Black entrepreneurs often struggle with finding the resources they need to get their business off the groud. Hilda Adeniji and Candice Grevious are helping to redefining that narrative through their groundbreaking work with Transform The Hustle.
This dynamic duo has not only shattered glass ceilings but has also paved the way for a new generation of Black professionals, creators, and entrepreneurs. WBLS was able to catch up with 1/2 of the dynamic duo, Candice Grevious, to talk all about the business that is changing the lives of many.
Hilda Adeniji and Candice Grevious founded Transform The Hustle in 2021 with a mission to challenge the traditional notions of success.
“The concept of ‘hustle culture’ romanticizes the notion that with sheer grit and sleepless nights, anyone can easily climb the ladder of success,” explains Grevious. “But the lived experience of marginalized communities reveals a more complex truth – no matter how hard we labor, systemic discrimination persists in restricting access and advancement.”
As ambitious first-generation children of immigrants navigating the corporate world, the pair faced numerous challenges despite their hard work and dedication.
Grevious shared,” Our dream was to develop a company leveraging our cultural competency to increase representation and economic mobility on our terms.” Dreams that they were able to accomplish.
Transform The Hustle provides a wide range of resources for entrepreneurs, starting with community-centric programs that tap into their extensive network connections.
“We started out by developing community-centric programs that tapped into the influence of our network connections,” she explained. “With more vision than funding, we transformed our budding dream into a tangible holiday event, The BLCK Office Holiday Party, for multicultural talent.”
Their initiatives extend beyond events to include advising corporate partners on building diverse leadership pipelines, inclusive hiring, and supply chain diversity. Additionally, their creator initiatives, such as #SHOPBLCK and The BLCK Office Holiday Party, provide visibility and resources for ambitious local talent.
The impact of Transform The Hustle on Black entrepreneurs is profound.
“Our mission is to build more equitable pathways to economic success specifically for Black business owners and founders,” Grevious noted. “That is why over the past two years, we have reinvested over $300K directly into other Black-owned enterprises and professionals through procurement contracts, joint ventures, and economic empowerment programming.”
Through their annual BLCK Office Holiday Party and partnerships with corporations, Transform The Hustle is accelerating economic growth and creating opportunities for Black entrepreneurs to thrive.
For Hilda and Candice, Transform The Hustle has been a transformative journey on a personal level as well. Grevious shared that it helped them become more than just business owners.
“Transform The Hustle has significantly impacted us as Christian women, becoming a catalyst for reconnecting with our faith,” she shared. “Recognizing that the term ‘hustle’ often carries negative connotations in relation to hard work, we draw inspiration from the biblical principle that ‘faith without works is dead.’”
Guided by the scripture (Romans 12:2) “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” Hilda and Candice are breaking away from societal norms and establishing their business on spiritual and moral principles.
Hilda Adeniji and Candice Grevious are not just entrepreneurs; they are visionaries reshaping the landscape for Black professionals and entrepreneurs.
Through Transform The Hustle, they are providing resources, creating opportunities, and inspiring a new generation to redefine success. Their story is not just a celebration of Black History Month but a testament to the power of perseverance, faith, and community.