A native New Yorker with the sensibility to match, Rachel has found her niche between professional achievement and social consciousness through her multi-faceted management firm, Agent of Change. With an emphasis on cause-related events and projects, Rachel infuses her twenty years of experience in the non-profit, film, music, political and wellness industries with enough creative flare to match her clients’ concrete goals. Prior to founding Agent of Change, Rachel served as Director of Program Development with Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation and produced concerts for musical A-listers like Mary J. Blige and The Black Eyed Peas. Closely tied to women’s initiatives, Rachel also led the www.50millionwomencount.org photo shoot for Planned Parenthood/V-Day to gather 50 of the world’s most influential women.
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ON Journey
Q: Please share with us the story of how your professional journey began and has brought you to where you are today.
A: After years of working on projects that didn’t make a difference in the world, I was B O R E D! I knew that the few events I had produced that helped people think, act or be more enriched made me feel better when it was finished. It was as simple as that. I knew I was going to be happy when others benefited from my existence so I went on a journey of only working on projects that made the world a better place. Here I am!
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ON Leadership
Q: Who is a leader that you have great respect for and why?
A: I have great respect for TED Curator, Chris Anderson. I find him to be a genius who creates a program at every TED conference that is unique, inspiring, and leaves the audience wanting more.
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ON Innovation
Q: Innovation requires creative thinking. How do you tap into the creative thinking resources within your business?
A: I always take time to get away from the everyday madness. It gives my brain quiet time to think. I’ve found this time away to be crucial to my creative process and mental health. From 6am – 9am – it’s Rachel-time!
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ON Vision
Q: It’s hard to focus on the “big picture” sometimes because we can get caught in the weeds of work and life. When does visioning come clearest or easiest for you? Or what inspires your vision?
A: I get very inspired when I see the results of one of my events, and motivated to surpass those results at my next event. In 2011, Agent of Change’s events raised almost $5 million for various charities. In essence, we’ve helped to build over 40 schools in three countries for Pencils of Promise, offer education and healthcare to over 700 children via Cambodian Children’s Fund, raise money to provide 1,000 wheelchairs to people in developing countries with The Walkabout Foundation and build a maternal health center for Shine on Sierra Leone. AOC also helped raise money for the Urban Zen Integrative Therapist Program, JP/ Haiti Relief Organization, Africa Yoga Project as well as helped build the alternative education Blue School (brainchild of the Blue Man Group) in New York City.
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ON Networking
Q: How much time do you spend on networking versus focusing on the internal affairs of your business (such as management, strategy, ideation etc)?
A: I would say my time is divided by 80 percent management and 20 percent networking. I’d like that to be the opposite but as a young company, I have to focus on the day-to-day tactics that help foster our growth.
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ON Networking
Q: Can you share a story of how networking led to a great success?
A: My staff and I joke about this kind of thing all the time: unleash Rachel at an event and who knows what can happen! I’m fortunate to meet interesting new clients and affiliates at the summits and forums I attend. I’m addicted to helping others and I think that brings confidence and boldness to my approach.
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ON Networking
Q: What are your top 3 tips for networking?
A: Know that everybody is human and needs as much love and attention as you do, so come from love in all that you say and do.
Be at the right place at the right time.
Keep your voice heard so people look to you for advice and knowledge.
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ON Career Transitions
Q: I don’t feel like this topic is talked about enough in business news. Professionals get laid off, fired, resign or change careers all the time–which can obviously be a difficult transition at first. What was the hardest career transition in your life and how did you grow from it?
A: Nothing of value happens unless you take a leap into uncertainty – Collette Aboulkar Muscat – This is one of my favorite quotes of all times. I didn’t have a penny saved nor a business plan when I left Urban Zen to start my dream called Agent of Change. I just went for it and didn’t look back! The uncertainty of starting a new business was frightening to say the least, but the drive I had quelled any fears and reaffirmed my purpose. Today I know that I have the focus and strength within to surpass even my own expectations of self.
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ON Career Transitions
Q: Many people become discontent with their current career yet are too afraid or reluctant to make a change. What’s your best advice for women in this situation?
A: The only way you will be happy inside and out is if you find your true calling. I studied the Hoffman Process, which underscores this concept, and I find Tony Robbins and Kabbalah also use this idea of simple open thinking. You need to find your strengths, make a plan, and live out your dream. Success will follow!
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ON Mentoring
Q: Who has been your greatest mentor(s)?
A: Donna Karan’s ability to look beyond the surface of everyday reality and constantly think out of the box has been a guiding light for me since I was child.
