Passionately Striving in “Why”: an anthology of women who persevere mightily to live their purpose
About the book
In a world ever awakening to higher consciousness and heightened awareness of our planet’s tender interdependence, we find ourselves amid the COVID pandemic. We live in a time when 85% of the global workforce is not engaged in their ideal occupation, and there is a palpable and urgent hunger for meaning and purpose across our life spans. People are yearning to tune in to their unique internal reason for being, desperately seeking ways to matter. In this collection of stories, from Australia to Zambia, women of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and areas of influence share their paths to discovering their purpose, finding ways to express their gifts, and in doing so, making contributions that better the world. In sharing these stories, we invite you on the journey to discover, honour and express your unique purpose. The world sorely needs your gifts, and you will be rewarded with unparalleled fulfilment. The time is now.
About the curator
Dr Alise Cortez is the chief purpose officer at Alise Cortez and Associates management consulting) and chief ignition officer at Gusto, Now! (a multi-lingual e-learning platform offering well-being and leadership development courses). She is also an inspirational speaker, social scientist, author, and host of the Working on Purpose radio show. Having developed her expertise within the human capital/organisational excellence industry over the last 20 years, she is focused on helping companies, leaders, and individuals across the globe to live with “gusto” and make the most of their one, precious life. She is the author of Purpose Ignited: How Inspiring Leaders Unleash Passion and Elevate Cause, and the Curator of Passionately Striving in “Why”: An Anthology of Women Who Persevere Mightily to Live Their Purpose.
Some of the authors
Many people in the oncology space would know of or about Salomé Meyer, an independent cancer advocate for the last 25 years. She is currently the Project Manager for the Cancer Alliance’s Access to Medicine campaign and the force behind access to trastuzumab for breast cancer patients, lenalidomide for multiple myeloma, the Access to Cancer Medicines report published in May 2021 and more recently the bendamustine campaign focusing on patent reform.
A medical social worker by training, extensive experience in community development working with communities for affective change, she made a courageous decision to give up her permanent paid job more than 25 years ago to take on the challenge of advocating for equitable cancer care after the death of a close friend and mentor at the age of 37 from breast cancer.
Imagine being mis-diagnosed with tuberculosis of the lymph-nodes only to learn later that it’s actually cancer. Then what do you do when there is no specialised cancer hospital in your country to treat your disease? At the age of 23, Udie Soko found herself in this situation. Now in her 50s, Udie candidly shares how she overcame cancer twice.
Undeterred by the complexities of cancer care, Udie explains why she set up the Zambian Cancer Society and how it is positively impacting cancer patients and their caregivers irrespective of age, gender or type of cancer.
Benda Kithaka is a health advocate and author based in Kenya. When Alise invited Benda to join the group of women who feature in this anthology, she was elated yet at the same time scared. Elated because she always wanted to write a book; scared because many anthologies she has read are about phenomenal people doing extraordinary things. What she kept asking herself was what if her story isn’t as inspirational and what does she have to offer that could possibly impact others in this way? Only now in retrospection, does she see that this was an invitation not only to tell her truth, but an honour to do so amidst other amazing women who are waking up daily and living purposefully. And that in itself is enough reason. Benda is convinced now more than ever that this book will inspire others, and give permission – so to speak – to live fully, to make a difference, to be alive to their purpose. Her hope is not only for you to read it, but also recommend it to anyone seeking inspiration to live their truth.