Keys to Success in Entrepreneurship: An Interview with Joël Sikam

What does it take to succeed as an entrepreneur? 

Joël Sikam, a 2025 Presidential Precinct Corporate Leader, is founder and CEO of FISCO, a Cameroon-based supplier of health, cleaning, and hygiene products. In this conversation, he shares the principles he often passes on to young entrepreneurs — including one surprising piece of advice: don’t remain an entrepreneur.

When did you know you wanted to go into business?

I always had a business approach since I was young. I was the one always looking for more. I always tried to find a way: part-time jobs, things to do. My parents were merchants. At some point, my brothers and I had to find our way. 

Growing up, I was not smart in class. When I came to America, I started putting myself into school. I also had to work to make ends meet. Back then, we didn’t have Uber. I was a Yellow Cab driver. That’s what helped me with my tuition.

I finished school at University of North Texas with a degree in finance, and I started working for Morgan Stanley in mortgage-backed securities. It was good. I got to interact with people, make deals happen. I was a good closer.

Then in 2014, I decided to go back to Cameroon. I started looking into what I could do. In Texas, I had a lot of friends and classmates in oil and gas. So in Cameroon, I started supplying cleaning products for oil and gas, for the rigs. When oil prices went down, we shifted to household cleaning and hygiene products. I have a lot of allergies, so I was looking for good cleaning products myself. It was really good.

What are some of the keys to success in entrepreneurship?

1) Provide a solution. I always tell young entrepreneurs, you have to create a business to provide a solution. If you create a business only to make money, you’ll have nobody.

I just say, “Tell me what you need.” I like to position myself as a social provider. It’s about giving. For many people, it’s take, take, take, take, unfortunately.

For me, it was good cleaning products. Diseases in Africa are diseases of shame. Or you get sick because you didn’t wash the fruits and veggies you are eating. Or COVID, it’s about cleanliness and sanitation and hygiene. There’s a solution to that. And I bring it.

2) Work on your vision. Cameroon is not the world. You have to see outside the box. For me, every time I fly out, I have ideas. It’s really important. Think beyond where you are now, to the next step.

3) Always make connections. I don’t mingle a lot, but I find it easy to connect. Any time I’m able to find a phone number, I’ll talk to a person. Maybe it’s the grace of God, maybe it’s something that I’ve trained in without knowing. Maybe I got it from driving a cab. When you are a cabbie, you have to be pleasant. 

I started with one box of cleaning supplies, talking to people. I’m into networking, looking abroad to find partners and bring more investment, to develop the business.

4) Keep learning. The advice I would give my younger self — think better. Educate yourself. Surround yourself with knowledgeable people. I want to keep growing. Everything I’m doing, I’m following other people.

I’m also the founder of a think tank. We don’t only think. We think and do. The name — Okwellians — means “learners.” We are always learning. The world is changing, and people have to adapt. 

5) Move from entrepreneur to business owner. I always tell people you have to find a way to move from entrepreneur to business owner. An entrepreneur is one person. You need to organize a structure. You need a VP, a head of merchants, and so on. Who are your people to do these things?

You are born an entrepreneur. Now you can develop yourself to become a business owner. You need to make sure you get a team in place for your vision. And that’s the hardest part: finding the right team. To go into expansion, you have to build the team.

You have to have the plan, master the formula, so you can expand. 

The Presidential Precinct works with leaders like Joël Sikam to amplify their vision and impact. We connect entrepreneurs, policymakers, and changemakers from around the world. If you’d like to hear more stories from leaders who are shaping the future, join our community by subscribing to the Precinct newsletter.