Overcoming challenges is fun —Bukola Shittu

Bukola Shittu, the CEO of Urban Konnect Logistics, talks about her career

What are your qualification
 I studied Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Lagos.  Urban Konnect Logistics is a logistics and haulage company. We move items from end to end and provide business support to producers and sellers, who desire to have their products reach the end users seamlessly. It is safe to say we are the wheels of your business. We provide logistics support to both corporate and retail businesses locally and internationally.
 

What profession were you into before Urban Konnect Logistics?

Before I founded Urban Konnect Logistics, I was a public relations personnel. I promoted products, services and companies. I also designed online content and engaged in social media marketing. Before now, I worked with big names like Don Jazzy and many others. I have also worked with Airtel, Courtville Business Solutions, Road Runners and VCL in various capacities that relate to public relations and market push campaigns.

When did you found the business and what prompted you to become your own boss?

Urban Konnect started after a lot of underground work. I conceived the idea out of a passion for excellence in service delivery. I believe the way logistics is done can be improved to ensure better turnaround time and  customer experience. The logistics business is one that has a lot of logistic demands itself. It is a business that takes all of your time and effort. It is a constant fusion of energy and attention. I am a “hands on person” and I love to get busy. I love challenges and I’m spurred on by situations that require intelligence. Practising PR for more than six years has made me visit different parts of Lagos. I decided that it was time I started making commercial use of my knowledge of Lagos roads and beyond.

What were your fears when you founded the business?

There are countless factors to keep one awake in this line of business. The general fear of acceptance into the new market is a constant fear. As we all know, there are major players who have been in the business for many years. The fear of being able to compete with them and serve the consumers with the same operation standard existed at some point. In addition, no matter the personal nature of your dreams, you need other people to come around and give you support. You require the services of riders, drivers, maintenance persons, office assistants, etc. This group of people need to be properly managed else their actions and (or) inactions can erode profit or even customer goodwill. Also, fuel and other needed raw materials are at times scarce. I remember that during the last fuel crisis in the country, we had to make extra efforts to stay in business in the face of scarcity of resources. Like every other business in Nigeria, the fear of getting the right personnel to share the dream with, the fear of economic fluctuations and vagaries of material prices, competition and the general market conditions all abound.

How did you overcome them?

Overcoming them is the real fun in the whole set up. It is like the game of chess, the rook, the knights, the pawns, everything and everybody are in your face. The objectives you have in mind for the business would keep you focused and would drive the solution. I researched broadly and got on the road. I did a lot of ground work and consulted widely, all these paid off.

How did you raise the capital to establish your business?

The capital to start the business came from my personal savings and some money I got from family members who shared in the dreams of Urban Konnect.

What are your responsibilities as the CEO?

I am responsible for driving the entire business psychology. I think up strategies and innovations that would help the business stay competitive and relevant. As the CEO, I manage the resources of the company; human, material, financial, etc. I review business processes constantly with my team and manage the entire reward and discipline system in line with the company’s objectives.

 What is a typical day of a CEO like?

The orders start coming from 6.00am or earlier.  A word of prayer is always important, however busy the day has started. Then, I get on the road and face the day’s work. When the orders are getting fulfilled and I can finally take a rest, I get on my laptop and evaluate the day’s work, highlighting what went well and what didn’t go so well. All these help to plan future activities. On a daily basis also, I follow up on customers to ensure satisfaction and look out for new clients and businesses also.

Now that the business has grown, what new set of challenges are you experiencing?

The challenges at this stage are the usual business challenges. Staffing and staff retention, maintenance and incidence management and we constantly have to outdo ourselves to ensure we retain and satisfy our growing customer base.

How do you overcome them?

By designing good staff welfare packages that include insurance and reward. We get together constantly to share our experiences and design workable plans for future engagements. Also, we have a database of our customers, so we seek their opinions of us constantly and work on areas of improvement.

What motivates you?

My motivation comes from my personal desire to improve the way business is done in Nigeria. I believe Nigerians can start businesses that would outlive them; I believe we have what it takes to grow a brand like Coca Cola, Guinness and others that would have a global appeal. I believe we can create businesses that would see their 200th birthdays and even beyond.

As a young and successful CEO, how do you balance work and social life?

Well, people who know me know that I work hard to get results and also play hard. I go on vacations whenever I can afford to, I create time to enjoy the good things and good places of life.

What is your vision for the business?

To grow the business to international standards and create a brand bigger than myself.

If you weren’t a CEO, what other thing would you have become?

I would be a fashion designer or a PR guru, a content creator, a business consultant, a TV presenter, or an interior decorator. These are all things I have a passion for.

What advice do you have for youths who wish to start a courier business in this recession?

If you wish to start a courier business or anything worth the while at all, you must research before you plunge in -never dive in blind. You must be willing to exercise patience and not seek immediate gratification. The main focus of your business must be the customers. Ask yourself constantly; what problem are you out to solve? Who would benefit from your efforts?  Will you get paid? And then, other great things follow.