Behind the Brand: Rachel Debeck — Flexischools

If you’re a parent in Australia, there’s a good chance Flexischools has saved your sanity at least once — maybe on a morning when you discovered the fridge was bare, or when your child announced five minutes before the bell that it’s “canteen day.”

What began as a clever digital ordering system has become part of the fabric of school life across the country. With over 200 million orders processed, Flexischools has quietly revolutionised how families manage their daily chaos — one sandwich, sushi roll, and school fee at a time.

But behind the app that runs like clockwork is a woman who knows exactly what it feels like to juggle leadership, motherhood, and the invisible load that parents everywhere carry.

Rachel Debeck, CEO of Flexischools, leads a team that’s earned the trust of schools and parents nationwide. “Trust like that doesn’t happen overnight,” she says. “Reliability and convenience for parents to be able to order school lunches at a time that suits them is so important when you’re managing the morning rush. For schools and their suppliers, it’s about partnership. We’re part of their daily operations, helping them run efficiently, stay compliant, and connect seamlessly with families.”

That trust, Rachel explains, was built through consistency. “We show up every day and do what we say we’ll do. Schools and suppliers trust us because we make their lives easier, and parents trust us because we’ve earned it through years of safe, simple, stress-free experiences. Behind all of that is a team that genuinely cares. Many of us are parents ourselves, or have had experience working in schools or canteens, so we build and deliver with empathy.”

It’s that empathy — paired with innovation — that has cemented Flexischools as one of Australia’s most loved parent platforms.

Redefining Value for Modern Families

When it comes to understanding families, Rachel doesn’t talk in abstract marketing terms — she speaks from lived experience. “We’re seeing a real shift in what ‘value’ means for families. It’s no longer just about price; it’s about peace of mind, time back, and confidence that things will run smoothly. Parents today are juggling so much, and what they value most is their time.”

She points out something most parents forget: “Food from school canteens still represents some of the best value out there. You can’t make a healthy, fresh lunch at home for the same price and know that it’s actually going to be eaten and not returned home at the end of the day.”

It’s a fair point — and one that hits home for every parent who’s unpacked a soggy sandwich.

Leading Through the Juggle

Ask Rachel about balance, and she doesn’t sugarcoat it. “It’s definitely a work in progress! I don’t think anyone has it perfectly balanced. Over time, I’ve learned to be deliberate about where I put my energy. I try to focus on the things that really need me, and for everything else, I delegate or outsource where I can.”

Her honesty is refreshing. “Technology helps me stay organised, but what matters most is being truly present for the moments that count. I’ve also had to let go of striving for perfection, which has been one of the most valuable shifts for me.”

Motherhood and leadership, she says, have more in common than people realise. “Parenting has made me more patient, empathetic, and better at prioritising what really matters. These are skills that show up every day in how I lead. And equally, leadership has taught me to step back, trust others, and focus on outcomes, not micromanagement — lessons that help at home too.”

Innovation Rooted in Reality

Flexischools’ success isn’t just about great tech — it’s about relentless listening. “Innovation always starts with discovery,” Rachel explains. “We spend a lot of time listening, observing, and understanding what’s really happening with our customers. That means analysing feedback, diving into data, and having real conversations with canteen operators, business managers, and parents.”

What they’re looking for, she says, are the small pain points that quietly steal time. “Those are the moments where something feels harder than it should — that’s where our team works on building solutions.”

It’s how Flexischools evolved from canteen orders to an all-in-one school management and payment hub. “We’re not chasing trends,” she says. “We’re solving the right problems, with the people who experience them every day.”

Keeping Tech Human

In a world where apps can feel cold and transactional, Rachel’s approach is grounded in warmth. “Great technology is the kind you don’t really notice — it just works,” she says. “One of our values is ‘People at the Heart’. We’re deliberate about keeping the human touch — through how we communicate, how we design experiences, and how we support our community.”

For Rachel, the magic of Flexischools isn’t in the code. It’s in the connection.

The Invisible Load

Flexischools’ recent Simplifying School Life report revealed something every mum already knows — women are still carrying most of the school admin and mental load. “In our research, 84% of respondents were women, which says a lot,” Rachel says. “It shows that mums are still carrying most of the invisible work.”

Her take? Awareness is the first step. “You can’t share what no one can see. When we shine a light on the invisible stuff, we can start to share it more evenly.”

She points out how simple systems can shift that dynamic. “When technology reflects how families actually live and work today, it helps share that responsibility in small but meaningful ways. Even the school calling the mum first when a child is sick — it’s such a small thing, but it reflects a bigger assumption.”

As a mum of three boys, she’s leading by example. “It’s important for them to see and hear these conversations. This isn’t just about women; it’s about all of us.”

Real Impact, Real Stories

Rachel’s favourite moments are the stories she hears from other parents. “Whenever I tell someone what I do, they always say something like, ‘Oh, we use Flexischools — I honestly don’t know how we’d live without it.’ Then they’ll share a story. Maybe it’s about a crazy morning saved by being able to order lunch from the car, or a child who finally eats something they actually like. Every time, it reminds me how personal our impact really is.”

“It’s not abstract,” she adds. “We’re giving hundreds of thousands of families time, calm, and connection in the middle of busy, messy, everyday life. What a privilege.”

Redefining Leadership

Rachel’s leadership style is anchored in empathy. “Even in a tech company, it’s not the code or the product that makes the difference — it’s the people who build it, support it, and believe in it. High performance isn’t about pushing harder; it’s about creating the conditions for people to do their best work by providing clarity, trust, and belonging.”

And when it comes to parenting advice? Rachel’s answer is one every parent needs to hear. “Be kind to yourself. What feels overwhelming now won’t always feel that way. The chaos of school lunches, sports bags, and permission slips doesn’t last forever. Let go of the guilt and simplify wherever you can.”

It’s the kind of wisdom that feels like a deep exhale — the reminder every parent craves in the middle of the mayhem.

Because, in the end, that’s what Flexischools is really about — creating calm in the chaos, one order at a time.