Joanne Brady, a 1987 alumna of Anderson University, spent nearly three decades as a dedicated educator before pivoting professions into a rewarding role in community banking.
Brady was recently recognized on a statewide level for her achievement and service to her community when SC Biz named her to their Top 100 Women for 2026.
When looking for a college, Brady looked no further than her hometown, choosing Anderson for its feeling of community and the personal attention that has long been a hallmark of the University’s Pillar of Great Academics.
Brady recalls, “It wasn’t so big that you were just a number. Everybody knows you when you walk around that campus. It’s just a good feeling.”
Brady’s time at Anderson was filled with more than just rigorous coursework; it was a season in her life filled with opportunities to grow, thanks to a variety of activities on campus. She sang in the college choir, traveling as far as New Orleans and performing in the conservatory of Biltmore House at Christmas. She served as the commuter chairperson for the Student Government Association and worked phonathons for the Student Alumni Association. Also, she met her husband, Terry Brady, there; though they didn’t date until after they both graduated from Clemson, their shared history began in the halls of Anderson.
After earning her master’s in special education, Brady embarked on a 28-year career in public education. She spent 11 years in Anderson School District 5, primarily at Lakeside Middle School, before moving to Lexington School District 1 in 2001.
Teaching special education, particularly at the middle school level and later in an alternative school setting, required a unique blend of patience and empathy. For Brady, the reward wasn’t found in standardized test scores, but in the “lightbulb moments” when a struggling student finally grasped a difficult concept.
“You don’t go into teaching expecting gratitude right away,” Brady explains. “You go in for the right reasons—to help others. Sometimes it takes years to see the impact.”
That impact is often profound. Years later, students have reached out to her via social media to thank her for “pushing them through the difficult stuff.” One former student, who had been expelled and sent to her alternative program, recently messaged her after being promoted to a sales director role. He credited Brady with helping him get back on the right path.
After 28 years in the classroom, Brady was ready for a change. However, with two sons in college, retirement would look different for her. “My husband told me, ‘You can retire from teaching, but you cannot quit working,'” she recalls. “I didn’t want to stop anyway.”
Her transition into banking happened almost by chance at a party celebrating a friend’s daughter who was signing to play golf at a college in another state. Brady’s husband mentioned to an acquaintance in the banking industry that she was looking for a new challenge—it turns out they were looking for a teller.
Brady took the leap into banking, starting at the entry level. Within six months, she was promoted to customer service representative. A year-and-a-half later, she was named branch manager. After six years at her first bank, she moved to First Reliance Bank, where she continues to lead with the same heart she brought into her classroom.
Whether she was dealing with student-parent relationships or now her clients and banking team, Brady says, “It’s all about building trust.”
In an era where banking is increasingly digital and automated, Brady leans into the human element. She understands that when clients walk into her branch, they aren’t just looking for a transaction; they are looking for reassurance. Whether it’s helping a client navigate a financial hardship or simply being a direct point of contact in a world of automated phone menus, Brady prioritizes the person over the process.
“People like the reassurance of talking to a person,” she says. “They’ll share what’s going on in their lives, and if they’re having difficulties, we do whatever we can to help so that life’s hardships don’t impact them financially.”
For Brady, the Great Purpose she discovered at Anderson University has come full circle. From guiding a middle schooler toward a better future to helping a neighbor secure their financial legacy, her career remains a testament to the idea that when you put relationships first, success—and honors like the Top 100 Women—will naturally follow.