Perseverance pays off for Botswanan entrepreneur

Joy Simakane makes her
dreams come true no matter
what. Describing herself
as not very “schooled”, but
dedicated and hardworking, she
creates opportunity out of almost
everything.
Five years ago this young
Botswanan entrepreneur took the
decision to walk out of a secure
job and start her own company.
With dreams of having a
catering business, she quickly
realised that her ever-declining
bank balance would not allow
for this. So instead she started
Extramile Express with only one
employee – herself.
“I had worked in the clearing
and forwarding industry for years.
And when I left my job I was
intending to leave the industry.
But I soon realised I did not have
enough money to start something
I knew nothing about. So I set off
for the border and started doing
what I knew best – clearing.”
With no office and only herself
as employee, she took up her
own challenge.
“I had a vision of this small
little company becoming an
international freight forwarding
business. I did not have much,
but I had knowledge and I had
experience, and I was willing to
work hard.”
And it all paid off. Today her
vision has come true – Simakane
does exactly that. She owns and
runs an international freight
forwarding company employing
more than 100 people with
offices in London, South Africa
and Namibia. Plans to expand to
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and
China are also on the cards.
“It has not been easy – I am not
an educated person, at least in the
scholarly way, but that did not
stop me. I have faced challenges
and overcome them. I believe it
is about perseverance, dedication
and hard work. And ultimately,
I guess I am educated in freight
forwarding and clearing!”
Surrounding herself with a team
of extremely capable workers is
just as important, says Simakane.
“I build relationships not just
with my clients but also with my
employees. I develop and train my
staff. I take the time to remember
birthdays, to buy small gifts for
Valentine’s Day and to create a
workplace they enjoy coming to.”
As a mother of two and wife,
she admits it is not common to
find women from her country
achieving success in the business
world – even less so in a maledominated
industry such as freight.
“I believe women in Botswana are
slowly but surely changing the tide
and taking their destiny into their
own hands. It is also important that
more women step up and become
entrepreneurs, regardless of their
educational background.”