Recruitment firm plays pioneering role

In an industry traditionally dominated by men, the women at Lee Botti & Associates have spent decades quietly reshaping the narrative – one career at a time. Founded in 1977 by industry pioneer Lee Botti, the recruitment firm has become a trusted name in placing top talent in freight, travel, and supply chain roles. But her influence didn’t end with building a successful business – it extended to raising her three daughters, Kim, Jill and Sabina, who would go on to inherit not only her entrepreneurial spirit but also her deep commitment to shaping the industry through people. “Recruitment was part of our household from a young age,” says Jill Morris, now a director at the company alongside her sister Kim. “Our mom encouraged us to earn our stripes – starting from the bottom and working our way up through the ranks before we ever thought about taking over.” Kim adds: “Our parents encouraged us to obtain tertiary qualifications after school. Coming from a well-travelled and adventurous family, we were all eager to explore the world, but Lee encouraged us to gain some practical work experience and skills first.” All three sisters followed similar paths: completing their studies, gaining early work experience and then heading overseas to travel and broaden their horizons. Eventually, each returned at different times and chose to pursue careers in recruitment. Kim relocated to Johannesburg, while Jill – and later Sabina – learned the ropes at the Cape Town office. “We all started as juniors, learning the business from the ground up, and eventually stepped into roles as opportunities became available,” says Kim, who remained at the Johannesburg office. Jill later relocated to Durban, while Sabina continued working in the Cape Town branch. Over time, their paths evolved both personally and professionally. Sabina eventually emigrated to Italy, where she now works in in-house recruitment for a corporate, while Kim and Jill continue to run the business. Lee has since semi-retired, focusing more of her time on the company’s social responsibility initiatives. “Each of us brings different strengths to the table, but together we form a cohesive team,” says Jill. “The business has been highly successful in delivering a national service, supporting clients and candidates across the board.” Through the years, the company has played a pioneering role – developing the ‘Salary Survey for the Clearing & Forwarding Industry’, later acquired by a specialist survey company, to launching the iThuba initiative in 2013, which hosts workshops for disadvantaged Grade 12 learners on how to prepare for the job market. To date, the programme has trained over 14 000 students. These initiatives reflect a deeper commitment that has carried the business through decades of change. “Over our 48 years of existence, we have seen many ups and downs. Covid was impactful, not just to the recruitment sector but to the industries we serve,” says Kim. “We have journeyed these years together, along with amazing staff and especially with some incredible long-serving staff who have been part of the LBA family. We are proud to have a dynamic team alongside us who continue to offer a personalised service to our clients and candidates, where long-standing relationships have been built over many years.” LV