Leaders to Know: Rochelle Cooper

We caught up with Rochelle Cooper, Head of People & Culture at Fergus, to talk about her journey into tech leadership, the lessons she’s learned scaling in SaaS, and where her career might have taken her if not for the fast-paced world of software.

Rochelle Cooper, Head of People & Culture at Fergus

Can you share your journey into tech and how you got into leadership?

I’ve moved back and forth between Talent and Operational roles over the years, working across advertising, tourism, government, agency, and in-house recruitment. I took on a generalist role at an ad agency where I eventually stepped up into a leadership position as Head of P&C.

It was a role that covered it all—lots of work outside my comfort zone—but I loved the mix of strategic and operational work and the chance for P&C to have a real seat at the table.

What inspired you to pursue a career in software and technology?

At one point, I had an offer from a previous chairman to back me in launching a talent business focused on Media and Advertising. Around the same time, a role came up at Fergus Software similar to what I’d been doing as Head of P&C in advertising. Fergus was still early stage, about 35 people then, and I jumped at the chance to see what I could learn about tech and SaaS.

I’ve been here ever since. For me, it’s the combination of an amazing product, the agility and pace of the industry, and the challenge of figuring out how to scale efficiently while maintaining a great place to work.

What’s one key lesson you’ve learned as a tech leader in New Zealand?

Connections are everything. Find your tribe—people who have expertise in areas you don’t and who’ve already been on the growth journey.

If you weren’t in tech, what career path do you think you’d be in?

Probably still in agency work. No two days are ever the same, and I’ve always thrived in environments like that.

Rochelle’s career path hasn’t been linear, but that’s exactly what makes her leadership style so impactful. At Fergus, she’s helping shape a culture where people and product scale together, and enjoying every challenge along the way.