Name: Salome Kgoale
Company: EmptyTrips
Business Line: Online Transport Marketplace (Marketing Manager)
Contact: +27 81 523 2525
1) Can you briefly tell us a bit about yourself including your full name.
My name is Salome Kgoale and I am the Marketing Director for EmptyTrips – an online transport marketplace that uses AI and Machine learning to better match cargo to capacity on all 4 modes of transport that is already moving in the same direction. I have over eight years' experience in different fields of Marketing and PR and my passion is in assisting companies grow their brands by implementing and exploiting various marketing disciplines. I have worked in different industries including education, retail, hospitality and now logistics. I am also currently studying my Honors in Marketing at the University of Johannesburg.
2) Can you please tell us about what you do?
I joined EmptyTrips as a Marketing Administrator in 2017 a month it was launched, and earlier in 2018 I was promoted to Marketing Director. I work closely with Benji Coetzee, Founder and CEO to gather intelligence in order to develop and penetrate new markets. I then develop marketing strategies to help us engage with our prospective customers and also oversee all marketing aspects in relation to the company.
3) What inspired you to venture into marketing and who supported you along the way?
I have always loved design, and my passion for marketing is entrenched in my interest in design, which I believe is the epicentre that translates brand strategy into the tangible look and feel that brands utilize to position themselves across various communication platforms to attract and build affinity with their target audiences. My mother has been my biggest support, and my family has played a huge role in my career.
4) How has your journey been as a young woman behind a growing brand?
In the 2 years that I have been with EmptyTrips I have learned a lot. The thing about working for a tech start-up company is you have to be part of the solution, adopt new ways of doing business, learn new tricks and simply get out of the comfort zone, because the take-off of a start-up company highly depends on the team behind it. Furthermore, working with Benji who has mentored me to become firm in my decisions, has instilled a lot of confidence in me and I have managed to sponge as much knowledge as possibly can from her as a great leader that she is. Our team consists of 80% women and we are doing this journey together.
5) Why should anyone use your services or products?
Transport&Logistics is an $8 trillion global industry, it makes the world tick & economies grow. Yet, is wasteful. The cost of "empty wasted space" on assets such as trucks, trains and sea-vessels is estimated at ±$2 trillion per annum, and emits ±0,5bn tonnes of wasted carbon emissions. Not only does that equate to the total GDP of Switzerland, Netherlands and Belgium combined, but also requires the sequestration of ±45million hectare forest p.a. Perspective: the emissions wasted by 1 industry would require us to plant 1/10th of the amazon (±350m hectares remain) each year to absorb the emissions from unused space.
We have developed directional space matching AI to better pair volumes to under-utilised vehicles already on voyages. This reduces the gap between demand and supply, as well as finds alternative modes of transport that are more cost and carbon effective i.e. road vs rail for freight.
We make logistics efficient, transparent and affordable.
The spin off? Reduced emissions.
So far:
Our road-to-rail focus reduces 75% carbon per ton mile.
Brokers place consignments 5x faster.
Carriers improve yields by 15%. Shippers save 23% per trip - that is 3% more than the Tesla Semi truck promises per mile.
It matters.
7) Its quiet clear that you have broken ground and you are doing well. Where do you see yourself in the near future?
I am excited about the future of EmptyTrips. We are doing some great things, and who knows, maybe in the next few years we will be travelling the world, jet setting and scaling the business in other countries.
8) What advice would you best give to young women who like to venture into your line of work?
Be persistent and be ready to learn.
9) Do you think women feel intimidated in business?
I think intimidation is bound to happen to anyone, male or female at some point in business. And we deal with it differently – some women show confidence in business more than others. More and more women in business are taking leadership and earning their seats, rightfully so.
10) How do you achieve work-life balance?
I give myself a 100% to the task at hand when at the office and this gives me time to enjoy my personal life over the weekends. This includes spending time with my family, doing my school work and leisure time. The pros of working in a small team is also the flexibility.
11) What have you learned about leadership, entrepreneurship and mentoring others?
It is hugely important to work as a team and to seek help when needed. We don't have all the answers, and having great advisors on board is a great way to grow the business.
