Executive Unplugged: Keisha Raymond-Doopan – Former Communications Co-Chair

Keisha Raymond-Doopan served as the communications co-chair on the Editors Toronto executive committee from 2023 to 2026. We wanted to get to know her better and find out more about her experience as a volunteer.

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I continued in the telecom industry in Canada, but eventually moved away from operations into words, and there I stayed. My editing career started in telecom, but eventually led me to financial technology (fintech), where I have become the person people turn to when content needs more than a polish – it needs to work for the business and the people it’s meant to serve.

What kind of editor are you? Tell us a bit about your experience.

My specialty is web editing, which builds on traditional editing skills. Scanning is a reading behaviour that is top of mind for me as a web editor. Whether I’m editing long-form articles, scripts, or public-facing or secure website copy, there is an emphasis on making information architecture and content hierarchy work together to make information easy to find and digest. My job is to make sure the content answers the readers’ questions, communicates clearly, and helps them take action.

After spending many years in business, including running my own, I’ve found that good editing marries what the business is trying to achieve and what the audience needs to understand or do.

What was your favourite part of the communications co-chair role?

As the communications co-chair, I got to use my creative side with our social media posts and newsletters. Creating the newsletter didn’t feel like a task for me; it was an opportunity to catch up on BoldFace articles and learn what our editing community was up to.

The sense of belonging I felt as a volunteer was different from my day job; not only because it was a more casual, relaxed setting, but also because the members of the executive committee were all working toward a shared purpose of supporting the community we love.

Why did you volunteer and what did it mean to you?

Truthfully, I became an editor so I could become a better writer. It’s why I did the editorial program at George Brown College. When I started classes, I thought I’d have plenty of time to practise and focus on the lessons and assignments. But when my job, which was new at the time, got busy, I had just enough time to attend classes and do the assignments. Nothing more.

However, when I joined Editors Toronto and was asked to edit articles, all of those lessons were brought to life. The editing practice I gained and the rules I learned in class all started to make sense when I started volunteering.

I know formal learning doesn’t translate immediately into practical skill, which is why volunteering here can be so valuable for new editors. You also get access to tools and resources, but the practice you get from editing real work is a stepping stone for when you launch your editing career.

And editing can be a very lonely field, so it was great being part of this super helpful community.

How has this role influenced you in your work/career?

This role gave me the confidence to explain and justify editorial decisions even when stakeholders push back or use AI to create copy. For me, volunteering kept the editing principles top of mind, and knowing the rules gave me the confidence to advocate for them.

It also helped me understand when a rule is being broken or when something is a matter of preference. And as an editor, recognizing when to challenge a stakeholder’s preference is very important.

What advice would you give to editors who are a bit nervous to join the executive committee?

This is the place you do your dry run for your editing career: a safe place where you can fail so you can learn from your mistakes, a place to learn from seasoned editors, and a place where you go slow so you can go fast.

It might be just a few hours a month of your time, but what you get back is far more valuable than what you’ve invested.

What are you working on now that you’re no longer on the executive committee?

I’m working on a personal project called The Confident Investor, which is a framework that uses AI to help meet investors where they are, without losing the human element of investing. The goal is to use this framework to create content that helps investors understand their options and feel better prepared to decide what to do or explore next.

I started this project because one question I hear all the time is, “Is AI replacing writers?” As a writer myself, I see AI as a partner, not a replacement. In this framework, I use AI to better analyze information, but it’s the writers who bring the creativity, brand knowledge and editorial judgment to turn those insights into something meaningful for investors.

Spending the time to build this framework is my way of going slow so I can go fast.

Fast five for fun

1. Your ritual for settling in for work: A clean desk, a cup of ice (love that crunch), and a full cup of water (this is new because I’ve been terrible at drinking enough water).
2. Preferred editing beverage and snack(s): Skinny Pop popcorn or spicy peanuts (I told you I’m an island girl).
3. Favourite thing in your workspace: The favourite thing near my workspace is my Cricut Maker because sometimes I just need to take a break from my screens. I’ve started making Christmas cards already!
4. Three favourite books – editing-related or not: Atomic Habits by James Clear, 7 Strategies for Wealth and Happiness by Jim Rohn, and Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy. I needed help building discipline and getting better at prioritizing my time, and these books helped me do that.
5. Things you do in your free time: I teach grades 2 and 3 Sunday school at my church. I also love organizing and hosting elaborate celebrations. Whether it’s a birthday or holiday party, I take it to the next level! The best part is inventing the activities or making keepsakes, which gives me more reasons to use my Cricut Maker.

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This article was copy edited by Ann Kennedy, freelance editor and proofreader.