I have always envisioned myself in the 'driving seat' - Rurangwa

Business Times continues to profile successful business women, who will share their success tips and experiences of how they made it in the cutthroat and male-dominated business world. They reveal how they started out, what inspired them and how they have managed to make their business dreams come true. This week, Peterson Tumwebaze caught up with Jackie Rurangwa, a clearing and forwarding agent in Kigali when she was growing up, she never imagined herself as a business woman. She envisioned herself as a corporate in one of those blue chip companies. Her career was that clear-cut. But as it is said, one cannot run away from their destiny. This was the case for Jackie Rurangwa. After working as a cashier in micro-finance institutions for over 15 years, she did not find the satisfaction she wanted. This forced the 42-year-old to rethink her career path. And venturing into business was the best alternative for the managing director of Multilines International Rwanda, a logistics and transport company. After she had made up her mind on the next move, Ruranga resigned her job to devote all her energies into her new love, business. She couldn’t have made a better decision as the former cashier has cut her teeth in the logistics business, where she now controls a sizeable share in Rwanda and across the region. “As a young child, I always wanted to be on top; to be the one giving orders. I always envisioned myself in the driving seat …this is something I enjoy. Therefore, I was not comfortable working for other people. In fact, it kept haunting me whenever I slept…I had to do something. I had to be innovative to escape the ‘torture’.” Rurangwa, who at one time was earning a Rwf20,000 salary as a cashier in one of the SACCOs, says working for other people can be so disheartening. “So, I had to take the risk and start my own business. At least I would be toiling for my own company and wellbeing,” she notes. Switching rolesBut first she had to get to understand how her chosen area of business operated. Rurangwa says she got a job as a messenger in a clearing and forwarding firm in Gikondo, Kigali to get experience in the sector. Later, when the firm closed shop, friends helped her get a job as an administrator in another clearing and forwarding firm. “This gave me a great chance to know how things were being done. It was from this opportunity that I decided to start my own logistics company,” she says. She adds that shortly before she started the enterprise, some of the people she had always relied on for support, her father and an auntie, died. “It was so devastating that I almost reversed my decision was it not for my husband who encouraged to fight on,” Rurangwa notes. Challenges Rurangwa notes that the biggest asset she started the business with is self-belief. “I had about Rwf200,000 as start-up capital, but I never focused on that. All I wanted was to have my company registered, Rwanda Cargo and Logistics Limited, and believed that the rest would be sorted out with time,” she adds. As night follows day, Multilines International Rwanda, which was established in 2005 is now a multi-billion enterprise employing hundreds of workers. Although it was one of the few clearing and forwarding firms back then, getting clients was hard, especially given the firm’s limited experience.“Because I was small and new, customers never trusted me, and this affected us greatly. Sometimes, it would take two months before we got business, but we persevered until 2009 when the need to merge with a big international company become a necessary evil,” notes Rurangwa, adding that she had no choice but to merge with ‘the big boys’ or be kicked out of the business. Rurangwa who later merged with Multiline International says she had sent proposals to about five international logistics companies, but only Multilines International responded. “I was excited that I had gotten an international partner, who would later become my mentor in the business,” Rurangwa, a business studies graduate, said. However, she was not sure about the future of the merger with Multilines International, and was scared of any eventualities. “Thank God the move paid off. My friends had advised me not to merge with a big company, saying it would buy me out. They had thought it was better to merge with the small, emerging firms,” notes. She points out that because she never wanted to trade problems with other problems characteristic of small clearing firms, she ignored the advice. The challenge of limited customers and seasonality of business is Rurangwa’s menu that she has to face almost every day. The mother of five also always juggles her roles as a business woman, mother and wife. “As the MD, I am always in meetings and travelling across the globe, but I have to meet my responsibilities as a mother and wife. However, my family understands that they can’t be with me all the time as I have to put food on the table. It’s a painful reality.” Rurangwa also notes that the sector is dogged with gender insensitivities. “The industry is dominated by men. Therefore, a woman in this business has to prove that she knows what she is doing, which is unfair,” she adds.She notes she has been able to stay among the top firms in the sector because of her ‘go-getter’ spirit.Inspiration One could rightly say that Rurangwa, who was at one time a messenger, has seen it all. She says the inspirational speeches of President Paul Kagame keep her focused and stronger. “Whenever I hear him speak about unity, togetherness and working hard, it fires me up and inspires me to do the impossible to stay on top.” Also seeing more women joining what have traditionally been male-dominated sectors is a great inspiration for her. “It shows you the responsibilities women have towards the economic development of this country,” she adds.Achievements For daring to dream big, Rurangwa has been rewarded handsomely. She has diversified, venturing into retail business selling jewelry and women clothes. She has also built apartments in Kagarama and Kimihurura and owns luxurious cars. “I started with three employees but they are 20 workers today. Our business at Multilines is also doing well because the firm has grown faster than we had projected. Rurangwa also has a farm, where the family rears cattle.Advice “When you are starting a company, you need to be patient. Otherwise, you will break down in one day and lose everything you struggled to get,” Rurangwa counsels start-ups. She adds that being efficient in what you do as well as earning clients’ trust makes the difference between success and failure of an enterprise. “Asking whether your client was satisfied and what she or he thinks about your business is what will make a small firm turn into an empire,” she notes.Rurangwa advises business people to look at mergers as opportunities for growth, noting that the principle of forward-merging is about consolidating strengths. “When three hands come together, they lift a heavier load,” she says philosophically. She also advises women not to undermine themselves, arguing that only big dreamers reach the summit. Reinvesting in the enterprise is vital for business development. Always reinvest your earnings to grow the business and stand out, she notes.