Meet Sade Bassan

We recently connected with Sade Bassan and have shared our conversation below.

Sade, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I developed my confidence at a young age, inspired by my mother’s strength and determination. A Haitian immigrant who came to the United States in the 1990s, she is the youngest of 13 siblings and the matriarch of our family. Her unwavering confidence and clarity in her desires has always been a guiding force in my life. To this day, she works tirelessly to provide my siblings and I with the opportunities she never had, instilling in us the values of resilience, ambition, and self-belief.

I still remember coming home from school one day in tears after someone called me ugly. My mom sat me down and told me something that changed my perspective forever: “People’s words are not my reality”. She reminded me that how I choose to see myself is entirely up to me. From that moment on, I made the decision to be unapologetically myself in everything I do. While my confidence has wavered in moments of insecurity, at my core, I’ve always believed in my ability to achieve anything I set my mind to—because I’ve watched my mom do it my entire life. She continues to inspire me every day to grow into the kind of woman we both admire.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’ve always loved performing and bringing joy to others. My journey began in musical theater, leading me to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in May 2024 for The University of Tampa. Alongside my passion for the arts, I worked as a manager at my university’s admissions office, where I had the opportunity to engage with students and faculty. Through these connections and my bubbly personality, I was offered the role of social media intern for my university. This position gave me incredible experiences—stepping onto the ice at a Tampa Bay Lightning game, interviewing students at graduation, and even hosting my own TikTok trivia series, Trivia Cart.

After earning my degree, I wanted to make a meaningful impact in my community and further establish my roots in Tampa. I am currently pursuing a graduate program in Social and Emerging Media to equip myself with the tools to grow as a creative. Through this program, I’ve had the privilege of learning from industry trailblazers, many of whom started their journeys by simply taking the leap. At the time, I was already working with small businesses in Tampa to enhance their social media presence. However, I soon realized I wasn’t truly passionate about the businesses I was promoting—I felt stuck in a situation that didn’t align with my vision.

I wanted to work with companies that inspired me—businesses open to growth in the ever-evolving social media landscape. That’s when I made a pivotal decision: to offer my marketing and social media services to Black-owned businesses in the area for free. I began referring to my brand as Sade Media and reached out to businesses that aligned with my marketing style. The response was overwhelming—so much so that I quickly found myself fully booked for the month.

In addition to my work in social media marketing, I’m currently prototyping an app designed to support Black women at predominantly white institutions. The app connects users with culturally competent resources, including Black healthcare professionals and hairstylists ensuring that young Black women have access to the services and community they need to thrive.

Over the last few months, I’ve successfully onboarded paying clients and begun establishing myself as both a businesswoman and a creative in Tampa. My journey has been one of passion, purpose, and perseverance, and I’m excited for what’s ahead!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back on my journey, the three qualities that have been most impactful are resilience, flexibility, and passion. These qualities have shaped my approach to challenges, creativity, and the way I navigate not only social media but life.

Resilience has been key in pushing through moments of doubt, rejection, and uncertainty. Whether it was facing setbacks in my creative career or struggling to find my footing in the business world, I learned that success doesn’t come from avoiding failure but from embracing it as part of the process. My advice for those early in their journey is to trust the process and keep going, even when things feel discouraging. Rejection is merely redirection.

Flexibility has allowed me to adapt and evolve in an industry that moves fast. Social media trends shift overnight, businesses pivot, and new opportunities arise unexpectedly. Being open to change and willing to adjust has helped me stay ahead. For anyone starting out, I’d say don’t be afraid to pivot, try new things, and step outside your comfort zone. Your ability to adapt will set you apart.

Finally, passion is what fuels everything I do. From content creation to working with small Black-owned businesses and developing my app, my passion has kept me motivated even when the road felt uncertain. My advice is simple: do what excites you. Pursue projects and opportunities that align with your values and bring you joy. Passion is what makes the hard work worth it and keeps you going when motivation fades.

At the end of the day, resilience will keep you standing, flexibility will help you navigate the unknown, and passion will make the journey fulfilling. Keep pushing, stay open to growth, and never lose sight of why you started.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

Without a doubt, the person who has been most instrumental in helping me overcome challenges and develop the qualities I needed for success is my mom. She is the epitome of confidence, resilience, and self-determination—qualities that I strive to embody every day.

One of the most valuable lessons my mom has taught me is the importance of choosing yourself—prioritizing your dreams, standing firm in your decisions, and never dimming your light for the comfort of others. As a divorced immigrant and the youngest of 13 siblings, she had every reason to put herself last. But instead, she made the bold choice to build the life she wanted on her own terms—while still prioritizing her family. She built a successful business and created opportunities for herself despite the odds. Watching her navigate life with such confidence and conviction has shown me that success isn’t just about talent or luck—it’s about believing in yourself enough to go after what you deserve.

Her journey has shaped the way I approach my own goals. When I face self-doubt or obstacles in my career, I think about how she never let fear stop her. She inspires me to take risks, bet on myself, and walk through life unapologetically. Because of her, I know that success isn’t about waiting for permission—it’s about choosing yourself, just like she did.

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