AT the tender age of 23, many persons are still clamouring to decide what their career paths should be. For Abbisola Oxley, however, not only is she set in her path, but her work has already led her to be recognised as an exceptional leader. Abbisola is among 30 young people who were recently bestowed with the 30 under 30 Caribbean-American Emerging Leaders/Change Makers Award from the Institute of Caribbean Studies. Abbisola received her award in the category of Academic Leadership. The award is given annually in honour of Caribbean-American Heritage Month and is presented to persons who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and volunteerism in the Caribbean-American Community.

The Pepperpot Magazine interviewed this young change-maker to find out a bit about her work and her career goals. She also had some sage advice for young people. Here’s a bit from that interview.

Over the years, your dedication to your work and career has paid off. What does it mean to be recognised for your hard work, and what would be your encouragement for other young people?
My parents always stressed the importance of receiving a quality education, and performing at the highest standard academically. When I was young, I remember rushing home from school to show them my report card, secretly hoping that I would get a present in exchange for good grades. Luckily for me, I learned early on that academic excellence was expected of me, the same way any child is expected to listen and be respectful. Instead of new sneakers, toys, or brand new clothes, my mother cashed those in for something more permanent: a lesson, that hard work and achievement are requirements, not a meritorious act.

My advice for young people, specifically Guyanese and Caribbean youth, is to stay focused and pay attention to the overall detail of your future. Throughout your life, there will be many distractions, and people who want to negatively influence you. However, in the midst of repeat deterrents, always remain true to your organic self. Focus on what you want, and create a strategy to get there.

You’ve migrated to America at a very young age, but you still feel connected to your country, what makes you remain that way?
I would definitely say that my grandmother, Lurrine Wilson, keeps me grounded and connected to Guyana. At the age of two, I immigrated to America and began an assimilation process that I did not wake up from until my early 20s. There came a point, sometime during my junior year of college, where I began to realise that I was not African-American, and that there was something different about me that made me a Guyanese woman. After studying abroad in Senegal and South Africa, and confirming my attendance at Mahidol University International College (MUIC) in Thailand, I called my grandmother to share the great news about my acceptance letter. This conversation is one of my most vivid memories of my grandmother because she reminded me that I had not returned to Guyana as an adult, and that in neglecting my country I was only neglecting myself. As far as I can remember, my grandmother has always been prideful in her identity as a Guyanese woman. It is one of the most fundamental components of her character that makes her who she is. I cannot thank my grandmother enough for constantly reminding me of who I am, and where I come from. Without this wisdom I would have been lost.

Do you intend to give back to your country? If so, how?
I have big plans for Guyana, but like all things, big plans require capital and capacity. In the future, I hope to return to Guyana to help young entrepreneurs who are struggling to establish viable businesses. During the summer of my junior year, I spent some time in Guyana and realised that many of the young people I spoke to were ambitious, yet vexed by some of the socio- political barriers that encompassed their lives. After my Fellowship at reSET, a business incubator in Hartford, CT with a focus in social enterprise, I learned that social enterprise is one way to tackle some of the many problems that people identify in their communities. In Guyana, there are many developmental barriers to human potential, and these problems can be resolved through social entrepreneurship. My dream is to return to Guyana to create programmes that educate young people about social enterprise, help them with their business models, and create/mobilise resources that promote business development.

What role has community service played in your life, and how important would you say is having community service as part of your life?
Community service has played a major role in my life. Recently I volunteered at an organisation in New York that helps disabled people. Although I cannot share specific details, most of the people I served suffered from a life-threatening illness. What changed me the most was that many of these people looked like me, and I shared so much in common with them. Community service is a way to learn more about a topic, organisation, group, issue, etc. that you care deeply about, and want to explore more. Throughout my life, community service has built and challenged my values. From serving the homeless at soup kitchens, filling backpacks with food and school supplies, or helping kids with their homework during after-school programmes, all of these activities taught me the importance of giving back.

What are some of the struggles you have had to overcome to get to where you are?
One of my most prevalent struggles has been being the only person of colour in many of the spaces I enter. When I went to college I often felt uncomfortable in many of my classes because I was usually the only person of colour, yet alone Black. As I have travelled, made new friends, and my interests changed, this experience became a lot more common, and I have grown accustomed. Although this is an obstacle, I overcome it by lifting as many people I possibly can as I climb, and encourage others to do the same.

What is your next step with regard to your career?
Now that my fellowship is over, my main focus is working with an organisation or firm that makes large investments, or has an extensive business development wing. Right now I am building my own business management consulting firm geared towards ideation-stage entrepreneurs who want to learn how to go lean.

How do you balance your career and your personal life and what advice would you give to young people trying to do the same.

There must be a balance! I juggle my career and personal life by challenging myself to do something recreational on my days off. One thing I really enjoy doing is going to the gym. Although I have to fit it into my schedule, and I do miss a few days here and there, going to the gym gives me the balance that I need because it is a huge stress reliever. I would encourage young people to stay healthy and fit. Your mind is only as strong as your body is.

Abbisola was born in Georgetown, Guyana, and migrated to the U.S. at the age of two and was raised in Brooklyn, New York. She received a Posse Merit Based Full Tuition Scholarship to DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana while at James Madison High School in Brooklyn. Before completing her senior year of high school, Abbisola was recognised as a semi- finalist of the Museum of American Finance Academy scholarship, a 10-week financial literacy course with the goal of teaching students to aspire to financial independence, develop an appreciation for savings, make financial goals, and learn to avoid scams.
During her freshman year of college, she received a Bonner Community Service-Based Scholarship, which taught her the importance of community service and volunteerism. She later went on to study abroad in Senegal and South Africa, where she became exposed to the many issues affecting Black people around the world.
During the summer of her junior year, she returned to Guyana where she conducted an independent study on the political climate following the election of President David Granger. Then, in her senior year, Abbisola then travelled to Bangkok, Thailand, where she attended the prestigious Mahidol University International College (MUIC), one of the top three universities in Thailand.
After graduation, Abbisola was again selected as a recipient of the Newman’s Own Foundation Fellowship, where she was placed as a Public Policy Fellow at a non-profit organisation called reSET- Social Enterprise Trust, a business incubator in Hartford, CT with a focus on social enterprise. Through the Newman’s Own Foundation and reSET, Abbisola has had the privilege of learning more about business, entrepreneurship, non-profit work, and philanthropy.