Rebecca Morris

Digital Leader and Head of Media Studies at City and Islington Sixth Form College

I don’t think I realised beforehand just how big an impact the Women on a Mission programme would have on my life.

When I was first introduced to Sarah, I thought she was brilliant – I came away feeling so inspired just from that initial conversation. When she showed me the outline of the programme, my immediate thought was, ’This is just what I need’.

I was at a point in my career where I felt as though I was stuck on a treadmill, so I saw it as an opportunity for me to stop, take stock and reflect. Life is so busy for me, as it is for so many women, but Women on a Mission gave me the opportunity to set time aside to do something for myself. It’s been wonderful.

I arrived on this journey thinking it was all about work, but the course has actually taught me to think in a totally different way and I’ve used those skills in multiple different aspects of my life. Everyone has noticed the change – from my work colleagues and my running group, to my friends and family – all because I’ve been doing a lot of work on myself and how I react to situations.

My initial question was, ‘Do I need to do something different with my life?’ Thanks to Women on a Mission, what I’ve actually realised is that I love what I do – and I’m good at it.

I understand now that I’m doing the right job in the wrong place. That’s the big takeaway for me, and it all came from working on truly understanding my values and then recognising that they don’t tie with where I am at the moment.

I arrived on this journey thinking it was all about work, but the course has actually taught me to think in a totally different way and I’ve used those skills in multiple different aspects of my life. Everyone has noticed the change.

Who would I recommend Women on a Mission to? I’m tempted to say everyone, because I think there’s so much in it. It’s such a rich, brilliantly structured course. I think everyone would get something out of it.

I think it’s particularly useful for women who are feeling a little bit stuck and seeking direction, perhaps someone who is juggling a lot or someone whose confidence has taken a bit of a hit. I was definitely in that position: feeling like I used to be a really confident person and that I lost it somewhere along the way.

Thanks to the course, my confidence has returned, along with the understanding that success doesn’t mean promotion after promotion. It’s alright if you don’t want to just keep climbing the ladder and go all the way to the top. Once I realised that, I thought, ‘Actually, I’m confident in what I’m doing. I don’t need to go higher.’

Another brilliant thing about Women on a Mission has been sharing the whole experience with the other women on the course. There has been a great WhatsApp group, as well as shared resources and reading. We check in with each other, carrying on those conversations we started in the sessions.

I actually think the online nature of this course has allowed for a more open conversation. When we go into breakout rooms, it’s with just one or two other people. I really feel like I got to know everybody on the course, which has been absolutely wonderful. A lot of my lightbulb moments – and there have been quite a few – have come out of those small group discussions.

The other women in the group have been so important. We all come from quite diverse backgrounds in terms of what we do and where we are, but we have got a shared set of values and a shared goal – and that has worked so well. I came to the course looking for direction, and it was the opportunity to talk with all these wonderful women that actually helped me make the first steps on that journey.

I feel a little bit sad already that the course is going to come to an end, because actually I enjoyed getting to know everybody so much. And I think we all feel that we want, in some form or another, to keep going.

I would describe Women on a Mission as collaborative; reflective; safe. A hugely positive experience.