With over 20 years of executive leadership experience, Rachel Miller-Short has been at the forefront of business transformation, strategic growth, and private equity-backed expansion. A trusted advisor to boards, CEOs, and investors, Rachel specializes in navigating complex global markets, executing high-stakes mergers and acquisitions, and optimizing financial performance to ensure sustainable success. Her data-driven decision-making and ability to align corporate vision with operational execution have positioned her as a go-to leader for organizations seeking scalable growth and long-term value creation.
Formally serving as vice president, commercial and executive global managing director at IMI Precision Engineering, Rachel oversees a $625 million P&L and global go-to-market strategy, guiding organizations through turnarounds, market expansion, and commercial optimization. Under her leadership, she has successfully restructured and rebranded a portfolio of 16 acquired businesses, reversing revenue losses and positioning the company for long-term double-digit growth despite economic challenges.
Rachel’s track record of success in mergers and acquisitions and private equity-driven transformations speaks for itself. She has led more than ten M&A transactions, including a $20 million acquisition that doubled revenue to $90 million and positioned the business for a profitable exit. At Photo Stencil, she played a key role in executing an operational turnaround, reversing negative EBITDA and achieving a 17 percent profitability rate at $55 million revenue within three years. Her ability to identify and execute high-value deals has made her a sought-after leader in industrial, manufacturing, and automation sectors.
Beyond financial stewardship, Rachel is a passionate advocate for leadership development and corporate culture transformation. At IMI, she led initiatives that improved employee retention by 40 percent and reduced operational complexity by 50 percent, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the organization. She understands that sustainable business success is built on strong teams, strategic talent development, and fostering a culture of accountability and empowerment.
Her leadership philosophy centers on balancing strategic vision with operational excellence. She takes a player-coach approach, empowering teams to take ownership of ambitious goals while providing clear, data-driven insights to guide executive decision-making. Whether launching a disruptive technology division from zero to $70 million in two years or transforming legacy organizations into profitable, high-performing enterprises, Rachel consistently delivers measurable impact.
A seasoned board advisor and governance expert, Rachel provides strategic oversight, risk mitigation, and executive counsel to organizations navigating growth challenges, competitive market positioning, and high-value investment opportunities. Her board and advisory experience includes roles with Empire Recreation, the National Fluid Power Association, and the Association for High Technology Distribution, where she lends her expertise in scaling operations and optimizing financial strategy.
Her global business acumen spans North America, the Middle East, and Asia, where she has led multi-market expansions, complex contract negotiations, and product commercialization efforts. As a thought leader, Rachel is frequently invited to speak at industry conferences on business transformation, global sales strategy, and private equity-backed growth. She has been featured in publications like SMT007 for her insights on business scalability, M&A strategy, and leadership excellence.
Rachel’s educational background in business management from the University of Colorado, Denver, combined with her executive strategic management certification from IMD School in Switzerland, provides a solid foundation in corporate strategy, financial management, and leadership innovation. She continually seeks opportunities to mentor, collaborate, and drive impact in organizations committed to long-term excellence.
Whether advising boards, leading corporate transformations, or executing strategic growth initiatives, Rachel’s commitment to excellence, resilience, and innovation makes her an invaluable leader in today’s fast-evolving business landscape. She welcomes the opportunity to partner with organizations poised for growth, investment, and market leadership.
Character:
Rachel Miller-Short is a principled and forward-thinking leader who upholds integrity, accountability, and ethical decision-making at every level of an organization. She fosters trust and collaboration, creating strong, people-first cultures that drive long-term success.
Knowledge:
With deep expertise in private equity-backed M&A, business turnarounds, and strategic growth, Rachel possesses a comprehensive understanding of financial strategy, operational scalability, and global market dynamics. Her ability to translate complex business challenges into data-driven solutions makes her a trusted advisor to boards, executives, and investors.
Strategic:
Rachel excels in long-term visioning, market positioning, and enterprise value creation, guiding organizations through transformational change and high-growth initiatives. She has a proven ability to align corporate strategy with operational execution, ensuring sustainable profitability and competitive advantage.
Communication:
A persuasive and results-oriented communicator, Rachel effectively engages with boards, investors, and executive teams to drive alignment on strategic objectives and financial performance. Her ability to articulate complex business strategies in a clear and actionable manner fosters collaboration and accelerates decision-making.
