How Keotshepile Malema built a branding powerhouse in Botswana's male-dominated printing industry

As the founder of Knacks Creations, a proudly woman-owned branding business, Keotshepile specialises in large-format printing, producing branded gazebos, vinyl window decals, sublimated t-shirts, banners, and other high-impact promotional materials. Keotshepile’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2018, shortly after graduating with a qualification in Web Design and Graphic Design. She initially worked for a local business, but her ambition pushed her to step out on her own. 

“I started working at an internet café, doing printing and photocopying for the community. But last year, I felt it was time to grow. We expanded into large format printing, and that changed everything,” she explains. Stepping into a male-dominated market came with real challenges. Existing businesses were well-established, and customers were sceptical of a young woman’s capability. “Most people preferred to get services from men or even from outside Selebi-Phikwe. It was difficult to penetrate the market. We had to fight for every opportunity,” she recalls. Despite these barriers, Keotshepile pushed forward. 

After being referred to the EntreprenHER Programme, a partnership between UN Women and the De Beers Group in South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia, she gained tools that accelerated her business growth. The training reshaped how she approached marketing, costing, and financial management.

“I used to think people would just know about my business. But during the training, they taught us that marketing is active. After the training, I went out, company to company, teaching them about our services. That’s when things changed.” And the results speak for themselves. Over the past year, Knacks Creations secured major branding jobs, including work for the Orange Marathon through the Selebi-Phikwe Town Council, NAPRO for the Selebi-Phikwe Extravaganza, and the Zanna Charity Marathon.

Her turnover jumped from BWP 80,000 in 2024 to approximately BWP 250,000 in 2025, a remarkable leap that reflects both the growing demand for her products and the effectiveness of her business strategies. What began as a small operation has now evolved into a thriving enterprise, employing five full-time staff members and contributing meaningfully to local job creation. This growth has strengthened her confidence as a business owner and positioned her company as a competitive player in the market. Beyond the technical skills, the programme gave her something she deeply needed: confidence. “I never believed I could walk into certain spaces. The training taught me to stand firm, believe in my business, and go after opportunities, even in places dominated by men,” she says.

Her dream is bold: to make Knacks Creations the number one printing and branding company in the entire Selebi Phikwe District and beyond. And with her persistence and resilience, she is well on her way. When asked what women entrepreneurs need most, Keotshepile doesn’t hesitate, “Determination, persistence, and resilience,” she says, qualities she has relied on while navigating limited capital, rising production costs, and the ongoing need to build customer trust.

She explains that many women face structural barriers, but having the courage to show up consistently, push through setbacks, and believe in their vision ultimately drives growth. “Without resilience, you won’t survive in business,” she says. In a sector where she has repeatedly had to prove her expertise more than her male counterparts, Keotshepile continues to rise, proving that talent, courage, and unwavering belief can transform a small printing shop into a regional branding powerhouse.

The EntreprenHER programme, formerly called Accelerating Women Owned MicroEnterprises (AWOME) is a training programme coordinated by UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office and supported by the DeBeers Group in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. It aims to equip women entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to formalize and run successful businesses. In Botswana it is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs.