Raquel’s most emotional moments seem to be when she’s sitting on an airplane. Seated comfortably (or not so comfortably, depending on the airline) in her own allotted space, this is a time when her mind is her own. It’s a time when her thoughts stir and occur, digest and contest, review and renew. It’s also a time of change, an element in life of which Raquel has quite the penchant for. Whether it was the seven year-old, toothy-grinned kid en route to Vancouver from Bangkok, about to start a new life in the west, or the starry-eyed 18 year-old teenager on her first flight to Boston to begin college, or, most recently, the ambitious but somewhat frightened “young lady” jetting across the world to Beijing – one thing remained constant. These moments of symbolic and physical transition were when she felt most alive.
| Certain moments in life make you think, Aha! Raquel can safely say that her first genuinely proud moment in her entire life did not happen when she won first place swimming butterfly style at her school race at age six, nor did it occur when she got accepted to a dream university in Boston, it happened here in Beijing, at exactly 11:25 am on a humid August morning. This was the moment when Raquel received the news that she would be hosting Culture Express for CCTV News. Suddenly, something cosmic was in the air, and as she breathed it in, she knew that this was a feeling that no airplane ride would ever top. |
What has Raquel learned so far on this ride we call life? Miracles happen. Savor all emotions, they are all beautiful. Cherish your relationships, treat them with care. And do what you love.
| Born in Los Angeles, Raquel grew up in Perth, Hong Kong and Bangkok before spending the majority of her childhood in Vancouver, Canada. She later graduated from Boston University with a Bachelors degree in Advertising. She currently resides in Beijing, China where she spent her first year studying Mandarin at Beijing Normal University, before she carried on as a weather woman for CCTV News. She now hosts, reports, and edits for Culture Express, a job she feels blessed to have. |
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Raquel Olssen’s LinkedIn profile:
TV Host for Culture Express
CCTV News International
September 2011 – Present (11 months)
Daily live studio evening show, bringing you the latest news in the world of international arts and culture.
TV Weather Reporter
CCTV News International
September 2010 – September 2011 (1 year 1 month)
Reporting daily world weather forecasts to an international audience
Customer Insight Intern
New Look
October 2008 – December 2008 (3 months)
Extracted and analyzed key customer insights from forum activity on company online marketing and community platform.
Wrote daily fashion news articles for website.
Researched and wrote fashion section of monthly e-newsletter.
Compiled daily, weekly, and monthly insight reports, and one cumulative report that was passed to VP Marketing.
Account Planning Intern, Infiniti account
TBWA\Chiat\Day
January 2008 – May 2008 (5 months)
Developed in-depth understanding of emotional appeals used to brand high-involvement product (luxury car).
Created detailed consumer profiles exploring psychological desires and self definition in relation to one’s car.
Dissected key social trends – the redefinition of traditional luxury as “green luxury” and its implications for Infiniti.
Built visual image and word association maps illustrating campaign concepts used for client pitches.
Used consumer and trend research to brainstorm themes and concepts for client pitches.
Prime Time Programming Marketing Intern
ABC Television
January 2008 – May 2008 (5 months)
Created online marketing ideas for Desperate Housewives, Miss Guided, and Life On Mars.
Researched customer insights on shows, network, viewing habits, and new multi-platform website.
Took part in weekly VP-level meetings featuring project updates for each show and the new ABC brand campaign.
Merchandiser Trainee
Li & Fung Limited
June 2007 – August 2007 (3 months)
Trained to work between clients and factories to merchandise a vast variety of soft and hard goods.
In-depth learning of company’s supply chain model, from product development stage to shipping stage.
Raquel Olsson’s Education
Boston University
Advertising, Communications
2005 – 2009
Activities and Societies: Boston University Ad Club (Creative Director), Students Against Human Trafficking (Secretary and Head of Marketing), BU Entertainment Promotions & Advertising class (Teaching Assistant)