make it a point to ground our morale in our personhood and values—not just in the wins or challenges of client work, which can shift.
I keep coming back to service because it truly is that important for us. It’s what allows us to maintain a high degree of collaboration and a high degree of consistency—because our purpose never changes. When you’re just chasing a client win or some vanity KPI, those moments are fleeting. You’re always chasing the next brass ring. But being grounded in what really matters allows everyone to stay focused, stay positive, and re-center when things get challenging. And for us, service is the one thing we’ll never get tired of.
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Arianne Autaubo Martinez