Posted on Tuesday May 09, 2023

Resilience, energy and optimism: Keys to success for entrepreneur Rachelle Gauthier

Our series on women entrepreneurs profiles exceptional New Brunswick women who are having a positive impact in the community. Read on to discover their inspiring stories!

In 1990, Rachelle Gauthier’s father acquired a company he later dubbed Gauthier Marine, an industrial and marine hardware store that sells and manufactures metal products for the fishing industry. In 2013, Rachelle joined her father as co-owner. Today she’s happy as a clam!

Coming home

Rachelle grew up around the family business, working for Gauthier Marine in the summer starting at age 13. However, her career path didn’t originally point to business. She started out studying nursing, a field she ultimately decided wasn’t for her, while waiting tables and working as a substitute teacher during her studies.

“My employment history might seem like a bit of a hodgepodge, but the common thread is the social aspect. I like working with people and developing relationships with staff and customers. Nursing, retail and working in a restaurant are all jobs that put you face to face with the public.”

In January 2012, Rachelle returned home to help her father with the business full-time. She enrolled in management at Université de Moncton, took private courses, obtained certifications and sought constantly to learn and improve. “The more training I do, the more I realize how much I enjoy things like leadership and management. I’m getting clarity on what I like about being in business, and I feel like this is where I belong.

Being a better manager by understanding the whole business

Rachelle started by familiarizing herself with every aspect of company operations to understand how the business works, whether at the sales counter or the factory. This hands-on experience allowed her to take the necessary step back so she could put the best teams in place to run each sector. That freed her up to focus on managing, promoting and growing the business.

“As the top manager, I oversee pretty much all our operations. I have fantastic employees and outstanding teams on the floor. I’m very grateful to be so well supported. It allows me to provide the best possible service to my customers, thanks to people who have the right skills and experience.”

A family affair

Since officially becoming co-owner in 2013, Rachelle has been gradually taking over the reins. “My father is still very active in the business. He’s in good health, and he really enjoys working. He does his favourite tasks, and I take care of the rest! His life’s work, activities and social life are all here—and it’s where he’s happy.”

On a broader scale, running a business is also a family affair because it comes with a lifestyle that affects everyone around the entrepreneur. After acquiring a second business in 2022—the MP Distributeur hardware store in Grande-Anse—Rachelle saw her workload increase significantly, making it that much harder to find work-life balance.

“Running a business is a 24/7 thing. I’m responsible for my decisions, employees and supervisors. It’s hard to just kick back and not think about it. In a seasonal industry like fishing, some months are busier than others. My mother and my mother-in-law help me out a lot with my daughter, and my husband is very understanding. I’m also learning how to delegate at work, instead of trying to do everything myself! And we take advantage of winter to recoup and recharge and spend more time with our families.”

The reality of being a woman entrepreneur

Although she works in a traditionally male-dominated world, she says she’s never felt discriminated against because she’s a woman. “Maybe it’s because I have many years of experience and worked behind the counter for so long, but I’ve never had a negative experience just because I’m a woman. I know more than some of the guys who come in, and over time I've earned a reputation as someone who knows what they're talking about.”

Regardless of gender, Rachelle feels that differences in management style are more about personality traits. “Whether you’re a woman or a man, there are different types of leadership. You need to be aware of who you are—your strengths and your areas for improvement. I’m trying to develop my listening skills and empathy as much as possible. I feel my emotions intensely, so I try to control that and take the time to understand a situation before making any decisions.”

Being a manager also means being under the microscope. “Everyone pays attention to how you behave, what you say, what you wear, what time you get to work, etc. You’re there to set an example. If I do something wrong, I’m giving my employees permission to do the same thing. So I try to live the company’s values in everything I do, every day.”

As someone who understands the impact each staff member has on the company’s success, Rachelle strives to be the best boss she can so that everyone continues to thrive as a team. “I’m good at rallying the troops and getting everyone working towards a common goal. I’m very enthusiastic and encouraging, and I take the time to highlight what each person brings to the company.”

Advice for future entrepreneurs

What would Rachelle say to a woman who’s thinking about starting a business? First, don’t hesitate to take the plunge. “You need to have confidence in yourself and your abilities and go for it. When you believe in an idea, you shouldn’t be afraid to sell it and promote it.”

Nothing happens by magic either, and it’s best to be aware of all the implications before embarking on a venture. “Having a business means being willing to invest a lot of time and energy and make sacrifices. Once you know that and accept it, nothing can stand in your way!”

Rachelle’s resilience, energy—“I don’t stay still for long!”—and optimism are unbeatable allies that fuel her drive at work. “As an entrepreneur, you face challenges every day, so you can’t let them take up too much space. You need to stay focused on your goal. You learn from your mistakes and move forward. As a fundamentally positive person, I always try to look at the bright side of things, and I think that helps me a lot, too.”

An entrepreneur who serves her community

What does Rachelle love most about her job? The feeling that she’s making a real difference in her community through her business. “We create jobs, and that supports families. A lot of our employees are parents. We give back by volunteering and we’ve developed close ties with our community. I know about 95% of the people who come into the store. We catch up on each other’s news, and we’re happy to see each other. The people aspect is really important. That’s why we’re very active on social media. We’ve created a tight-knit community, both inside the company and with our customers!”

UNI: a reliable partner

By doing business with UNI, Rachelle has found the right fit for the needs of her two companies. “UNI makes our projects possible. My financial advisor is the best. He’s knowledgeable and approachable, and I can talk to him anytime. It’s just amazing. I’ve rarely experienced such excellent customer service. It allows us to do more and move quickly.”

Got big plans? Turn your dreams into reality by making an appointment with a business advisor. They will be happy to help you.