Twenty-one years with RSK: Reflections on growth, change and the people who make it matter

After more than two decades with RSK, Rachael Ryder reflects on company culture, career milestones, leadership lessons and the journey that brought her to the Middle East

This year marks 21 years since I first joined RSK. I am not entirely sure where the time has gone, which is perhaps best reflected by the fact that I had every intention of writing this article for my 20th anniversary, only for another year to pass before I finally sat down to do it.

I came to RSK straight from university, initially taking a role in accounts while I figured out what I wanted to do. It did not take me long to realise that numbers were not where my strengths lay; I was far more of a creative words person. From there, I moved to work with our sales director, a role that suited me much better. It allowed me to be organised, work closely with a diverse team of people and support the business in a way that felt much more natural to me. I then joined the Proposal Support Centre, where, alongside the steady stream of proposals, I was able to unleash my creative side through marketing work. After that came my move to the Middle East, where I became the general manager and board director, and the rest of my story is still being written.

Looking back over more than two decades, it is almost impossible to separate my own career journey from the story of RSK’s growth. The company I joined felt small enough for everyone to know each other. We received a Filofax diary each year with the names and phone numbers of everyone in the business, and the annual away day brought the whole company together. We knew people’s names, faces and roles, and there was a genuine sense of being one team.

Today, RSK is a far larger, more international and more diverse business than the one I first joined. Our services have expanded, our reach has grown and the way we work has naturally evolved. Yet one of the things I value most is that the culture still feels familiar. Beneath the additional processes, broader service lines and global presence, there remains a strong sense of connection, collaboration and shared purpose. At its heart, RSK still feels like RSK.

Creativity, contribution and the future

Some of my favourite projects were from my time in the Proposal Support Centre in the UK, where I was the ‘creative director’ for our internal newsletter, Frame, and part of the team that developed OSCAR, our old intranet system. I also worked on the annual Christmas card design, which was always great fun. One card in particular still makes me laugh whenever I think about it. I have always enjoyed being creative, and although my current role is very different, I still try to bring creativity, energy and an element of fun into my work whenever I can.

What continues to motivate me is the future of the business and the people within it. RSK has ambitious growth plans, and I hope my work directly contributes to achieving those ambitions in the Middle East. Everything I do is focused on securing and growing the future of the business, while honouring the foundations, clients, colleagues and services that brought us here.

Lessons learned along the way

One of the biggest lessons I have learned sounds simple, but it has taken time to fully understand – do not make work your whole life. Work can become all-consuming, and without the perspective that comes from time away, family, friends, hobbies and personal space, it can quickly feel overwhelming, which affects judgement, reactions and decision-making.

I believe the highest achievers are often those who value their personal lives too. They come to work with a smile, a fresh outlook and a sense of balance. That perspective matters, particularly in challenging roles where deadlines, decisions and responsibilities can feel relentless.