A Journey Through Business, Trade, and Learning

A Journey Through Business, Trade, and Learning

When people see a business operating, they often see the finished result. They see the products, the deliveries, the brand name. What they don’t always see is the long road it takes to get there.

My journey in business did not begin in an office or with a detailed business plan. It began on the ground. It began with understanding livestock, markets, and the realities of trade across different regions.

Over the years I have travelled long distances across countries and provinces in search of the right livestock and products. Sometimes that meant crossing borders, sometimes it meant early mornings in markets, and sometimes it meant learning difficult lessons about risk, trust, and patience.

Business teaches you quickly that nothing replaces experience.

Working in livestock husbandry taught me how to judge quality, how to select strong animals, and how to build relationships with farmers and traders. Those relationships are what allow business to grow. Trade is not only about products; it is about trust.

Through these experiences I began to understand the wider opportunities within agriculture and food supply. The Gambia has strong natural resources, from livestock to seafood to agricultural crops. What is needed is organisation, discipline, and the willingness to build systems that connect producers with markets.

This is how Starline Multitrade began to take shape.

The idea was simple: build a business that connects natural products from the land and ocean with businesses and communities that depend on them. Whether that is seafood for restaurants, livestock for local markets, or agricultural products for future production, the focus has always been on quality and reliable supply.

Like many entrepreneurs, the road has not always been smooth. Every venture comes with challenges. There are days when supply is difficult, days when logistics fail, and moments when decisions must be made quickly.

But those challenges are also where leadership grows.

One lesson I have learned is that leadership is not about speaking the most or being the loudest in the room. Leadership often means showing consistency. It means doing the work, solving problems, and continuing forward even when progress is slow.

Another lesson is that business must remain connected to people. The fishermen who bring in the catch, the farmers who raise livestock, the buyers who depend on supply. When these relationships are respected and maintained, business becomes stronger.

Starline Multitrade is still growing, and like any venture it will continue to evolve. But the foundation remains the same as when the journey started: hard work, honest trade, and a commitment to building something that contributes to the local economy.

For anyone interested in starting their own venture, my advice is simple.

Start where you are. Learn your craft deeply. Build relationships. Be patient with growth, and remain disciplined in your work.

Real businesses are not built overnight. They are built step by step, through experience, persistence, and the willingness to keep learning.

And that journey is still continuing.

— Assan Lewis
Founder, Starline Multitrade