Portrait of a Lady: An Interview with Lise Jinnah, Administrator of World Wide Women and independent CEO

“As you live Deeper in the Heart, the Mirror gets clearer and cleaner.” ― Rumi

Lise Jinnah is CEO of her own company, an adminstrator at World Wide Women, a group dedicated to empowering women around the world and promoting gender equality on a global scale. She is also a loving mother and wife, a world traveler, an entrepreneur, and an intelligent, sensitive soul. Lise's love of family and love of humanity are as innate to her as living deep in the heart, as Rumi, one of her favorite poet's wrote, and her reflection in the mirror is indeed beautiful, clean and clear.

I recently was able to do an interview with this wonderful lady:

...

Where were you born and what is one of your most vivid of childhood memories?

I was born in Dublin in 1970. My most vivid childhood memory is of a picnic by a local canal, with my parents and our dog, soft plaid picnic blankets, rolling clouds in the sky, parents laughing,gentle Irish sunshine and lily pads , with Irish butter layered on home made Irish bread cucumber & smoked salmon sandwiches...lapping water and fresh Summer grass scenting the air and tickling my face.

.

What did your mother and father, grandmother, grandfather do? Did you ever desire to do that?

Mother: Interior Designer and professional artist, she painted thoroughbred racehorses and local scenery.
Father:(Passed away) Chartered banker
Stepdad: Stone mason
Grandmother : Socialite and Prima ballerina in Irish ballet company
Grandfather : Socialite,Store owner , Interior Designer
I enjoyed art but may have been immersed in it too much during my childhood as I developed a love of science and nature.

.

As a child, who was your hero? Has that stayed the same? What changed it? Who is your hero now?

My Mum was and always will be my hero... she battled horendous cancer , kept and loved me a brown baby out of wedlock, was disowned by her family and society and never lost her sweet gentle nature and laughing personality. She put food on the table and gave me love, independence and courage.

.

If there was one piece of advice that you wish you had listened to as a child, what piece of advice was it? Why?

I wish I had studied instead of rebelling against authority.

.

What is your current occupation and where do you hope to see yourself career-wise in 5 years?

Currently CEO of a health and home care business with one store and one online website. Retired from Psychology but considering doing a Doctorate next year.I would like to have my Doctorate in Psychological or Neuro Science.

.

What cultivated your interest in World Wide Women? Was it a friend, a situation?

Ruth (Bech) had an idea.. a noble idea... a badly needed one... one that could really be effective and help in a practical way...

.

How would you define what you hope to see achieved by feminism? or what is your definition of feminism?

Feminism has evolved as a concept to me concurrently I feel it is the advocation of equal rights for all genders.
Eradication of systemic gender bias and oppression is the penultimate aspiration of Feminism as far as I am concerned.

.

What is your favorite sound?

My husbands voice.

.

What is your least favorite sound?

Animals or people in distress.

.

What do you hope people will say about you when you are gone? (What do you hope your legacy to the world will be?)

That our children are a gift to society not a hindrance.
That I tried to do some good and appreciated the beautiful spirit of humanity.
That those in my care knew they were loved.\"

4/15/13