“It has been incredibly rewarding to see Lake Road grow and expand over the past several years. Breaking into new export markets and representing New Zealand on a global stage has been a real highlight.”
Amber Nikora’s role at Lake Road Wines can involve juggling many different responsibilities, but is always centered on the importance of communication – working with our customers to understand their needs and ensure we deliver on those with every order. Amber started here in 2018, originally in an administration and sales support role, before progressing to Account Manager in 2020.
“A day in my role involves lots of talking and listening! I connect with our customers via phone, zoom and email. We have a fabulous team of sales reps in New Zealand, who I am in constant contact with. In the afternoon and evenings, our customers in other parts of the world are up and running - I like to be quick to respond to any queries they may have.”
Hailing from Gisborne, one of New Zealand’s famous wine regions, Amber loves being part of an innovative industry that punches above its weight on the world stage. “I believe the New Zealand wine industry is full of amazing people from different walks of life who we can learn so much from. There is a real sense of camaraderie in the New Zealand wine circle and we often have ways we can work together.”
They say great things in business are never done by one person, they're done by a team of people. And Amber has seen this from early on in her career. “To be perfectly honest, I am really proud of the relationships formed with co-workers, suppliers and of course customers. I have made so many connections in my career with incredible people. I truly value the relationships built in this time, from all over the world.”
When asked who motivates her the most, Amber’s answer is close to home. “My family and friends. I am inspired in various ways by many different people. Values I admire are perseverance, humility, respect and most of all - positivity.”
Amber is a born and raised Gisborne girl, and after 15 years away travelling the world, she returned home to raise her family in their own little slice of paradise. It is an easy question to answer when asked what she loves most about living in Gisborne… “Our amazing beach lifestyle! My children are involved in surf life-saving, rugby, waka ama, cricket, swimming, surfing…. The list goes on. We are never more than 5 minutes away from anywhere and a traffic jam is maybe 10 cars at an intersection.”
What piece of advice would Amber love to give to her younger self? “Tough question. SPF is your best friend?! Always be willing to laugh at yourself, and surround yourself with good people”.
And finally – what about her favourite way to enjoy a good wine?
It is with the simple pleasures in life. “Always with company! The perfect situation is with close friends, paired with a delicious antipasto platter and good banter”.