Maryland Women-Owned Business series - July

As a small business, I love supporting, recognizing, and connecting with other female entrepreneurs out there in the community. And as a mompreneur myself, I know how hard they work for themselves, their families, and their clients. They are each vital influencers of people all around you. I’d like to give some recognition to a few ladies who work hard every day, in the hopes of making a connection to someone that needs their services. We appreciate you more than you know, and we’re so proud to feature your business. We will be highlighting one business per month for the entire year of 2019!

Introducing the seventh interview in our Maryland women-owned businesses series……  

name: GOLD SIGNATURE WRITERS
owner: Rachel Gold Cederbaum
years in business: 10
where can we find you?: www.goldsignaturewriters.com
You can also find Rachel on Facebook and Instagram

Rachel's company empowers students to discover their voice and signature style. She offers private academic coaching, tutoring and consistent communication to ensure students' specific learning goals are achieved. Rachel designs lessons to cater to individual students' strengths, development areas, and interests. She wants to make sure your child works smarter and builds confidence! This is a fantastic program so be sure to keep reaching to learn more about Rachel and Gold Signature Writers!

1. What is the name of your company, and what product or service do you provide?

My company name is Gold Signature Writers, which is a throwback to my maiden name (Gold) and my professional name as a teacher for the first decade of my teaching career. I am a writing and academic coach and I work with private school students during their study hall periods as well as public school students after school and in the evenings. I also offer college essay workshops over the summer for groups of friends. Students write their common app and coalition essays with their closest friends before the stress of senior year. I was inspired to run college essay workshops in groups of four/five friends because of my closest friends from high school who have helped shape me into who I am today. I believe the social dynamic greatly enhances the personal narrative. Lastly, I offer supplemental essay packages to support students throughout the stressful and time-consuming college essay writing marathon.

2. What made you choose this type of business, and/or how did you get your idea or concept for the business?

I love teaching. I always have believed that the cliche is true for me, it is my “calling”. My kids are very young, 1 and 3, and I wanted to spend some time with them during the day as well as do what I love in the afternoon and evenings. I created Gold Signature Writers to work with students privately as well as create miniature classrooms offering college essays workshops. I enjoy working with groups of friends because they have fun creating their essays alongside their closest friends and I have fun working with them. I love learning their stories, their ups and downs, from those who know them best. As a coach, I get to empower my students to find their voice and “signature” style as well as offer mindfulness and organizational strategies to help them reach their full potential and gain confidence as young adults. 

3. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?

This is an easy question for me to answer. My children and my husband motivate me to get out of bed every single day (they wake me up, literally and figuratively). 

4. What is a skill you’d like to learn and why?

 would love to learn how to meditate. I think it can be a calming force to learn how to shut off the endless cycle of to-do lists and stress and just be in the moment. I help my students with mindfulness strategies to alleviate their anxiety about upcoming assignments and exams and I think is a helpful strategy for all of us to remain present with family, friends, and work.

5. What is your favorite quote?

I used this quote in my own college essay that I wrote about my junior year English teacher, Karl Decker. He had a profound effect on my life and career. He came to my wedding many years later and has remained a invaluable mentor since graduating high school.

“To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. “ - Ralph Waldo Emerson(1803 - 1882) American Essayist & Poet