Our 10th Birthday Series: Episode 5 – A Conversation with Christine Ruchay

When Christine Ruchay joined Simms & Associates, there were only five people in the company. “I think I was Simms associate number five,” she recalls with a smile. Everything was new, young and full of possibility. She describes those early days as exciting and pioneering — a time when the team felt small but bold, ready to take on much bigger players.

Back then, Simms was what she calls “boutique, unique and agile.” Despite its size, the company had personality, professionalism and a shared excitement that pushed everyone to jump in with both feet. That energy, she says, set the tone for everything that followed.

Wearing a Million Hats

Over the years, Christine has “worn a million hats.” From working on major projects to supporting smaller initiatives, she has experienced the company from many angles. One constant, however, has been her ability to have a voice — and to have that voice heard and appreciated.

“I love that our culture has stayed true from day one to now,” she explains. For her, Simms has always felt like an A-Team: a place where people have each other’s backs, where growth is encouraged, and where flexibility is genuinely supported. The balance between work and life is not just talked about — it is actively enabled. “We’re allowed to grow, and we’re allowed to shrink when it’s needed,” she says. That freedom, she believes, has had one of the biggest impacts on her both professionally and personally.

Collaboration at Simms, in her view, is defined by full support and open knowledge sharing. She has never felt competition or internal rivalry. Instead, she describes a company rich in expertise, where people are willing to share what they know openly and often. The depth of knowledge within the organisation is something the team leans on — and learns from continuously.

Reflecting on what she has learned, Christine laughs: “Everything.” From improving communication and learning with intent, to mastering entire IT systems from scratch — and then teaching and demonstrating them — her journey has been one of constant development. She speaks passionately about education, training, shadowing and shared knowledge, which have remained central threads throughout her time at Simms.

Culture Above All

While her role has evolved many times, one thing has remained consistent: her love of agility and change. She thrives on variety and does not enjoy doing the same thing every day. Even as the company has grown rapidly, she feels that the culture has remained intact. “One hundred per cent, the culture,” she says firmly when asked what has stayed the same. She credits Amanda with ensuring that growth has never come at the expense of the company’s core values.

After nearly a decade, what has made her stay is not simply time served, but freedom and partnership. The professional bond she built with Amanda ten years ago remains strong. Even though she is no longer part of the executive team — by her own choice — she still feels respected and heard. “My voice still has its truth,” she says. For her, it is about respect and genuine partnership, not hierarchy.

Looking to the future, the word that comes to her mind immediately is simple: “Pride.” Pride in watching the company grow intentionally and thoughtfully. Pride in seeing how far it has come while remaining true to itself.

Passing the Positivity Forward

To close the conversation, Christine turns the spotlight to the next person in our series: Tom Miller. She describes him as “a freaking legend” and Simms’ in-house positivity creator. His energy, professionalism and infectious laugh, she says, have brought joy to the journey. “Tom Miller is our internal Santa Claus,” she adds warmly. “I cannot imagine having done this without him.”

Next week, our 10th Birthday Series continues with Tom, as we keep celebrating the people who have shaped Simms & Associates along the way.

One story every week. One year celebrating the people behind Simms & Associates.