In the world of business, there is a common image of the “serial entrepreneur,” someone who has started seven companies and lives for the high stakes gamble of a new venture.
Then there is Rachele Shainker.
Rachele did not spend her youth launching startups. Instead, she was deep in corporate America, building a powerhouse career as a business systems analyst for enterprise level organizations like Nike and Gymboree. She spent her days in the complex world of supply chain, helping massive corporations implement software and manage big projects.
But in 2021, the world shifted. Amidst the height of the pandemic, Rachele found herself reflecting on a simple but profound question: “What do I want to do with my life?”
The Discovery in a Magazine
The path to business ownership did not start with a boardroom pitch; it started with a magazine. While reading, Rachele noticed businesses for sale and realized something she had not seen from inside the corporate bubble: there was a franchise model for managed service providers.
“I think I was so far into corporate America that it was not on my radar how small businesses also need the same level of I.T. support,” Rachele explains.
Even though her husband was still firmly planted in the corporate world, Rachele felt a pull toward this new path. She had recently finished her Master’s in IT Management. While she was not a “hands on the keyboard” engineer, she knew exactly how to bridge the gap between technical requirements and business goals.
Landing in San Mateo
When she launched her CMIT Solutions location in October 2021, she chose San Mateo, a “bedroom community” of San Francisco teeming with small businesses and local Chambers of Commerce.
However, the Bay Area market was more competitive than she initially realized. In a land where “everyone wants to participate in the tech talk,” she found herself competing not just with other firms, but with the “husband and the friend” of business owners who thought they could manage their own tech stacks.
Rachele’s secret weapon was her background as an analyst. She knew how to listen. Instead of just “ripping out” old systems, she would ask the right questions to find out if a system was actually broken or just configured incorrectly. She became a translator, speaking “IT” to the engineers and “Business” to the owners.
The Rookie Who Hit the Ground Running
Rachele’s transition to entrepreneurship was anything but slow. By her second month, she was already inheriting a fleet of clients after a local contact’s I.T. person passed away. She dove headfirst into networking, initially via Zoom, which she admits felt like a “safe filter” for the nerves of public speaking.
Her consistent “showing up” and her ability to build trust quickly paid off. She was soon awarded Rookie of the Year within the CMIT system, proving that her corporate discipline was the perfect foundation for small business success.
A Different Approach to Security
In an industry that often relies on “Fear Factor” tactics to sell cybersecurity, Rachele takes a more balanced, collaborative approach. She avoids being the “Fear Factor lady” who only talks about hacks.
Instead, she focuses on the business value of security. She is a staunch advocate for the basics that many small businesses overlook:
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MFA (Multifactor Authentication): Her #1 habit for every business.
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MDR and Email Security: Standards she has implemented since Day 1.
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Cybersecurity Training: She even provides “Cyber Hoot” to her clients for free, believing that security is a “people thing,” not just a tech thing.
Leading with a Female Voice
Rachele has carved out a unique space in a “sea of I.T. guys.” Today, over 70% of her clients are women business owners. She has also launched the Cyber Savvy Woman podcast, creating a platform for a female voice in technology, a voice she found was often missing.
Her journey has not been without challenges. She notes that being a woman in I.T. can be difficult when people do not want to take direction. But through a partnership with her mentor and service delivery lead, Jeremy, and a “collaborative, not lone wolf” team of local contractors, she has built a thriving operation.
The Honor of the Partner
For Rachele, the payoff is not just in the data, though as a self-proclaimed data-driven owner, she keeps a close eye on her KPIs. The true fulfillment comes from the relationship.
“It’s an honor to work with them,” Rachele says of her small business clients. “Providing this key thing that they need to protect their business and partnering with them… that has been very fulfilling for me.”
Final Thoughts:
Rachele Shainker’s story proves that you do not need a “serial entrepreneur” background to succeed. You just need the right experience, a willingness to show up, and the ability to translate complex technology into a human connection.
