Felista Wakina describes herself as an “African business woman, coach, mother, Kenyan and passionate about other people especially those in business,” on her blog A Little Sense. The 42-year old mother of four is a holder of a Master in Education, Administration and Planning, from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
She tells us about Softlink Options Limited, a company she founded and has been heading for the last 9 years.
Tell us about your journey in business. What inspired you to start?
I quit my job for two main reasons:
1. I really wanted to have time to put into self-employment because I felt I had the zeal and employment was interfering.
2. I needed a flexible schedule because my children were small and I would be able to provide better support to my spouse if my schedule was more flexible. This would allow him to fully focus on his career.
So once out I registered for a course in entrepreneurship and also started an export business. I was exporting fresh fruits and vegetables. I used the internet to find new customers. However export consignments are large and once you supply once you need to wait for about 2 weeks to be paid and then you can look for another order hence I could only do one order per month.
This was a new area for me as I had just left the classroom where I was teaching food and nutrition. Five months later, and five orders later there were major learning lessons and I was forced to re-access my situation and I realised I could not handle the export industry and the product. It was perishable, sourcing was done at the farms of Meru and Ukambani, flights were at odd times and I had to rely on clearing agents, cash flow requirements were high and I knew very little about the industry. I thus hung my boots and called it a day.
Several days later I decided that since my children had now started school I could go back to work and started sending out applications. While doing this one of my classmates whom I met in the entrepreneurship course asked me if I could help her with the company website and also show them how to use their financial software. I agreed to help and let her know that I had never done that kind of work but with my training an experience I could learn and then apply. She was ready to risk things and said “what is the worst that could happen”. Since they were not getting any benefit anyway there was nothing to lose.
Well I worked on both assignments and trained the company on how to use the technology. Once complete she purchased some shares for me and asked me why I was trying so many other things while I had such good things in ICT and could provide the service. I quickly defended my position and indicated I though ICT needs were only for large companies and small businesses could sort out their small needs internally. I also explained how I did not have the resources to set up a consultancy that the large companies would work with. She asked me to give it a shot and look for other small businesses and sell my skills to them. And I did. I walked from door to door, office to office until one company signed up with me. I used that first check to register a business and open a bank account and they say the rest is history. Since then I have been helping all sorts of businesses meet their technology needs.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
I started with almost nothing but my head and two legs. I had an old computer I had purchased 5 years earlier and a home internet connection thanks to my husband who at that time worked with an ISP and they offered us a free service.
What have been your biggest challenges so far with running your business?
Finding a working sales model and getting staff who come with some skills we can build upon.
What do you love about running your own business?
What I love most about my job is that I can use my skills and help other businesses use technology to scale up.
How has entrepreneurship changed you?
I can truly believe in myself and can use my hands, legs and head to help others as I help myself.
How has your life changed since you got into business?
The only part that has changed is that I never have to wait for end of the month to get paid, it comes in daily. The first three years I could not take home a pay check and then after that I could only pay myself what I earned in my first job as a fresh graduate. These were tough times but I learnt to work with a lean budget. Then 5 years later I was paying myself what I took home on my last job. Now I get almost double of what I used to earn but it is often not tied to end of the month. As you will recall this was not my initial focus. I was just out on a mission to help a friend as I killed time while looking for a job.
What’s the biggest lesson you have ever learned?
Never give up even when things look as bleak as ever.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I read lots of books and watch business related programs to keep motivated and mingle with other entrepreneurs.
Where do you see your business five years from now?
I am currently working on scaling up and finding the right team to carry on the dream.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Got the Idea? Then get started. The journey is not easy but the learning lessons along the way and the change you bring to society are immensely rewarding
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