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.”