While Rachel Shearer’s career may not have taken the most conventional path to becoming the General Manager of Wool for PGW, one thing is for certain, everything she’s done has led her to where she is today. And it almost feels as though Rachel was born for this role. 

“I grew up on a sheep and beef farm in North Canterbury and when I was a little girl, the Pyne Gould Guinness store in our local town of Rangiora was my favourite place to go with dad. The fact that my last name is Shearer is definitely not lost on me either.”

Rachel pictured with her family in an article from the Northern Outlook in October 1983.

Many years later, it was also her dad John who played a helping hand in securing a position for a business he had worked alongside throughout his farming career. 

“I went to visit my parents for a Sunday roast, and he had cut out a job advertisement from the newspaper for the role of GM People & Safety at PGW. Dad said to me ‘you know what dear, that’s the next job for you’.

“So I applied, got the role and was fortunate to spend the next eight years on the Executive Leadership Team at PGW as the GM People and Safety.” 

Unfortunately John is no longer alive, but his influence is a big part of why Rachel is so passionate about working in the ag sector, and for PGW. Considered a progressive farmer, he was always looking to make positive change, exploring new ways of doing things to improve his land, stock and business. He started a fire in her belly for making sure she thought about what legacy she would leave in whatever she chooses to do, and now it’s her time to consider this for the next generation of those coming into the industry. 

Rachel feeding a pet lamb, aged 5 years old.

“From an early age my brothers and I were helping out on the farm with hay making, tailing, shearing, and working the lambing beat. There was always something to do and much to learn. And it was such a defining moment when my parents decided to sell the farm. 

“I was a teenager and I recall trying to chain myself to the front gate in protest. I was devastated to leave as I had imagined myself following in my parents’ footsteps and taking over the farm when I was old enough. 

“However I moved on, and after doing an Honours degree in journalism and political science at the University of Canterbury, I headed off for my OE.” 

Rachel holding a Grammy Award, during her time working in the music industry in LA.

Touching down in Sydney in 2000, Rachel began her career in recruitment which eventually led her to working for investment banks in London. Then around two years in, her brother - who managed rock bands in the US - said ‘banking’s not your passion, you’re not happy here, why don’t you come work for me in LA?’. So she did and the next few years were spent working in music management with an array of American bands.   

“There was a time I came back to New Zealand for Christmas, looked back at what I was doing in the US and realised the entertainment industry and Hollywood wasn’t my reality.  Home was where I wanted to be.”

And it was at home in Christchurch that she got an inhouse HR role for a mining company, which ended up going into voluntary administration a few years later, at which time Rachel was the GM HR. 

“It was certainly tough but also career defining as there was no playbook for navigating our way through. We were led by a deeply authentic, honest and relatively young CEO from Australia. 

“Even while our back was up against the wall, he helped shape an amazing culture to be a part of. It was a truly eye opening experience that enabled me to understand how critical authenticity and honesty in leadership is. Then as we were winding up that organisation in 2014, I secured the job with PGW.” 

Rachel (left), pictured with PGW CEO, Stephen Guerin (middle) and Sarah Mears the new GM for People & Safety (right).

Responsible for all people and safety related activities for the nearly 2000 PGW team members across the country, and as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, Rachel was kept busy in her role and a couple of years ago CEO Stephen Guerin began investing in her development of strategic leadership and governance. Currently, in addition to the role of GM Wool, Rachel is the Executive Director of bidr®, and is a Director of other PGW Group subsidiaries.

Alongside Stephen, she was assisting Grant Edwards to develop a revised strategy for the wool business up until his untimely passing earlier this year. Rachel was then asked to step into Grant’s role on an acting basis and while it was a difficult time with him gone so suddenly, the legacy he and other industry stalwarts who had recently retired left behind was evident. 

“The business was able to continue on and I think this is a testament of strong leadership, that even when you’re not there, the team continues to operate to their best. The talented team Grant built around him rose to the occasion and the business continues to operate really well. 

“And I hope that it is something he would be incredibly proud of. He was instrumental in helping us contemplate the future of the wool industry, and now we are carrying forward many of the thoughts and ideas he had, to put together a comprehensive plan. Grant’s work and dedication will endure through PGW Wool.” 

Rachel in the PGW Wool Christchurch Woolstore.

Although it was a sudden and unexpected shift, Rachel was more than happy to take on the challenge, and on reflection, has been able to see how much of her previous work experience led her to where she is today. 

“As varied as my background may sound, when you reach senior leadership, it’s really interesting to look back and see the number of things that you take from each manager and job you’ve had. I often joke about my time in LA as a left field ‘career break’ and you wouldn’t think there would be anything remotely related to running a wool business, but some of it does really round out what I do now.

It also helps that when it comes to her career, Rachel has had the benefit of key leadership figures and mentors who have helped push her, and to open up doors. And any time a door opened up for her, she did what she could to embrace it with open arms. 

“If you look at any one you admire, none of them would have sat in a cushy job their whole life and had successes just come to them. I firmly believe in taking opportunities and addressing challenges as they present themselves. Following values, passion and purpose are extremely important to me.”

Now at the helm of a heritage brand in an iconic NZ industry, Rachel says she is deeply respectful of those who have gone before. And is keen to ensure PGW Wool adapts and grows as a business to help secure a future for this incredible, sustainable fibre and its growers. 

“I grew up sitting in front of the fire with A Dog’s Show on and the sound of mum spinning or knitting wool from our flock into jumpers. Our son was born premature so was in the neonatal intensive care unit and once out of his incubator we made sure to dress him head to toe in merino. I remember the doctor saying the success of his growth rate was indicative of a child being wrapped in wool. We buried my father in a wool coffin. 

“I feel I’ve experienced the full life cycle of wool, and while I know I’m not going to single handedly solve all the challenges of the industry, I’m passionate about what our strategy and roadmap looks like to ensure we play our part to help elevate NZ wool in the modern world. And I strongly believe in the team I have around me to deliver.” 

Rachel (right) with a merino grower (left) at a the recent Devold Merino Grower Tour of the Christchurch Woolstore.

And although gender shouldn’t come into it, it is important to note that Rachel is the first female to not only head up this role, but also be a GM of an operating business unit in PGW. She says she doesn’t feel an extra responsibility of being a woman in this leadership position, however over the years she has become more comfortable leaning into what it means to bring her authentic self to work. 

“When I became a new mum, I had to understand and embrace what I brought to the table and I realised that being successful is more about your output and influence, it doesn’t mean sitting at your desk working 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. It was about changing my mindset, saying no to things that aren’t important in order to deliver to my best abilities as a mum, partner and general manager. 

“I’m so fortunate that Stephen is an open and forward thinking CEO who identifies talent based on merit and also understands the complexities that can come with being a working parent. He has been deeply encouraging of me and has been a great mentor in my previous role, and now my new job. 

“I am conscious, although not overtly, that I’m in a job which has traditionally been held by a man. I see my role is to help open up the door for other women to join me in operational leadership roles. But it’s definitely not a burdensome feeling, it’s one of optimism. I’m also really proud that we have talented women throughout our wool team – wool handlers, classers, rep’s, logistics coordinators and those in support roles. 

And if there is one thing that will never fail to motivate Rachel in her career, it’s the wise words of her dad. 

“One of my favourite sayings that I got from him was ‘if you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevancy even less’. And this is the opportunity I choose to see in leading our wool team. The opportunity to sustainably set ourselves up to play our part in the future of a successful NZ wool industry. 

“And I’m just so encouraged by how the business has responded to a fresh pair of eyes and the way in which everyone is open to contemplating new ways of doing things.”