Tell us about what you do and how you came to do it.
I’m honorary chairman of Isuzu Truck UK, the UK arm of Isuzu, one of the largest truck manufacturers. They’re based in Tokyo, we’re based in Hertfordshire.
Back in 2002 I organised a management buyout of the company I worked for, then two years ago I sold the business back to Isuzu. So I’m now in semi-retirement. Isuzu didn’t want me to go completely and I’ve been able to act as a bridge for the company after the sale. I suspect honorary chairman is a Japanese term for fat, old lady we don’t know what to do with, but it’s working ok.
How did your career start?
Back in the 1960s I took a secretarial course, had kids and worked as a part-time secretary. Then my husband, who was 23 years older than me, left me for someone his own age – which was embarrassing to explain. I always say the divorce deal was he got the money and I got everything with a stomach – namely, the kids. I had to keep working because we needed the money.
I went to work for a Ford dealer in Kent as an admin manager, which was probably my most difficult job. I started to help out with the selling and realised I was quite good at it. Then I went to work for the fleet department, loved it and was made general manager. I was so proud but then I was told as a woman I couldn’t manage a male sales team so they brought in a sales manager. Luckily he took the first three months of his contract off with a bad back and by the time he came back I’d proved I didn’t need him.
From there I went to work for Lex, to set up a multi-franchised lease operation, three years in Isuzu asked them to bring the first Japanese truck to the UK.
The first time I went to Japan, nobody would speak to me, I wasn’t interpreted, they offered me shopping trips while the men talked business. We went to the test track, I was offered iced tea while the men drove the trucks but I was determined to drive one of them. They offered me a 32 tonne truck.
I’d never driven a truck before, so I climbed up in my skirt and my heels and sitting next to me was this terrified test driver. I gave him my shoes and handbag and said, “hold that”.
I went round the track and after that I was fine, they accepted me. Although they did then take me to a transvestite nightclub – I don’t know whether they thought I was transvestite, or that I should have been a transvestite but there you go. That was back in 96 and now we’ve got a great relationship.
What has been your proudest moment?
The day of the sale, I was able to give everyone a minimum of a five figure cheque. That was probably one of the best moments of my life.
You were a working, single mother, how did you combine work and family?
You just manage don’t you? One thing that I’ve noticed is that when you go to these [women’s] conferences is there are some women who say you can have it all. They tend to be very wealthy women who either start their own businesses or can afford nannies. It’s definitely tough. I used to use [my commute] from the office and back to change personas. My daughter works for the company but I don’t think my sons would recognise me [in work mode].
How can we improve the workplace?
I was lucky at Isuzu that I could use my own experience, so we had paternity leave. If you have young children that are sick, we say if they’re not that sick bring them to work. And we allow people to set their hours and where they work. Our entire customer care team work from home. Our [staff] turnover has been under 2% for the entire time we’ve been running. Those three and four-year-olds who came in when they were sick are now coming and working for us. We can’t talk about quotas in the boardroom until we make it easier for parents to stay in the workplace. Because of the policies we put in place, 50% of my management team are female.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Have more confidence. Never look back – we spend a lot of time thinking I wish I had, it’s too late it’s gone. I always say to my kids, if I pop my clogs don’t bother having a funeral - I’ve had a great time.
Nikki King will be speaking at the Inspiring Women 2015 Conference: Edinburgh on Thursday 5 March.
