In September, I had the honour of being selected as part of the first cohort of Hustle Crew’s new Playschool accelerator for founders who value inclusion.

In just three weeks, I learned about the kind of founder I want to be from some founders I admire, alongside other founders who are doing amazing things.

It was an experience unlike any other, so I have to tell you all about it!

About Playschool and Hustle Crew

Playschool is a new accelerator powered and funded by Hustle Crew.

Hustle Crew is a leading diversity and inclusion consultancy founded and led by Abadesi Osunsade since 2016. Abadesi is also co-host of the Techish podcast and simply an all-round powerhouse of a leader!

I thought I admired Abadesi before taking part in the programme, but on the other side of it, my respect for her has only deepened.

Abadesi is part of the very reason I launched Bounce Black because attending her salary negotiation workshop and tech-related events sowed the seed of courage in me that I needed to dream again amidst adversity. She is a wonderful example of what it looks like to succeed without compromising on values, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn from her up close.

Who I learned with and from

My cohort just happened to be a heavyweight combination of nine incredible women, but the accelerator itself is open to and for all types of founders.

Twice a week we had workshops and office hours with some well established entrepreneurs, namely:

• Ash Phillips, Founder & CEO, Rebel Meet-ups & Dffrnt, Ada Ventures scout, angel investor
• Michael Berhane, Founder & CEO, People of Color in Tech, POCIT Jobs, co-host Techish podcast
• Andy Ayim MBE, Founder & CEO, Angel Investing School, Atomico scout, angel investor
• Tiwalola Ogunlesi, Founder & CEO, Confident & Killing It, Author, confidence coach
• Jaz Marfo, Founder & CEO, Just Jaz Career Coaching, Community & Engagement Manager, La Fosse

What I learned during Playschool

A 3-week accelerator is exactly what it sounds like—intensive.

I learned a lot in a short space of time, but since I’m working on Bounce Black full time at the moment, I was able to give myself fully to the programme. So, it felt less like a baptism of fire and more like an immersion in wonder.

Each week had a learning theme, around which we had homework tasks to complete, including watching thought-provoking talks, listening to podcasts and reading insightful articles. As I consumed this information, I journaled through the process.

Here are some of my reflections:

Week One: self-awareness

• We were asked to identify the qualities of a good leader, and as I reflected on the vastly different experiences of leadership I’ve had, both positive and negative, I realised compassion and empathy ranked most highly for me.
• I have been burned by toxic leadership, but I have also been strengthened by uplifting leadership. The latter kind of leaders are the examples I want to emulate.
• I also believe it important to be led by calling because having a mission keeps us grounded, as we are forced to remember periodically that any power we have is to be used for the greater good to some greater end.
• Lastly, I had an encouraging one-to-one with Abadesi, who reminded me to focus on my ultimate goals and to act accordingly and intentionally.

Once you discover who you are at the top of your game, you can use your strengths to better shape the positions you choose to play—both now and in the next phase of your career.

Harvard Business Review

Week Two: mindset

• The key message from this week was the importance of believing in what we bring to the table. In order to be successful, we need to cultivate and maintain healthy thinking patterns that can help us see challenges as opportunities for growth.
• Commitment to lifelong learning is essential to thriving as an entrepreneur, and having a growth mindset facilitates that.
• Don’t let what you don’t have hold you back. Do what you can with what you have where you are. This is key to succeeding against the odds.
• Every entrepreneur needs to be a little bit delusional because it takes a measure of audacity to step out on your own and try to change the world by building something from scratch. Successful founders find the right balance between delusion and realism.
• I enjoyed the visualisation exercise, which involves seeing myself at a point where success, as I measure it, has been achieved. Thank God, I think I’m on track!

May all your delulu come trululu

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Week Three: habits

• Self care habits are crucial for founders to prioritise. From sleeping habits, to diet, wellbeing and fitness, routines and living spaces.
• It’s important to take stock of whether your environment is conducive to your flourishing, and if not, make a plan for how to rectify that as soon as possible.
• Being mindful of what we take in on social media matters as what we ingest will affect us. I especially took this to heart because I tend to curate my feeds according to what matters to me, which often involves social issues that can induce vicarious trauma if not engaged with in moderation.
• Managing relationships, boundaries, expectations and conflict also matters, so therapy might be necessary for stress management.
• I enjoyed another one-to-one with Abadesi about personal branding, and she gave the most unique advice I’ve ever heard on the topic, which is that it’s simply a matter of trial and error (and there’s no shame in that).

Don’t build debt to illness. It might be working for you now, but it will eventually catch up with you. You will have to pay your dues.

Overall impressions

What I loved about the Playschool Accelerator was that it provided a fresh outlook on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Whereas other accelerators I’ve participated in focus more on the practical steps to building a business, Playschool focuses on the internal aspects of one who runs a business.

At the end of the programme, our cohort and our teachers came together for some yummy dinner and drinks at Bao, which involved plenty of laughter, but also some sobering heart-to-heart moments. The vulnerability around the table was nourishing, and I am very thankful to have been there to absorb the raw, honest reflections on the highs and lows of these established founders’ entrepreneurship journeys.

On the whole, I came away feeling inspired, equipped and confident that my dreams are not only possible but also tangible. As one who feels quite strongly about social issues, there are times I question the possibility of succeeding without compromising parts of myself.

Thankfully, Abadesi and the other successful founders I learned from are excellent examples of sticking to your convictions and succeeding on your own terms.

I can thrive holistically, according to my own vision of success, without compromising who I am and what I stand for.

Essentially, what I enjoyed most about Playschool is that it set me free.