Sade Bassan shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Sade , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I feel called to fully step into my vision and make Black Girl EDU a reality. What started as a fun project for my master’s degree exhibition at The University of Tampa, quickly turned into something bigger than I could have imagined. For a long time, fear of failure and self-doubt held me back from taking that leap. But over time, I’ve been met with an overwhelming amount of affirmation that made it clear this idea is bigger than fear. Those moments of encouragement pushed me to move from envisioning to building and to trust myself enough to make Black Girl EDU tangible.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sade Bassan, and I am the founder of Black Girl EDU, a community-based digital platform designed to connect, uplift, and empower collegiate women of color attending predominantly white institutions through access to culturally competent services.
When I started college in a new city, I no longer had access to the wellness services I relied on back home—services like healthcare providers and hair professionals of color who made me feel seen, supported, and confident in my identity. Finding those foundational connections became a struggle throughout my collegiate journey, and for years, I navigated that gap on my own. That experience is what inspired Black Girl EDU.
By prioritizing community engagement, Black Girl EDU creates a modern, supportive, and seamless experience—connecting users to verified healthcare professionals, beauty technicians, support groups, and mentorship opportunities. The platform makes it easier for women of color to find the resources they need to succeed. More than just a directory, Black Girl EDU fosters community, empowerment, and support, helping users thrive both personally and professionally.
In recognition of this work, I was honored to receive two awards at the conclusion of my master’s degree exhibition: The Juror’s Prize and the Pitch Audience Award. I am currently back at The University of Tampa completing the Spartan Incubator Entrepreneurship Certificate, a 13-week entrepreneurial intensive focused on growing and scaling Black Girl EDU.
Keep an eye out for Black Girl EDU launching later this year.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that has served its purpose is the younger version of myself who trusted that passion alone would be enough. She followed her instincts—from aspiring physician, to artist, to performer, to marketer—without always knowing where it would lead, but believing it would work out. Each phase taught me something essential: empathy, communication, creativity, leadership, and the power of connection. Through building Sade Media, my social media consulting company, and working closely with Black female business owners, I learned to listen deeply to community needs and to recognize patterns of inequity and opportunity. Those experiences ultimately gave birth to Black Girl EDU. Now, I’m being called to release the naïveté of simply following passion and step into intentional leadership—where vision is paired with strategy, and creativity is backed by action. That younger, hopeful version of me laid the foundation, and I honor her. But the entrepreneur I’m becoming is ready to finish what she started and create meaningful, lasting impact.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the defining wounds of my life was being fired from my first job after college. Even though I knew the work wasn’t aligned with who I was or where I wanted to go, losing that position left me feeling disappointed, directionless, and questioning my self-worth. It forced me to confront the fear that I might not have a clear path forward. Instead of allowing that moment to define me, I chose to create my own direction. I turned back to my community—the place where I had always found guidance—and began offering my skills for free, which eventually grew into retainer clients and sustainable work. Through that process, I rebuilt my confidence, proved my resilience, and learned that my value wasn’t tied to a job title but to my ability to create impact. I healed that wound by choosing purpose over validation and by building meaningful connections with people and causes I genuinely believed in.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I believe deeply that people—especially Black women and women of color—deserve to be seen, understood, and respected in every space they move through. Whether it’s healthcare, beauty, mentorship, or professional growth, I value environments where lived experience is honored and not treated as an exception. I believe that success should never come at the expense of identity, and access to culturally competent support isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I followed my heart in every decision I made and never allowed my circumstances to dim my light—even in moments of uncertainty or darkness. I want to be remembered for carrying myself with grace, confidence, and optimism, no matter the room or the challenge. That I believed in myself deeply, trusted my intuition, and moved through life with purpose and poise. Most of all, I hope my story reflects someone who chose joy, resilience, and authenticity—and used those qualities to leave spaces better than she found them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @SadeBassan @BlackGirlEduu
- Linkedin: @SadeBassan
- Youtube: @SadeBassan
