Jacqueline Parekh has a background in management consulting, with 25 years of experience at Ernst & Young, Deloitte, and Accenture, particularly in the natural resources sector.
Having moved to New Zealand in 2017 with her partner, she found limited growth opportunities in her field. She began working for a consulting firm, where she was assigned a six-month contract with Asahi Beverages, which has now lasted over six years.
Parekh said she found it very exciting to help set the future trajectory of a beverage business that will impact society not just for today but well down the track, too.
One of her core values, central to all that she has done, is ‘stewardship’; leaving a place or person better than when she first found it/them.
“This is an infinite goal and one that makes me wake up each morning with renewed passion that I can make a difference and continue to make a difference. Each win, no matter big or small, tells me to continue to fulfil this core value, and has led me in the right direction,” said Parekh, Head of Strategic Projects, Commercial at Asahi Beverages New Zealand.
Spearheading a ten-day project, rallying cross-functional departments at Asahi Beverages to produce WHO-compliant hand sanitisers donated to essential service providers in New Zealand in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic was a major highlight of her career.
Parekh has been a huge admirer of Indra Nooyi, the former Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo (2006–2018), having read her books and attended her masterclass. She learned to ‘leave the crown at the doorstep,’ and that when she walked through the door at home, her primary roles were wife and mother, not CEO.
She also learned that experiencing and embracing failure is a powerful catalyst for success, building resilience, fostering a growth mindset, turning temporary setbacks into opportunities, and ultimately motivating perseverance until goals are achieved. She strives to balance profit and purpose, retaining intellectual curiosity and focusing on retention and business growth.
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