Julian Buschmaas is a social entrepreneur driven by the belief that meaningful change happens when the private sector and the social sector learn from each other. His journey—shaped by global exposure, volunteering, and a deep commitment to inclusion—reflects the power of using skills, knowledge, and empathy to create impact. Humans of Fuzia features Julian because his story resonates with our 5M+ strong community: it shows how conscious leadership, allyship, and action can open doors for women and underrepresented voices worldwide. We believe in She for She and He for She, and Julian’s work embodies both.
Q: Julian, what inspired you to start your entrepreneurial journey?
A: It was really a combination of moments and influences. Reading a book by Muhammad Yunus on social businesses was a big turning point. That, along with volunteering in Bolivia when I was 19, working at the UN in Bangkok on the digital divide, and my time at LSE, all came together. I realized I wanted to build something that brings the private sector and the social sector closer—through sharing skills, knowledge, and learning from one another.
Q: What challenges did you face while building your venture, especially early on?
A: One of the biggest challenges is always having too few people to solve too many problems. In the early days, you wear multiple hats and constantly have to prioritize. Another challenge is that no one knows you at the beginning, so you need to clearly and simply explain what you do. That just takes time, repetition, and practice.
Q: Are you building this journey alone or with a team?
A: I’m fortunate to have a team. We’re six people now, including my co-founder, a founder’s associate, an operations manager, and a sales team. We also work with virtual assistants in the Philippines, which helps us stay agile and focused.
Q: What has been your proudest milestone so far?
A: There have been several. Winning an Innovate UK grant was a big one, followed by raising our pre-seed round. Securing our first three-year contract with a large strategy consulting firm was another major milestone. We’ve crossed £100,000 in contracts sold, and now we’re working toward closing a £1.5 million seed round and reaching £1 million in revenue.
Q: As someone working closely with inclusion, what are your thoughts on women in leadership today?
A: Women’s empowerment and diversity are incredibly important to me. I’m neurodiverse myself, so inclusion has always been personal. Our first two hires were women, and both are growing into leadership roles. Beyond that, through our programs, we work directly on women leadership initiatives—partnering with global organizations to upskill female leaders in both the private and nonprofit sectors. It’s about creating real opportunities and extending impact beyond just one organization.
Q: What message would you like to share with aspiring women leaders and entrepreneurs?
A: The best advice I ever received was that there’s no real difference between you and the founders you admire—the only difference is that they started. Most people we idealize are just human. Success comes down to turning intentions into action and taking that first step.
Q: What does success mean to you, personally and professionally?
A: Success has many dimensions. For me, it’s not just about achieving goals, but about working toward them consistently. It’s about taking small actions every day and being on the journey. Success isn’t the destination—it’s the process of moving forward.
“Success is not necessarily reaching the end goal, but knowing that every day you are taking small actions to move closer to it.”
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