Who needs a budget when you've got a stage?
Our diversity, equity and inclusion work has pivoted into drama
Hi readers!
Abadesi here 👋🏽 This week I’m sharing a deep dive into what’s new at Hustle Crew HQ.
How is Hustle Crew coping with the decline of corporate DEI?
If I compare life at Hustle Crew HQ in 2025 to a few years ago, let's say 2022? Life feels different.
In 2022, we were inundated with requests for anti-racism training and unconscious bias workshops from VC funds, startups and scale-ups. In 2025, our inquiry form is much quieter. Many of the incredible corporate DEI advocates we worked with have been laid off or had their budgets cut.
Some teams are doing the work quietly under a different label. Others have paused their cultural investments and transformations. It makes me wonder what the industry will look like long-term if this trend continues.
We're grateful to still work with teams who have not put their DEI work on the back burner. If your team is looking for support, we'd love to help, email abadesi@hustlecrew.co and let's chat.
How does Hustle Crew continue making impact?
In challenging times for impact-driven work, I'm reminded of the Angela Y. Davis quote:
"You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time."
Geopolitical changes may slow us down, but they won't stop us. Hustle Crew continues to drive transformation through training, and now through theatre.
Our latest tool for change is The First Woke War, a play set in an AI startup preparing to float on the London Stock Exchange. The story invites audiences to reflect on how identity-based power dynamics shape team interactions and influence how we take up space at work.
We're planning our next production of the play for UK Black History Month in October and looking for sponsors to support us! If that’s you, let's connect via email on abadesi@hustlecrew.co
Where can we connect with Hustle Crew IRL?
Next week I'll be at London Tech Week, chairing the Impact Stage on Monday at 2pm and co-hosting a meetup Thursday 11 June 3.30-4.30pm at the EQL: Lounge. Use code EQL_LOUNGE_BLACK_WOMEN_IN_TECH to grab a complimentary general access pass, I hope to see you there.
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Every Tuesday on your fave podcast platform you can catch Michael and me unpacking the latest stories at the intersection of tech, pop culture and everyday life. If you'd like to enjoy the show ad-free, you can subscribe via Patreon here. You'll also get exclusive stories each week.
And finally... Playschool is back.
If you missed last summer's Playschool Accelerator, you'll be pleased to know we've just opened the waitlist for this year's cohort here. The two-week course helps impact-driven founders level up their B2B sales with one-on-one coaching from me on everything from systems and tools to mindsets and habits.
Over to you: what are you working on at the moment? Where can we connect IRL? I'd love to hear from you.
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Want to get in touch?
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