#WIB – Q&A With Candice Parker MD Of Nashua Gqeberha
1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
Nashua Gqeberha is one of Nashua’s 42 franchises. Nashua is a Total Workspace Solutions provider that offers a comprehensive range of business solutions including IT services, products, communications, connectivity, printing, alternative energy, surveillance and access control. We are a proudly South African brand that stands for reliability, quality and trust.
2. When, how and why did you start your business?
I have been working at Nashua for many years and I wanted to invest in the business, which is what led to my decision of purchasing shares of the franchise six years ago.
3. What is your role in the business?
For the past six years, I have led the sales team as Sales Director at the Eastern Cape franchise in Gqeberha. I was appointed as Managing Director effective 1 July 2022 after the retirement of our previous Managing Director.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
I initially enrolled at the University of Port Elizabeth (now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) to study for a BCom degree. After my first year I wasn’t sure if it was the right path for me and around the same time, a Junior Sales position came up. It was an opportunity for me to start making my own money, so I paused my studies to pursue it and that was the starting point of a wonderful career journey which took me to where I am today.
As my career progressed, I decided to resume my studies and further studies completed the short course, Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business School. I am currently completing a Management course through the Gordon Institute of Business Science and I am due to start the Management Advancement Programme (MAP) course through Wits University in May 2023.
5. How did you finance your business?
When I was appointed Sales Director six years ago, I funded my first purchase of shares through our household bond facility.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists?
The ‘average workday’ does not exist and I’m grateful for that. The ICT sector in which Nashua operates is fast paced and we offer one of the most diverse solutions offerings in our industry. The business is constantly evolving and it’s my job to ensure that our strategy keeps up and that our team understand the role they play in achieving our goals.
I’m still involved in the sales department, make time to get out to visit clients and take pride in my inclusive, and transparent leadership role. I never know what exciting new challenges, ideas or tasks await in a new and extremely busy workday. The important thing is that I can’t get to the office quick enough in the mornings to find out.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
As a working mother and wife, I have strived for many years to achieve a balance that ensures that the family doesn’t lose out to my work commitments and the immense satisfaction and joy I get out of my career. I have come to understand that this is less about achieving these daily and more about sharing what is going on at work with my children.
My husband and I have always discussed our workdays with each other, but because my children are now older, I keep them in loop about what is going on in mom’s life at the office. It’s okay to have bad days and sharing these with them allows them to understand that it’s okay to not always be okay.
Our household is a busy one, but we are a team that supports each other on the bad days and celebrate together on the good ones. This has brought us closer and allowed me to take the challenges at the office and interpret them into age-appropriate lessons for my children.
I have grown to accept that I don’t need to say yes to every invitation and I’m protective of our family time and my personal time over the weekends. I believe in balance, but not necessarily every day. The different facets of your life require different levels of attention at different times.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
That’s easy—my people. Nothing drives or inspires me more than seeing our staff at Nashua grow, succeed, and achieve their version of success. I’m motivated by seeing the impact that positivity, inclusiveness, and teamwork can have on an organisation and am vocal about my appreciation for each team member.
I’m driven by my own success, but my measurement of this is leading my company to greater heights with a team of inspired individuals who are as enthusiastic and motivated as I am. I thrive on positivity, honesty and making the choice to see every challenge or obstacle as an opportunity.
The more people I can include in reaching our goals, the better. If they one day say that they achieved their version of success or career goals because I believed in them, even if they are eventually outside of Nashua, that would be a moment of success for me.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
I enjoy strategising and brainstorming with my team. I ask for advice and love hearing about successful people’s career journeys. I’m always amazed at how supportive people are if you ask for help. I’ve learnt valuable lessons from amazing people in my life. My brain never shuts down. By choice, I don’t have much down time. I also get great ideas while driving.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
Nashua is a South African household name, which makes marketing easier. Our slogan ‘Saving you time, saving you money, putting you first’ has stood the test of time. We are focusing on marketing and advertising Nashua’s extensive range of solutions via PR, social media platforms as well as local print and radio advertising.
We also leverage sponsorship opportunities at schools and NPOs. We take our responsibility to our society seriously and are proud of social partnerships such as our relationship with SuperSport Schools. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of marketing, so we harness the power of good customer service to create a positive buzz and attract business.
11. What is next for your business?
As a relatively recently appointed Managing Director, I am eager to execute my vision and strategy for the business. The Gqeberha franchise has always been strong, and I believe that my leadership style and amazing team can grow the business to new heights. My staff’s satisfaction is of utmost importance to me. When you concentrate on your people, your business benefits because you are all working towards a common goal.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
I have been with Nashua for 22 years and I have not started a business of my own from scratch. However, I have worked my way up the corporate ladder and broken the proverbial glass ceiling with my recent appointment. Based on this experience, I give the same advice to men and woman in business—we become what we believe. If you believe you should be taken seriously and that you have a lot to offer, you will be treated accordingly.
Work hard, seek opportunity, put yourself forward and be loyal. Many opportunities came up for me to leave Nashua, but as long as I was growing, progressing and woke up motivated to go to work each day, I remained committed. I believe people jump ship too quickly for short-term gains. Good things take time.
I’m a firm believer in having a positive outlook. Positivity follows you and returns positive results. Leadership or career growth doesn’t require a title, corner office or increased salary. Be the change that you want, every day. Believe it, work hard at it, speak it, and live it. When the time is right you will receive and be rewarded with what you deserve.
Bio: Candice Parker
Candice Parker is the Managing Director at Nashua Gqeberha—the first woman to be appointed MD of a Nashua franchise. The Nelson Mandela Business Chamber named her one of the Top 40 under 40 business people in the Bay in 2015 and she won the Business Women’s Association Regional Business Achiever Awards in the Corporate Division in 2016.
Candice considers herself blessed to have received strong mentorship throughout her career, which she regards as playing an instrumental role in her personal and career success. This is why she is so passionately invested in the Business Mentorship Programme she heads through the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.
Candice is married to Warren Parker, an Attorney, and is mother to Hannah, Luke and Josh. She was born in East London, grew up in Gqeberha and matriculated from Victoria Park High School in 1998. Candice is the nipper chairlady at the Kings Beach Surf Lifesaving Club and coaches and competes in the sport.
Website: www.nashua.co.za