Company: EmptyTrips
Business Line: Online Transport Marketplace (Marketing Manager)
Contact: +27 81 523 2525
1) Can you briefly tell us a bit about yourself including your full name.
My name is Salome Kgoale and I am the Marketing Director for EmptyTrips – an online transport marketplace that uses AI and Machine learning to better match cargo to capacity on all 4 modes of transport that is already moving in the same direction. I have over eight years' experience in different fields of Marketing and PR and my passion is in assisting companies grow their brands by implementing and exploiting various marketing disciplines. I have worked in different industries including education, retail, hospitality and now logistics. I am also currently studying my Honors in Marketing at the University of Johannesburg.
2) Can you please tell us about what you do?
I joined EmptyTrips as a Marketing Administrator in 2017 a month it was launched, and earlier in 2018 I was promoted to Marketing Director. I work closely with Benji Coetzee, Founder and CEO to gather intelligence in order to develop and penetrate new markets. I then develop marketing strategies to help us engage with our prospective customers and also oversee all marketing aspects in relation to the company.
3) What inspired you to venture into marketing and who supported you along the way?
I have always loved design, and my passion for marketing is entrenched in my interest in design, which I believe is the epicentre that translates brand strategy into the tangible look and feel that brands utilize to position themselves across various communication platforms to attract and build affinity with their target audiences. My mother has been my biggest support, and my family has played a huge role in my career.
4) How has your journey been as a young woman behind a growing brand?
In the 2 years that I have been with EmptyTrips I have learned a lot. The thing about working for a tech start-up company is you have to be part of the solution, adopt new ways of doing business, learn new tricks and simply get out of the comfort zone, because the take-off of a start-up company highly depends on the team behind it. Furthermore, working with Benji who has mentored me to become firm in my decisions, has instilled a lot of confidence in me and I have managed to sponge as much knowledge as possibly can from her as a great leader that she is. Our team consists of 80% women and we are doing this journey together.
5) Why should anyone use your services or products?
Transport&Logistics is an $8 trillion global industry, it makes the world tick & economies grow. Yet, is wasteful. The cost of "empty wasted space" on assets such as trucks, trains and sea-vessels is estimated at ±$2 trillion per annum, and emits ±0,5bn tonnes of wasted carbon emissions. Not only does that equate to the total GDP of Switzerland, Netherlands and Belgium combined, but also requires the sequestration of ±45million hectare forest p.a. Perspective: the emissions wasted by 1 industry would require us to plant 1/10th of the amazon (±350m hectares remain) each year to absorb the emissions from unused space.
We have developed directional space matching AI to better pair volumes to under-utilised vehicles already on voyages. This reduces the gap between demand and supply, as well as finds alternative modes of transport that are more cost and carbon effective i.e. road vs rail for freight.
We make logistics efficient, transparent and affordable.
The spin off? Reduced emissions.
So far:
Our road-to-rail focus reduces 75% carbon per ton mile.
Brokers place consignments 5x faster.
Carriers improve yields by 15%. Shippers save 23% per trip - that is 3% more than the Tesla Semi truck promises per mile.
It matters.
7) Its quiet clear that you have broken ground and you are doing well. Where do you see yourself in the near future?
I am excited about the future of EmptyTrips. We are doing some great things, and who knows, maybe in the next few years we will be travelling the world, jet setting and scaling the business in other countries.
8) What advice would you best give to young women who like to venture into your line of work?
Be persistent and be ready to learn.
9) Do you think women feel intimidated in business?
I think intimidation is bound to happen to anyone, male or female at some point in business. And we deal with it differently – some women show confidence in business more than others. More and more women in business are taking leadership and earning their seats, rightfully so.
10) How do you achieve work-life balance?
I give myself a 100% to the task at hand when at the office and this gives me time to enjoy my personal life over the weekends. This includes spending time with my family, doing my school work and leisure time. The pros of working in a small team is also the flexibility.
11) What have you learned about leadership, entrepreneurship and mentoring others?
It is hugely important to work as a team and to seek help when needed. We don't have all the answers, and having great advisors on board is a great way to grow the business.
