{{Thirty-Fourth in the Real People as Entrepreneurs Series}}

Rachel Morrison exudes intelligence and humanity.  It’s really that simple.  She’s a rare combination: A maven for Operations and a philosophical leader at once.  She is as conversant with Literature as she is with co-running an award-winning marketing and strategy agency.

As Director of Operations for Ashby & Gabriel, Morrison traverses the back end (systems) and the front end (customers) with ease.  Fast-growing companies require a blend of specialization and general skills, as ambiguity defines the ethos.  Rinse and repeat sounds good in theory but it rarely makes for great work in the marketing space.  Morrison not only understands that, but she also lives it.  In my own interactions with her, she changes altitudes with aplomb, but never in the process gives up her curiosity and inherent humility.

Marketing agencies have to bridge what appear to be disparate worlds.  On the one hand, they have to be “operationally tight” which is a fancy way of saying that they must manage both revenue and costs with a keen eye.  At the same time, they have to offer dreams- of success and bigness to their prospects and clients.  Great agency people do both and can optimize without sacrificing either.  So it is with Rachel Morrison.

Her colleagues tell me she is a joy to work with.  Perhaps the biggest joy, however, is hearing her talk about parenting and about her social goals, which are profound.  Uplifting others is core to her mission, and she does so on the daily.