In the June-August 2026 issue of NZ Marketing magazine, we asked agency founders to tell us the story behind why they started their agency, their favourite thing, what they’ve learned and their best advice.
R&R (Rainger & Rolfe)
- Founder: Jen Rolfe
- Year founded: 2013
Tell us the story behind founding your agency.
When we started, there was a definite knowing that we could do a great job for clients. That our agency could offer huge value, and opportunity. We could provide a full service, strategic, creative agency that would be agile, promote data and digital thinking alongside brand and experiential thinking. On a personal level, there was a cold, uncomfortable understanding that the global agency entities were here for the revenue not the people or the client’s business.
And that there was a very thick glass floor for women in our industry. For me enjoying what I do, is a lot about who you get to do it with. Cherry-picking the very best team to do extraordinary things with, is and has been, deeply rewarding.
What’s your favourite thing about running your own agency?
Getting to be in the front seat as those I work with, and businesses we work with, are successful. I’d also say that owning your own business allows you to live (and die) by your values.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned?
If you are owning an agency, resilience in all its glory is really important.
Some recent work by R&R
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received or given out?
Listen. Listen more. Then think. Then speak.
And don’t wait to make difficult decisions. No good comes from avoiding that elephant.
Anything else we should know?
In my experience New Zealand owned agencies look after New Zealand: the people in them are skilled, senior and excellent practitioners. It staggers me that government appoint multinationals to their big campaigns.
This story comes from NZ Marketing magazine issue 87, June-August 2026. Why not subscribe? Get four issues a year for just $50 (including delivery) if you autorenew.
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