This women’s month, we celebrate the women driving change within the ranks at Nissan South Africa
Not many people get the opportunity to live out a childhood dream, but Lizette Crause managed to make hears a reality after years of hard work and determination. Growing up in a farming community in Amersfoort, Lizette got behind the wheels of farming vehicles from the age of nine and knew she was destined to work with vehicles.
Now leading the charge as Nissan South Africa's Customer Quality and Dealer Network Development General Manager, she has done more than she could have imagined as a child as is paving the way for other young women to follow. With Lizette at the helm, the Nissan Dealer Network has seen an increase in women-led dealerships over the last few years.
This month, we get to know the women whose lives have been impacted by Nissan's commitment to diversity and those who have been leading some of Nissan South Africa's most crucial projects in recent years.
Get to know Lizette Crause:
Q: Tell us about your role at Nissan and how long you've been with the company?
A: For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be a contributor to the automotive industry. I was fortunate to join Nissan in 2001 as an Aftersales Financial Clerk. I have held various positions in Aftersales, Finance, C-Plan Strategic projects, New Vehicle Business Planning, Network Development and AMIE Dealer Network development, before my current position as General Manager, Customer Quality and Network Development.
Q: As one of the leading ladies at Nissan, can you tell us about a project you've led that you're most proud of?
A: Leading Customer Quality is ensuring all Nissan stakeholders is customer-focused and a key contributing factor is the rapid response to customers to turn dissatisfaction to satisfaction has been a highlight to my career.
A key success factor has been the implementation and management of Voice of Customers for South Africa in collaboration with a cross-functional team within Nissan South Africa as well as the dealer network. Our focus on the customer is paying off with high and stable customer satisfaction results.
Another highlight is leading the network expansion and growth partner appointment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Even during the pandemic, four markets in Central Africa (Cameroon, DRC, Gabon and Rwanda) were set up and started operations under a growth partner, Caetano. Further expansion of the Nissan footprint is in progress for two West African markets, Niger and Mauritania, to ensure the all-new Nissan Navara and other Nissan products, as well as Aftersales service are available to customers in these markets.
Q: Beyond work accomplishments are there any personal ones you'd like to share?
A: Even though I am a workaholic, I have a lovely family; my husband and two daughters. We all love and have respect for each other and enjoying quality time together.
Q: Can you tell us more about what challenges you've overcome in the automotive industry as a female leader?
A: I opt to forget that there are gender differences and focus on delivering impact. By focusing on the impact, the business stakeholders see you as a partner and colleague who contributes to the industry and business objectives.
Q: In your position as a leader, how do you ensure that you empower other women at Nissan?
A: I enable and foster an environment and culture to embrace diversity and inclusion to identify talent and with this, I have some “leading” ladies in my own department.
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