1. Rachel Bagby
Biography
Singer. Composer. Artist. Poet. Author. Entrepreneur. Motivational speaker. Leadership
trainer. Social activist. Attorney. Woman. Rachel Bagby is a woman who wears many hats,
and each one of them fits her perfectly. But it’s her inner musical voice that guides her
through life, a gift she chooses to share with everyone she can, from global leaders to social
activists.
Rachel comes from four generations of musicians, and witnessed its healing powers as a
young child – her father used it as a way to overcome his heroin addiction. At seven years
old and already a member of her church’s senior choir, Rachel convinced her musician
father to join her and cure his addiction through song. He did and it worked.
“The power of music can saves lives,” says Rachel. “It enriches lives and helps to shape
communities and families.”
Rachel, who describes herself as a “designated singer,” uses her vocal gifts to help inform,
inspire and support others through her work. She regularly composes and performs for
various non-profit organizations, such as women’s groups and community leaders. Her
music gives energy to a social cause or political campaign and provides the speakers with
that extra “oomph” they need to get their message out. For Rachel, this type of work is
much more interesting and fulfilling than performing on stage to a crowd of adoring fans.
An important component of Rachel’s work as a singer is to use her voice and connection to
song to create a transformative change in the world’s most innovative leaders. As a co-
facilitator at The Rockwood Leadership Institute, Rachel helps provide the leaders of large,
international corporations with the inspiration and strength to become better, more
effective leaders. She helps amplify the voices of those who give voices to millions of people
around the world. Rachel has trained executives from companies such as moveon.org and
the NAACP, as well as leaders of labor unions and environmental organizations.
Rachel’s program translates their aspirational goals into a celebration and ceremony of
their own power mantra. She begins by defining their goal, turning it in to a lyric and then
finding the music to move it out of the idea phase. By using song, the idea becomes an
affirmation and a celebration of that idea. And then, as the entire group sings the
individual’s idea, the power of group song takes over.
“They might say ‘I stand for courage and compassion,’” says Rachel. “And then we create a
song or chant that gives their nervous system that feedback and I see how they react to the
music. Do they freeze in terror? Their reaction matches the skills they need to develop in
order to bring forth their vision. It brings the voice back in, and I stand to their right side

2. and direct the energy in the room to help give them their voice back. But it’s not just
helping them find their individual voice – it’s also about helping the community lend each
other their voices so they learn how to amplify their voices in the global sphere.”
“My joy is to be in the midst of giving birth to whatever is new,” Rachel explains. “I help
them leverage that as to what will help millions of people.”
For Rachel, the power of singing can reclaim and enrich lives. In fact, it can save lives. To
produce your own music through your body, your voice and your relationship with air,
creates endorphins that are the equivalent to producing your own nutrient, what Rachel
calls Vitamin S. Rachel has witnessed the euphoric changes that occur through song and she
believes that if everyone could strongly connect to singing and understand what it does for
their mind and body, then illegal substances used to alter our consciousness would not be
so prevalent because, Rachel asks, “who would need them?”
A former lawyer who practiced everything from intellectual property to environmental
law, Rachel has been called upon during conflicts to help ease the tension and resolve
issues. To do so, she uses her voice. She has found that the power of song can also be used
to break the bickering.
“My high pitched soprano voice hushes people up because you just can’t think through
that,” she explains. “It’s really handy to know how to use your voice. I’ve rarely checked it at
the door.”
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