When were you at Kellett? Do you remember any particular teachers?
Cruz: I was there from 1992 to 1999. I remember so many teachers, if not all of them! Mrs Anderson, Mrs Anglesey, Mr Miller, Mr Marshall, Mrs Gadbury, Mrs Krieger, Mrs White (nee Goddard), Mrs Greenaway, Mrs Brown, Mrs Lomas, Mrs Steer—and a dozen other faces I’d spot in a crowd a mile away!
Ellie: I was at Kellett from 1994 to 2001. I also remember most of my teachers: Mrs Lewis, Mrs Feeney, Mrs Sheward, Mr Kelly, Mr Marshall, Mrs Preston. 

What do you remember most about your time at Kellett and are you in touch with any other OKs? 
Cruz: I remember playing with hoses on the playground, the excitement of sitting waiting to start a school play, singing my heart out in assembly, finding a quiet corner in the library, the pride of showing my parents the various papier-mâché creations I’d cobbled together displayed in the foyer. I am in touch with a few other OKs; whenever I come across any, I am always so happy to reconnect.
Ellie: Getting into costume and having my face painted for school plays, taking home Salt and Pepper the guinea pigs for sleepovers, singalongs in assembly and in class with Mr Kelly and his guitar (he’s the reason I know the lyrics to Sweet Caroline!), trips to Wah Fu, P6 Survivor Camp (I was voted ‘Girl Survivor’ and won’t let my family forget it.) 

What have you done since leaving Kellett?
Ellie: I went to South Island School, finished secondary school in New Zealand and then went to university at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand where I also did an exchange to Leeds University. After graduating with a BA Triple Major in Asian Studies, Art History and Religious Studies, I moved to Beijing. I worked as a television presenter on all types of shows, from food to travel, and even tai chi.
Cruz: I also went to South Island School, then did a couple of years at a school in Auckland, New Zealand, before going to Victoria University in Wellington New Zealand to complete a BA Double Major in International Relations and Classical Studies, and an MA in Creative Writing. While I was studying, I was a stand-up comedian and a caregiver for people with multiple severe disabilities. I also worked in magazine publishing and public relations after I graduated. It didn’t take long for me to come back to Hong Kong, where I worked in branding and advertising, at RTHK Radio 3, and then founded The Quick Word Company with Ellie in 2013. 

What led you to start The Quick Word Company?
Cruz: I do my best writing when I have someone else to bounce ideas off and collaborate with. I recognised I needed someone else to reign in my creative flourish and keep me on task! I had a vision for an agency that specialised in creative copywriting and told Ellie about it. She picked up the idea and was really the one who put it into action. We wanted to deliver a personal, communicative, and creative service for content creation— putting the poetry and power of great words into the hearts of brands and businesses. 

Is Hong Kong your home for the foreseeable future?
Ellie: Yes, it has always been home. There is always something else to experience, new opportunities, people to meet, creative ideas to share. My husband also grew up here, and we love to show our son all the things we enjoyed growing up, too.
Cruz: Absolutely. I love this city so much I can’t quite put it into words. I met my husband here, my daughter started her life here—it’s an extension of who I am. 

What advice would you give our students who are interested in pursuing an editorial career?
Cruz: Write, write, write. And then take a deep breath, go back, and re-write. Try to be critical about why you like something you read, pick up books about copywriting and think about the mechanics of language. Stay curious and never stop learning.
Ellie: Yes, the more curious you are, the better your writing. Also be clear about your objectives from the beginning—it’s the difference between writing for writing’s sake and being able to write to support businesses.