Born with an innate entrepreneurial spirit and passion for all things business, it seems only natural that this week’s muse, Rebecca Hunter, would end up working as the marketing director for one of Aotearoa’s leading skincare brands, ManukaRx. Hailing from the UK, Hunter’s career began after the completion of her university degree at Oxford Brookes University, where she quickly secured a marketing role at Kiwi-owned company MedSailors – a business offering sailing trips in the Mediterranean to young adults. “I loved sailing and travel (who doesn’t!) and wanted to start working in marketing, so this job allowed me to combine all three,” says Hunter. “I felt very lucky to land this role out of uni; there were times I was working from a yacht in the Med, it was pretty incredible.” When the co-owners of MedSailors chose to relocate back to Aotearoa several years later, Hunter decided to join them— a choice that would ultimately lead her to her current position at ManukaRx.
Between her years working at MedSailors and a subsequent year spent living as a digital nomad, the director found herself yearning for more stability in her life. “While I was glad I gave it a go, it was really hard work trying to build a business on the go, constantly meeting new people and moving around with no guarantee of your next paycheck or comfortable bed,” she says of her time freelancing while travelling. When Covid hit upon her return back to Aotearoa, Hunter happened upon her role at ManukaRx rather serendipitously. “After my year of work/travel I came back to New Zealand and as a non-Resident, I needed a job so I could stay in the country,” she explains, “It got to the point where I could either work at a supermarket or go home to the UK, but then I saw this job at a mānuka oil skincare company, something I didn’t know anything about, but figured I could do it, and thankfully they chose me!”
While the brand’s latest feat has been the launch of their new Collagen Restore range, Hunter has also been the driving force behind shaping the brand’s fresh aesthetic. “When I joined [the company] during the first lockdown, the brand looked a little different than it does today. The team had created a plethora of high quality, efficacious skincare products, but had neglected to focus on the customer,” Hunter says. By the following year, ManukaRx had unveiled a clean new look, transforming into a brand whose packaging mirrored the beauty of the products themselves, while simultaneously growing from $65,000 in annual revenue to over $2 million.
As the leader of a team of five encompassing sales, marketing, and customer service, Hunter holds an unwavering belief in the value of people, which resonates throughout the entire brand. “Community really is at the heart of everything we do,” explains the director, “Be it with the customers we interact with on a daily basis, the way we look after our employees, and how we make efficacious products that not only restore the skin, but also help to restore the land too.” With a multitude of responsibilities demanding her attention, Hunter is quick to acknowledge the fast paced nature of her role. “One minute I could be working with our incredibly talented Cosmetic Chemist, Merve Samur, on new product development for 2024, working with Teresa, our Graphic Designer, on a new, out-of-home billboard campaign, or planning market entry strategies for the brand to enter new markets like Asia and the US,” she says.
Though she continues to flourish in her current role at ManukaRx, Hunter has definite plans to launch her own business someday, once she’s amassed more experience in the industry. “I’ve always been passionate about entrepreneurship, but I do tend to find that I can make more of a difference whilst working as an “intrepreneur” – using my entrepreneurial skills within an existing company,” she says. “When you’re in your 20s and don’t necessarily have the capital needed, and have limited work experience, starting your own business can be an incredibly daunting experience.”
While she can’t put a date on the launch of her own business just yet, Hunter had some sage advice to impart for FQ readers looking to advance their own careers or businesses. “Use the interview process as a way to interview the company and your potential manager. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about how they develop staff there and what growth other employees have seen, because if you’re able to find a business and manager that really believes in you, and genuinely cares about your career growth, you’ll have more opportunity to thrive in your career,” she says.
On the topic of finding one’s dream job, Hunter closed off by saying “Put yourself out there. If there’s someone that inspires you or a business you want to work for, email or DM them and ask to meet them for a coffee, you’d be surprised how many ‘busy’, ‘important’ people will be willing to take half an hour out of their day to meet with a passionate person who wants to learn from them.”
Quick-Fire Questions:
The best book I’ve read recently… /My current podcast recommendation… Obsessed by Emily Heyward. An incredible book on brand strategy and how to build a brand people will become “obsessed” with. The book is written by the Co-Founder of Red Antler, the NYC branding agency, renowned for their work with fast growing brands including Allbirds and Casper.
My favourite place to dine… Brunching at Ozone in Grey Lynn, or at Orphan’s Kitchen in Ponsonby.
My go-to recipe right now… Tandoor saag with halloumi, it’s delicious, very affordable, healthy and super easy to make. All you need is an onion, fresh garlic and ginger, a bag of frozen spinach, chopped tomatoes, and curry powder. Then, simply grill slices of halloumi to place on top, and if you’re feeling fancy, you can top the saag with cashew nuts and creme fraiche.
The item at the top of my wish list… A classic Bayswater Mulberry bag.
Three beauty products I recommend to everyone… ManukaRx of course! I’m currently using the ManukaRx Vitamin C Gel Cleanser, and Daily Glow Brightening Serum, two bestsellers from the Skin Brightening collection. And I’m also currently obsessed with the smell and texture of Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Niacinamide Dew Drops.
This season I’m splurging on… A trip to Italy! My partner and I are heading to Tuscany for a week. We’ll be taking a prosecco breakfast air balloon tour over Chianti, riding around wineries on a Vespa, propping up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and visiting Michelangelo’s David in Florence. I am SO excited.
My most cherished item in my home is… The bath! There’s nothing quite like relaxing and unwinding in a bubble bath with a glass of wine or whiskey after a long day.
Somewhere everyone should go/attend at least once in their lifetime… Go sailing around the Mediterranean! Book a trip with MedSailors and Yacht Getaways (two Kiwi owned sailing companies) and go and live your best life, spending your days swimming and sunbathing, eating gelato, and anchoring in picturesque bays, watching dolphins swim alongside your boat, and drinking cocktails in some of the coolest bars in the world, like Cocktail bar Massimo on the island of Korcula in Croatia. The cocktail bar is literally at the top of the fortress turret, and as you take in the panoramic sea views, the staff have to use a pulley system to get your brightly coloured cocktails up to the top of the fortress for you to enjoy.
In my spare time I… Go sailing, play squash, volunteer on the Board for Dress for Success Auckland, an incredible charity empowering women through their dressing services and careers service, and right now, I’m judging award entries for the Delivering Customer Service Excellence in the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards, run by the Auckland Business Chamber.
ManukaRx have just launched their new skincare range, the Collagen Restore Collection. Find out more about it here, or read our summary in ‘5 Things We Loved This Week’.
Imagery: supplied.
