Rachel Carrasco: Turning Opportunity into Advocacy
Rachel Carrasco knows the buzz of someone taking a chance on you. She also feels the rush that comes when someone goes out of their way to lift you up in your career. Those two feelings have turned into a mission: to steer her company Rache toward championing women’s empowerment and mental health.
The Spark Behind the Shift
“When I was chasing my own dream, someone opened the door for me,” Rachel says. “If I can now help other women walk through that doorway—whether by sharing my skills or by giving a monetary boost—I’ll pay it back.”
From Consulting to Advocacy
RACHE began in 2017 as a marketing consultancy that rocked the worlds of brand experience and customer relationship programs. The company’s early roster boasted big names like Diageo, Moët Hennessy, American Express, and TWG. Those were the clients that helped RACHE earn its stripes.
First Steps in Advocacy
- Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) – A Singapore-based champion for gender equality.
- Aidha – A grassroots ally empowering foreign domestic workers and low-income women through financial education.
Why Aware?
Why Aidha?
Rachel picks Aware because it has a firm trailblazing pillar focused on women in the workplace. “If men can do it, so can we,” she reminds us. She’s currently sharpening Aware’s corporate fundraising strategy and crafting a series of intimate community talks that’ll turn more folks into gender‑equality ambassadors.
On the other hand, Aidha feels far closer to the heart. “We’re creating a CRM program that constantly checks in with stakeholders and nudges student recruitment,” she says, making the words feel almost personal.
What’s Next?
Rachel’s energy is contagious. With RACHE now in the driver’s seat, she’s determined to keep creating real connections, boosting mental health awareness, and ensuring that every woman in the workforce feels she’s got a shot.
In short: one chance, one dream, a whole lot of hope—and a company that’s out to make all of that happen.
Destined for marketing
Rachel’s Bold Leap: From the Philippines to the Singapore Startup Scene
Where It All Started
Born and raised in the Philippines, Rachel was 34 when she decided to swap the familiar for the unknown. In 2012 she boarded a flight to Singapore, eyes wide and heart racing. “I had no idea what I was in for,” she says, recalling the tear‑filled moment watching the plane glide away from home.
She knew one truth: “I needed to grow my career outside of where I was.” That spark set the course for a life that would soon spill over the world’s marketing stage.
The Calling of Branding
Even before she was a teenager, Rachel had a knack for putting people on camera. At 13 she took on acting gigs, TV spots, commercials, and even photoshoots. Those early gigs weren’t just fun—they were her first lesson in how brands shape stories and how people react to them.
From Financial‑Robots to Brand‑Warriors
- Royal Bank of Scotland – Rachel’s first job in Singapore as a business manager.
- LVMH Champagne Houses (Dom Pérignon, Krug, Ruinart) – In 2014 she dove head‑first into the luxury branding world.
- Kimberly‑Clark – As Regional Senior Brand Manager Apac, she powered Kotex’s story across the Asia‑Pacific.
Success didn’t come without hurdles. In 2017 she launched “Rache”, a personal brand she kept alive while still working full‑time. “It was challenging but necessary,” she admits.
Breaking the Judgement Box
People can be a big snarl in the road to self‑realization. Rachel shares how the world’s sharp stares threatened to choke her authenticity.
“The world can be a very ‘judgy’ place and if you let it, it can really do a number,” she confesses. Over the last two years she turned to therapy and theta healing sessions, firing up a plan to stay true to herself. She says it’s not about loud and flashy expression, but about letting your light shine in quiet confidence.
De‑Conditioning the Mind
Learning to unlearn what society deems “right” felt like loosening a tight knot. Rachel’s mantra: “Respect that others are juggling their own lives, just as you are, and that owning uncertainty is a freedom, not a flaw.”
She reveals a simple truth: “You’d be surprised at how life starts to unfold when you can genuinely let go.” She’s proving that the biggest marketing campaign of all is your own life—messy, genuine, and perfectly worth investing in.
Branding goals
Rachel’s Wild Dream: From Bacon‑Bits to Global Cheers
Rachel isn’t content with the sweet taste of success so far. She’s already cooking up a whole menu of food‑and‑beverage ventures that she plans to launch before the calendar flips to 2023.
From Rio to Baken – The Story of a Plug‑in Cocktail and a Bacon‑Confectionery Rebellion
- Rio – a ready‑to‑drink canned cocktail brand that slipped into the Philippine shelves with an instant “shots‑on‑the‑fly” vibe.
- Baken – her own line of luxury bacon snacks and confectionery that began rolling out in Q2 2021 and is now a hotspot in Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Australia.
Each product is born out of moments that were a few highs, a handful of lows, and that one truly “oops” moment—and through all of that, Rachel feels she’s stayed right in the sweet spot of ambition.
It’s About More Than a Treat… It’s About a Movement
“My vision is to become the entrepreneur I’ve always dreamed of,” Rachel says. “Everything I’ve gone through—good, bad, and the needle‑pointed lows—has flowed together to this very moment.”
Inspired by Trailblazers
Rachel’s role models are the ladies who turned their passions into iconic brands: Emily Weiss of Glossier, Maryellis Bunn of Museum of Ice Cream, and Sara Blakely of Spanx. “These brands show you can start with what you love and hand it out to the world,” she explains. “That’s everything I want to achieve—share, grow, and inspire.”
The Heartbeat of Her Life: A Mother’s Wisdom
Rachel’s secret sauce also comes from her mother, who raised three kids solo and preached an evergreen lesson: in the end, you only have yourself. “I’ve learned that the first person I must look after is me,” Rachel shares, giving a nod to the resilience that also fuels her business dreams.
This article originally appeared in Her World Online, celebrating the spirit of EntrepreneurWomenBusiness.
