Meet the Team: Rachael, Business Manager

From competing on horseback across the UK and Ireland to keeping the wheels turning behind the scenes at Obbi, Rachael has taken an interesting route into club software. As our Business Manager, she has a hand in almost everything, so we sat her down to find out what makes her tick, on and off the clock.

Getting to know Rachael

Let’s start easy. How would you describe your role at Obbi to someone you just met at a barbecue?

I’m the Business Manager at Obbi, which is a fancy way of saying I do a bit of everything behind the scenes to keep things running. One day it could be issuing or chasing an invoice, the next it’s a partnership deal or something HR related. I like that no two days look the same.

What’s the first thing you do when you sit down at your desk (coffee doesn’t count)?

You’ve excluded coffee, which feels illegal, but ok. First real thing is a scan of my emails for anything urgent, then straight into Xero to see what needs my attention there. I like starting the day knowing where we stand.

What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I grew up riding and competed with horses across Northern Ireland, Ireland, England and Scotland right up to the age of 22, so a big chunk of my life was early mornings, long drives to shows, and a lot of mud. And before I landed in tech, I actually studied Media and Communication with Television, with placements at UTV, BBC Doctors and RPM Motorsport. Club software wasn’t quite the plan, but I’m happy I landed here.

Life outside work

What’s your go-to way to switch off after a busy week?

A walk, usually, after dropping my daughter off at her evening activity. Or I’ll head to the driving range with my husband to work on my swing, mostly trying to stop slicing the ball into the next postcode. It’s oddly therapeutic, even when it’s going badly.

If you could master any skill overnight, what would it be?

Golf, easily. I’ve recently started playing and I’m slowly getting round in fewer shots, but my putting needs serious help. Waking up tomorrow suddenly able to play well? I’d take that in a heartbeat.

Best place you’ve ever travelled, and where’s next on the list?

We’ve had some brilliant trips. Florida is a family favourite and there’s always a plan for the next time we go, but the two I’d most love to go back to are New York and Barbados. Next up, though, is Paris. I’m heading there for a few days straight after the CMAE conference.

Obbi and the bigger picture

What drew you to Obbi, and what’s kept you here?

Before Obbi, I worked in my family business in Anti Money Laundering, so I spent nearly a decade working with businesses around compliance. When I found Obbi I understood the problem straight away. What’s kept me here is the people, who work incredibly hard, as well as the variety and the pace. It’s a small team doing a lot, so I get my hands on everything from finance to partnerships, and no two weeks look the same. I like that I can see the difference my work makes.

What’s the part of your job that gives you the most satisfaction?

I love taking a project from a blank page all the way to done, especially when the result is that someone else on the team has one less thing to worry about. That’s the bit I find most satisfying: not just finishing something, but knowing it’s actually lightened the load for the people around me.

Obbi works with a lot of clubs and hospitality operators. What do you think people underestimate about running a business in that world?

I think people picture golf clubs and hospitality venues as relaxed, leisurely places, and for the members and guests, that’s exactly the point. But the person actually running it is carrying a huge amount of responsibility: keeping the standards in the club high, staff safety, member safety, insurance, compliance, all of it landing on them personally, usually without a big corporate team behind them. There’s a lot more weight on those shoulders than anyone on the outside would guess.

What’s one problem you love helping to solve?

The same thing that satisfies me internally, really. Taking the load off people. For a club, that’s usually the manager who’s quietly carrying all the compliance in their head, or across a dozen spreadsheets, and lying awake wondering if they’ve missed something. I love hearing how they’ve got to the point where it’s all in one place, where they can stop worrying about whether it’s handled, because they know it is.

Looking ahead

What are you most excited about at Obbi in the months ahead?

Loads, honestly. There’s a real step-up happening across the whole business right now, and I don’t think the industry has quite seen what’s coming. It’s been a lot of quiet, heads-down work from the team, and we know exactly where we’re going. So my honest answer is: watch this space. The next while is going to be a big one for Obbi.

Are there any industry events, trade shows, or conferences you’re attending soon?

I’ll be at the CMAE Conference at St Andrews in October, and I’m really looking forward to it. If you’re going to be there too, come and say hello.