Abadesi Osunsade (No.2, 2004-06),  is the founder and CEO of Hustle Crew, providing inclusion education to companies in a mission to make tech more inclusive. Since founding Hustle Crew, Abadesi has won numerous awards, including Forbes 25 Black Business Leaders to follow (2020) and Management Today Inspiring Women in Business (2021).

1. What is your favourite memory of Roedean?

What an impossible question! Probably singing along to Alicia Keys first album, using a hairbrush as a microphone, when I shared Crow's Nest in House 2 with Tsiory... also House Music when we sang songs from Sister Act 2.

2. What was the best piece of advice you were given whilst at School?

The funniest was certainly Mrs Sitwell reminding us that all breasts look like fried eggs when we're lying down [implied was the advice to not worry too much about the size of your own]

3. When you were at Roedean, what did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?

This changed on a regular basis: novelist, actor, diplomat, philanthropist, MTV presenter, Josh Hartnett's wife [Tsiory and I ran a Geocities fansite for him around the time the movie Pearl Harbor was released]... really, I just wanted to make a positive impact on the world in my one precious life

4. What are you now you’ve grown up?

I'm an entrepreneur! I'm on a mission to make the future fairer than the present, and I do this by working within the tech ecosystem to increase diversity and inclusion e.g., through employer education and empowering a community of underrepresented tech entrepreneurs and professionals. With the rise of AI, it’s ever more important we ensure all kinds of people are participating in building tech... or else the future will be full of the injustices of today... even more so!

5. What does your job involve?

I create a lot of content to market my work e.g., my podcast Techish, videos on @hustlcrewlive TikTok and Instagram, and articles for our website. It raises awareness and brings us, customers. So, I'm using my communication and creativity skills constantly. My job also involves a lot of public speaking: not only do I deliver training e.g., to CEOs and venture capital investors, but I'm also invited to speak at conferences about my work. So, I guess I'm still on stage as I often was at school... not acting this time though, being myself!

6. What have you done that you are most proud of?

Throughout 2020 and 2021 when the world was grappling with the pandemic the entire NHS England team completed the inclusion training program I designed. At a time when Black and brown Brits were dying from COVID-19 at a faster rate than white ones, I feel incredibly proud to have played a role in raising awareness of bias, and prejudice, plus practical ways to promote inclusion.

7. What are the three objects you would take with you to a desert island?

A photo album for memories of my loved ones, a Swiss army knife for practical tasks, and something impractical but luxurious like a silk dressing gown to keep me tethered to my past life and civilization.

8. What books have had a significant influence on you and why?

I’m an avid reader so this question feels like Sophie’s Choice. Mindset by Dr Carol S Dweck really helped me get over my fear of failure and rejection, so I guess I’ll pick that. I also enjoyed reading Maya Angelou ‘I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings’ it’s a story of faith, creativity and unapologetically living a life on your terms in a world that can often feel hostile to Black women.

9. What is on your bucket list?

I don't have one: I don't believe in waiting to seek joy. Life is too short. Memento mori. I prioritise adventure in my life so when I really want to do something, I find a way to make it happen.

10. If you had one year and unlimited funds, what would you do?

I would invest in female tech founders in Nigeria and the Philippines [where my parents are from] and coach them to help them grow their businesses.