In a field historically dominated by men, Rebekah Laby (Harington|Sargood 2003-2004) has not just found her footing—she’s thriving. Six months into her tenure as CEO of Rave Build, a leading New Zealand construction software company, Rebekah is redefining leadership in the construction sector. 

After completing a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in psychology and sociology, Rebekah worked at Mitre 10 Mega and pursued a trade manager’s role. Her innate understanding of the trade industry got her shoulder tapped to work for Yeoman Homes, where she quickly propelled and scaled operations from 10 to 100 annual projects in her final year.

When the opportunity arose to join Rave Build in 2020 on a short-term contract, Rebekah saw immense potential in the software. Leveraging her first-hand experience as a client, she played a pivotal role in reshaping the product to better serve New Zealand builders. This journey culminated in her appointment as CEO, where she now oversees both leadership and product ownership, ensuring the software evolves in response to real-world needs.

Rebekah acknowledges that the road has not always been easy. Early in her career, being a young woman in construction meant proving herself repeatedly. “I was told too many times that construction wasn’t a game for women,” she recalls. But rather than accept those limitations, she excelled—winning awards and earning a reputation as a leader to watch.

At Rave Build, her technical challenges often involve “technical debt” or redesigning outdated features. Yet, it’s the human element that drives her forward. “I love showing people what we’re capable of,” she says. “If someone doubts, we can do something, I make sure we deliver X, Y, and Z.”

For Rebekah, leadership is about more than just results—it’s about people. “My team brings me so much joy,” she says. Whether it’s receiving glowing client testimonials or watching her team solve complex problems, she takes pride in fostering an environment where innovation thrives.

Her vision for Rave Build is ambitious: perfecting the product in New Zealand before expanding into Australia and beyond. Collaboration with other Kiwi companies is on the horizon, as she seeks to build a comprehensive ecosystem for the construction industry.

Balancing this ambition with her family life in Canterbury is a priority. As a mother, she hopes her daughter sees first-hand that a fulfilling career and personal life can go hand in hand. When Rebekah is at home, she is an active relaxer, reading books or spending time in the garden or around the house with her daughter wearing her Sargood Trackies from her St Paul’s days. Rebekah calls them ‘heritage.’

Rebekah’s early years were spent on a Christmas tree farm in Te Kōwhai, where she and her brother Gareth Smith (Hall|Williams 2004-2008) earned pocket money selling trees. Growing up, she experienced a ‘good old Kiwi’ upbringing. “Mum and Dad were your typical parents; the oldest child got all the rules and the youngest one broke them,” says Rebekah.

Always keen for a challenge, Rebekah was a spectator at Maadi Cup one year, watching a childhood friend compete as a coxswain. Curious to see if rowing was a sport she might enjoy, she joined her school rowing team. “I had an absolute blast,” she says.

As a Year 10 student, Rebekah wanted to be challenged to be the best version of herself, so she asked her mum if they could attend a St Paul’s Open Day. They did, and soon Rebekah was sitting in the office of Greg Fenton, the then St Paul’s Headmaster. Rebekah remembers Mr. Fenton saying, “We want you to exceed your own expectations, not ours.”

Rebekah transferred to St Paul’s in Year 12, seeking new challenges. One memory she has of St Paul’s is pulling an all-nighter to perfect her NCEA History projects and achieving the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, presented by Dame Silvia Cartwright. Rebekah fondly recalls teachers like Roger Bell, who pushed students to be their best. “I called him Rog; he wasn’t pleased about it, but he was always someone you could go to for help,” she says.

Reflecting on her journey, Rebekah offers advice to young women aspiring to break into male-dominated fields: “Don’t let anyone tear you down or tell you not to go for it. Prove them wrong. Focus on quality over quantity and take more risks. Life is short—live in the moment.”

With her leadership, Rebekah is proving that the construction industry isn’t just for men—it’s for anyone with the vision, determination, and resilience to lead the way. And in doing so, she’s inspiring the next generation of women to dream big and build even bigger.