KIM NISBET: Sales & Purchasing Manager at Toyota Boshoku South Africa
#AutomotiveAllies: Kim Nisbet, nominated by Shivani Singh, is the Sales & Purchasing Manager at Toyota Boshoku. Reflecting on her career, Kim is still surprised to have found herself in the Automotive sector. With a BSc in Chemistry and having worked in multiple Sappi Pulp & Paper manufacturing plants, it seemed likely that she would remain in the technical field.
However, 15 years ago, Kim was approached to head up the Vehicle Logistics & Exports department at Toyota SA Motors and so began an exciting and rewarding journey with this incredible company. Toyota is highly regarded for recognising that people development is as critical to the success of the company as it is for the individual. Having had the opportunity to change roles within Toyota a few times, Kim’s experience is a testament to this. Holding various roles within Purchasing and most recently heading up the Enterprise & Supplier Development department, she is grateful to have been part of driving transformation in the supply chain.
Kim recently moved to Toyota Boshoku and joined the ranks of Automotive Suppliers. She plans to share her knowledge gleaned at Toyota and equally to learn from Toyota Boshoku.
Manufacturing can be a difficult environment for a woman and Kim remembers many challenges. Self-belief, hard work and determination are what got her through some tough times. However, Kim also pays special tribute to the incredible mentors that she has had in her career. “In my view, a good mentor is one of the most significant “make or break” aspects of your working life and I attribute much of my success to these great people. It is ironic to note that none of these mentors was a Woman. Realising this many years ago, I have made it my purpose to identify and nurture women in our industry that are hungry for growth. I believe that woman leaders bring a different and critical dimension to the workplace. Add a strong woman to your team and you will be richer as a result.”