The great filmmaker, Marc Levin, who I worked with for three years producing, publicizing and managing several documentary and indie films for, is also a source of inspiration. His gift of storytelling has landed him dozens of documentaries on HBO and other great networks.
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ON Mentoring
Q: If you had the opportunity to give advice to your younger self at say the age 13, what would you say?
A: Dear Rachel,
Trust yourself. Believe in yourself. Follow your instincts. Live out loud. Surround yourself with positive role models. Think things out thoroughly. Don’t look back.
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ON Starting Out
Q: If you had a young sister or a daughter who was a senior in college, anxious about landing her first job or unsure of what she wanted to do, what would your advice be to her?
A: Intern at a company that interests you. Get as much experience as possible but never sit still. Start with your breath every morning and stay in tune with your body throughout every day.
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ON Happiness
Q: What do you think is the key to happiness?
A: Inner peace.
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ON Happiness
Q: What simple things in life today bring you joy?
A: Yoga, meditation, friends and making other people smile.
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ON Happiness
Q: What are you most passionate about, and how do you incorporate it into your career or everyday life?
A: I always say that I’m so lucky that I don’t have a job; I have a passion that I get to fulfill everyday.
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ON Resilience
Q: Life is full of setbacks. Can you share an experience of one, and how you were able to bounce back?
A: In the summer of 2011, I was set to take my business to the next level of development. My dad fell ill and was in the hospital with 50-50 odds for survival. He lived, grew stronger and healthier, but I fell into a deep depression. Most of the people in my life know me as a positive person so it was shocking to feel myself lose my once firm grasp on happiness. I went to complete the Hoffman Process and after eight days of intensive therapy, I was better than I’d ever been, more myself than I could possibly be.
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ON Mistakes
Q: It is a common saying that we learn more from our mistakes than from our successes. Can you share a story about a time when you experienced a mistake, and how you eventually came out a winner because of the lesson it taught you?
A: At one particular event our step and repeat didn’t arrive from UPS. My client was furious, and on top of that I had to go on stage, act like nothing happened and introduce the event. My stomach was sick and I was in a foreign environment with this client’s negative energy being shot directly at me. There was a specific brand that paid big dollars to get their logo on the banner and it was a mess. Months later, I had another event that I knew some celebrities would be at and my then client allowed me to put that big bucks logo on their step and repeat. While it took months to get back in that original client’s good graces, in the end, everyone was happy.
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ON Letting go
Q: What do you do to unwind or disconnect?
A: Yoga! Meditation! Steam Room!
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ON Taking Risk
Q: How do you overcome feelings of insecurity, fear or discomfort when deciding to take a risk?
A: Meditate and find positive alternatives to these negative feelings before the day even begins.
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ON Giving Back
Q: What cause(s) have you chosen to support and why does it resonate with you?
A: I live and breathe the Urban Zen Foundation’s three areas of focus – empowering children, preserving cultures and advancing integrative healthcare. These three themes truly help craft the clients I’ve had and the events I’ve produced. I am ever thankful to Donna Karan for inspiring me.
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ON Confidence
Q: Oprah has that great section in her magazine “What I know for sure.” What do you know for sure?
A: Morning meditation practice steers the rest of the day.
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ON Health
Q: What are the top 3 things that you do to stay healthy?
A: Gluten free, dairy free diet
Yoga + meditation
Never drink alcohol on the job -
ON Health
Q: In theory, one should prioritize their own health in order to be in the best state to take care of others (family, kids, work, etc.). But in reality, I’ve found that women often take care of themselves last. What are your thoughts on this?
A: It’s been a constant struggle of mine, too. I try everyday to make myself better at this.
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ON Travel
Q: In the world, what are your three favorite destinations?
A: Israel, North Carolina, Santorini
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ON Travel
Q: In the world, what are your three favorite places to get lost?
A: Hiking trails, parks, beaches
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ON Travel
Q: In the world, what are your three favorite places to shop?
A: Target, holistic stores, Gucci
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ON Travel
Q: In the world, what are your three favorite restaurants?
A: Bar Pitti, Nobu, Uncle Nicks Greek Kitchen
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ON Books
Q: If you were to write a book, what would it be about?
A: I am writing Agent Of Change: How To Rise Everyday And Believe You Can Make The World A Better Place (working title)
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ON Beauty
Q: What are the beauty items you could not live without?
A: Young Living Essential Oils – Rose Oil, Peacekeeper Cause-metics Rose Lip Balm, Jo Malone Rose Body Soap and Lotion – I love roses J
How has this interview inspired you?