Gracie was born in Camaguey, Cuba, and immigrated at the age of six to Miami with her parents, brother, and whatever possessions they could fit into suitcases. None of them had ever left the island nor spoke English and her parents’ university degrees were suddenly worthless. Her mother managed to find work as a graphic designer in a Spanish-language newspaper for over a decade before cancer forced her to retire early. Gracie spent six years by her bedside in hospitals while also attending her local university and working full time as a designer herself, until her mother was finally declared cancer-free.

In 2016, she was selected to be graphic designer for Houston Grand Opera. She packed up all her belongings once again, this time into her little Hyundai hatchback, and started anew in Houston, Texas. A mere year later, at the age of 26, she had enough contacts and clients to start Padrón Design Studio, which offered digital marketing services to mostly performing arts nonprofits and small businesses.

Her business grew approximately 30% per year, slowly but confidently, until COVID-19. Nonprofits were suddenly forced to pivot to digital marketing to keep their programs alive and 20 new clients joined in 2020 alone. Gracie was forced to hire quickly as she had just given birth to her first son and couldn’t handle the workload. In 2022, the company was renamed Padrón & Co. to better capture the wide range of services offered.

After seven years as founder, creative director, and lead marketing strategist, Gracie and her team have helped over 100 companies grow their causes, raise more money, reach more people in need, and get more visitors to their sites. Her capital campaigns have helped nonprofits bring in over $25 million in donations and grants, and her work with small businesses has helped them bring in over $100 million in new work. 

She dedicates every spare second to her wonderful husband Alex, 4-year-old son Matthew, and newborn son Henry.