Member Spotlight: Susanne Tedrick

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? I think that writing can help to not only inform, but to motivate and inspire. When writing about subjects like diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), it can seem daunting, overwhelming, and that the work that still needs to be done is a Herculean task. That said, writing can also help to illustrate the success stories, the progress, and realization of hope that many organizations have experienced in their efforts.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? Talking to others. I know that sometimes when I get stuck inside my own head and thoughts, talking to a good mentor or friend – even a stranger – helps me to reframe an issue I was struggling with or perhaps finding the blocker that’s keeping me from writing.

What is your favorite time to write? Very early in the morning. It’s the time when I have the most energy, the most thoughts and ideas, and the least encumbered with the demands of the day from others.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? I still contend that it’s William Zinsser’s advice in “On Writing Well”, in that it is important to write the book that you want to read, and not for others. While it is important to make a non-fiction book as relatable as possible, it is impossible to please and cater to everyone. Writing a book that you would want to read is important.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? With the advancements made in artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT and Bard, I think it presents many opportunities for writers, and I am excited to see how writers incorporate AI in their writing practice.

Susanne Tedrick’s Innovating for Diversity: Lessons from Top Companies Achieving Business Success through Inclusivity, co-written with Bertina Ceccarelli is out now with Wiley.