words are her tools ...
Rachel Morris
writing is her passion...
roles you play
Words, the tools of my trade. I think of myself as a communicator, using words (written and spoken) to persuade and inform as well as influence and challenge opinions and perceptions. That can be through a presentation I make, through a piece I have written or in a meeting on a project I am involved with.
Loving what you do
I am smitten by what I do. It completely energises me when I see someone have a light-bulb moment because of something I said in a presentation or a piece I have written. Or when someone says to me that they hadn’t thought about that issue or considered that point of view before. It’s a very crowded communications space in our world, and being able to articulate and demonstrate your point is a gift as well as a challenge.
Inspired by
Of course my mother Lynette inspires me. She left school very young and now has more degrees than anyone I know. I am also inspired by women who stand up, speak up and demand that their voices be heard – (former Indian Prime Minister) Indira Gandhi, (former Washington Post Publisher) Katherine Graham, (current German Chancellor) Angela Merkel, (former Irish President) Mary Robinson, (Australian PM) Julia Gillard and (environmentalist) Rachel Carson are among the women who have inspired me over my lifetime.
To be a woman in this century
I come from a generation of women born during a time and in a place when we were told that we could do and be anything we wanted. Living in this century means that we have to not be complacent about those rights, responsibilities and expectations that were hard won by our mothers and grandmothers. More importantly, we must be vigilant and proactive about enabling those women who can’t be heard to have their own voice and have their opinions recognised.
Lisa Travell Loving what you do
I absolutely love my job and feel lucky to have found a career that I enjoy so much. Writing is my passion and it’s such a powerful medium. I aim to paint a picture with my words, to create a vision so vivid that the reader can almost taste the food I have described or feel a real familiarisation with the individual I have interviewed. I love the anticipation of starting a piece and the satisfaction in finishing it and then seeing it in print. I don’t think that novelty will ever wear off. Freelance writing is ideal as I feel I have researched, and consequently written about, really interesting subjects that I may not have otherwise explored.
Inspired by
I don’t think that I can select just one woman as there are so many that have made such major contributions in history and shaped the world that we live in today. From the past I would have to say Queen Elizabeth I – a political genius and a strong independent woman and Princess Diana – an iconic, stylish and charitable woman. From the present J.K. Rowling is a particular inspiration to me as it’s every writer’s dream to achieve that much success as an author. It’s my ambition to write a book, I know I have one in me!
to be a woman in this century
I feel like I am living in a wonderful time, a time of amazing change. Look at the technological advances in this century with the expansion of the internet and the creation of social networking sites. Women are finally beginning to earn the respect that they deserve in the work place and in society. This is a time of opportunity, a time to stand proud as a woman; if you have a dream it’s time to make it come true.
2011 March
29