Rachel Samuel: Aroma and Taste of Success

Returning to her birthplace, Addis Ababa, about seven years ago, Rachel Samuel was brewing a collective of her gifts and interests:  photography, film-making, growing coffee and intuitive coaching.

The energetic, creative being reflects on how her father, a very hard worker, and her extremely kind and generous mother have a great impact on her life.  Rachel has two brothers and two sisters, and is the last sibling after her twin brother.  It was a tough childhood, her womb-mate born with cerebral palsy; it was very trying for the family.  Still, the love felt from those born with cerebral palsy is something Rachel expresses with a joyful heart.  They are here solely, “…to really nurture the family…to really love the family,” said Rachel.  “LOVE NURTURES.”  With this understanding and the countless experiences of life, Rachel encourages all to, “Change your thought about your reality.”

Rachel’s parents helped her become, “…With the good, the bad, and the ugly…,” and she cherishes that.  Rachel “grew up very quickly” because at age 13 half of the family, including her mother, moved to the U.S.  She believes this became the opportunity to step into her power as she took care of home.

Rachel feels lucky about her educational path and her upbringing.  She attended a French school, and when she was told to repeat 7th grade her father resisted.  He said his daughter was and should remain smart, not shy, and confident.  Rachel had always talked politics and a range of topics with her father.  He took her out of the school to test into I.C.S.  Based on her high scores, the bold, young lady went from the 7th grade to 9th!  The huge chance her father took in believing in her and listening to himself—this one experience—changed Rachel’s views…and life…immensely.  She is eternally grateful.  “My life is pretty much like a miracle!  The universe was very kind.”

Eventually living again with her mother, Rachel was in New Orleans for seven years.  She studied Business & Marketing, and met a lady while working in a shoe store:  her mentor.  This woman helped her be who she is today, Rachel said, as she continuously nudged her to step up and reach her potential.  Rachel dove into the marketing and advertising world, her first account being the famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.  Then she headed west, continuing her advertising journey for about three years.  “I was really good!” she affirms.   Rachel’s accounts included international companies.

A memorable moment was when she was handed a black American Express card to entertain clients, being told she can rent anything, even a helicopter, but not to go outside the U.S.  She recalls thinking:  I made it—if this is “it.”  She was in San Francisco living a successful, comfortable life—and it was to some extent—but remembers thinking: Shouldn’t I be happy?  Immediately thereafter, Rachel came to Ethiopia for six weeks.  Her twin, who especially at the time did not say much, asked if she was happy.  His observation caused what she recalls as an explosion in her brain.  Rachel couldn’t sleep that night. She quit her job upon her return.

When Rachel decided photography was her calling, she realized she also wanted to learn her way—not a traditional classroom.  She was referred to Mark Leet, a professional photographer, who took her under his wings.  Rachel is always very open to life and to miracles, and she met her soul mate as her new work adventure was aligning with her will.  While temping in addition to photography in those days, she met Adam Overton, a marketing professional who swept her off her feet when he took her to a blues concert.  After two decades—they got married 15 years ago—the couple compliments each other like new lovers.  They have one son, Gabriel.

As a film maker, Rachel worked on several projects including documentaries on musician Asnakech Worku and Haile Selassie, and documenting the story of coffee in film and photography for the government of Ethiopia’s intellectual property fight.  It was then that the couple decided to work on their own farm.  They researched, traveled to Panama for an intensive course, hiked, picked, processed, cupped and tasted coffee with an expert.  She still remembers the flavor.

A Q-Grader, Rachel is owner and marketing director of Gesha Village Coffee Estate with Adam, owner and general manager.  “We grew together,” she said of her partner.  All vital decisions are made together.  Gesha was established about nine years ago.  There are 10 employees in the office, about 80 permanent employees and about 800 temporary.   Gesha, a type of variety of coffee, is exported worldwide through this establishment, the founders having tasted their coffee for the first time three years after starting the farm.  Rachel also works as an intuitive coach internationally.

Rachel’s philosophy of life is to follow one’s heart, one’s passion, one’s truth, and fight for that.  This is most likely where and how you will be happy and create success in your life, she said. Rachel sees beauty in everything!  She sees it expressed in the coffee…in the land…in photography and film.  Seeing beauty in everyone is how Rachel approaches coaching.  She focuses on elevating that “enough-ness,” sees people as a potential to explore.

Accomplishments Rachel is proud of include being an exceptional photographer; she knows how to capture the essence of people, and that is applied in her knowledge and gift of coaching.

Rachel’s role models are those perfectly imperfect people who care about others, like her brother and her father-in-law.  She is also inspired by people who work with intent.  “…Everyone who does everything in the highest truth!”  Vianna Sinbal, founder of Theta Healing, made a huge impact on Rachel and taught her to connect to the power within.

The majority of Gesha Village Coffee Estate’s employees are women, and giving back to the community has naturally been part of the company’s culture.  Gesha has also built a fully equipped school.  Upon discovering the women in the community being treated as second-class citizens, Rachel vowed changing the status quo.  Thankfully the community, being very open to reflect on itself and believing in dialogue to reason diverse ideas, accepted her demand for better treatment.  Rachel said that was a proud moment— helping change the CONCIOUSNESS OF SOCIETY.  Knowledge-sharing is at the core of the company, and the team teaches other farmers how to grow quality coffee.  Rather than viewing them as competitors, they invite visitors to go over the processes.  While it may require one to be daring to share such information, Rachel said she truly believes THERE IS PLENTY FOR EVERYONE.  ABUNDANCE IS ABUNANT!

What does this busy woman do in her spare time?  Boxing.  Traveling.  Yoga.  She is most grateful for waking up every day.  Rachel loves family—all the extended kinfolks— who she is, and what she does.  She is grateful she can ask something and her heart answers.  There is always a way to understand why/how something is the way it is… it is about accountability, she said.  “Why did I create this reality?  How does it serve me?  What am I learning from it?”

Yes, Rachel feels she is a leader…in every aspect of life!  She enjoys leading.  When you elevate people, you see the light in them.  It’s like fitting the jigsaw puzzle; the engine fails when a part is missing.  Rachel said by identifying strengths, she can see how and where individuals “fit.”  And for a woman to be a leader, she doesn’t have to put others down, she added.

To the younger generation, Rachel shares:  Follow your heart.  Do what you love…what you are passionate about.  Trust in the Universe—it is always ready to support you.  Trust in the magic of life.  Who are you and what do you want?  Follow that—authentically. 

Rachel joined AWiB recently as a member, but she is no stranger.  When her Asnakech Worku film “Asni” was shown years back, AWiB hosted.  Just as the film’s star, the association’s members Rachel encountered were strong and independent.  She says she is drawn to that energy and we do not have enough of it.  Acknowledging achievements of Ethiopian women, AWiB reminds us we can help evolve our society if we are confident in ourselves.

Visit Geshavillage.com and rachelsamuel.com

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