Welcome to our world of storytelling and learning about the power of language.
Apple magic
We believe in the magic of stories and words. Our apple logo was designed specifically as a powerful symbol that links our creativity to knowledge. The apple symbolism is found in many aspects of life: education (apple for the teacher), in health (an apple a day keeps the doctor away), and in technology (Steve Job’s story about the Apple Mac).
Furthermore, the apple has featured in many stories.
Who can forget the most famous story about Adam and Eve where the apple instigated the fall of innocence? Young readers are spell-bound when Snow White goes to sleep after biting a poisonous apple. In American folklore, Johnny Appleseed is a folk hero who travelled across the United States, planting apple trees and spreading the symbolism of the apple as a source of sustenance and growth.
Just as the apple has symbolised knowledge, wisdom, and growth throughout history, The Word Company harnesses the power of language and storytelling to inspire, connect, and transform.
Whether you’re looking to share your brand’s journey or to develop your team’s written communication, we’re here to help you plant the creative seeds for your organisation.
Our values: The 5Cs for Success
- Creativity: providing creative solutions rather than copy-and-paste methodologies
- Credibility: skills, knowledge, and experience produce results
- Community: putting ‘human’ into business based on a collective culture
- Commitment: remaining focused until ‘The End’
- Consistency: to constantly maintain our core values.
Story of The Word Company Founder
Working life for The Word Company founder, Ulrike Hill, started as an English teacher that expanded into the corporate world as a marketing and sales manager. In 2010, Ulrike took the plunge and started to freelance as a ghostwriter, manuscript appraiser, and editor. Ulrike decided to maximise her experience, knowledge, and academic skills into a writing and story-telling business which led to the birth of The Word Company in 2017.
Ulrike has written numerous books and has assisted corporates to write their brand stories. Her writing support service, Pushing Boulders, with poet and philanthropist, Athol Williams, made it to the number four top-seller list at Exclusive Books in December 2016. She co-authored Debbie Calitz: 20 Months of Hostage Hell (Penguin) and is the author of Tackling the Brickwall (Crink), a non-fiction book about schoolboy rugby in South Africa.
Ulrike has also written academic content for the Department of Higher Education textbooks and is a contracted writer for Pearson Publishing. Together with her team of writers, The Word Company offers written communication workshops as well as stories and written content for organisations.
Lecturing Communication Science, Media Studies, and facilitating Specialised Writing workshops part-time at Vega School of Branding provides Ulrike with time in the real world away from her laptop.
Ulrike relaxes by cycling, watching rugby or persuading her family to cook dinner.
Qualifications
- HDipEd: English and Remedial Education (1985)
- BA: Communications and English (2006)
- BA Honours: English and Media (2017)
- BA Masters: Media Studies (2022)
- Gender Beyond the Classroom An analysis of gender representation in grade 2 prescribed reading books and language usage in the classroom.
Registered memberships:
- South African Council of Educators (SACE)
- Public Relations Institute of South Africa (PRISA)
All about Shayna Josi
Shayna has a lifelong passion for creative writing and storytelling. Her love of stories and the truth they reveal about people has taken her on a journey from South Africa to Japan, where she taught high-school English for four years.
As a part of her commitment to developing ideas and critical thinking, Shayna took part in building a Global Seminar Programme in collaboration with the Ibaraki Prefectural office and the United Nations University in Tokyo. The programme prepped high school students from Ibaraki Prefecture to attend presentations on worldwide innovations on sustainability and equality conducted in English.
Shayna returned to South Africa in 2018 to continue her education in English and literature. She works as a copywriter, novelist, and video games journalist.
Qualifications
- BA: Motion Picture Production (2014)
- BA Honours: English (2021)
All about Claudia Brittoe
Claudia is highly motivated and driven to succeed at any project she undertakes or goal she sets for herself. Effective communication and interpersonal skills are important to her as a disciplined team member. Her eagerness to learn and the ability to adapt to pressure to find solutions to challenges, as well as diligence, have been her success factors in the work environment.
Claudia’s experience within the Public Relations Sector over a period spanning 21 years has provided many positive character references from satisfied clients, facilitators, and vendors. Marketing and coordinating the Accredited Skills Development Courses for many years is testament to her abilities to:
- Identifying client requirements
- Provide knowledge of existing course content, standards & norms
- Upskill and develop new content to the needs of clients
- Liaison with all stakeholders.
As a self-starter, Claudia can work independently as well as to work within a team. She is happiest providing and maintaining great relationships with clients, colleagues, vendors, and facilitators. Integrity and trust are important to Claudia and, therefore, her expectations are that this will be reciprocated within any relationship: personal or business.
Claudia’s motto: my word is my bond!
Note: Claudia is a freelance administrator and is assisting the TWC Team with workshop bookings.