Saasha Celestial-One is a purpose-driven entrepreneur who believes that the smallest everyday actions can create large-scale change. As the co-founder of Olio, a food-sharing platform tackling food waste and hunger, Saasha’s journey reflects deep empathy, systems thinking, and long-term leadership. Humans of Fuzia is proud to feature her story for our global community of 5M+ changemakers who believe in building a more sustainable, equitable world through collaboration, compassion, and courageous leadership.
Q: What inspired you to start your entrepreneurial journey?
My first business was actually London’s first pay-as-you-go childcare provider, which grew out of my experience during maternity leave. Having access to flexible childcare gave me the space to think bigger about what I wanted to do with my life. It helped me realise how important it is to create systems that genuinely support people. That experience ultimately shaped how I approached my second venture, Olio, where the goal was to leave the world in a better place for our children.
Q: What problem were you trying to solve with Olio?
We started Olio around 10 years ago to tackle food waste in the home. About 40% of the world’s food is never eaten, while nearly a billion people go to bed hungry every day. Food waste alone contributes to around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a massive problem environmentally, socially, and economically. Most food waste happens behind closed doors in people’s homes, which makes it invisible and surprisingly hard to change.
Q: What was the biggest challenge in building this solution?
We initially thought the challenge would be getting people to pick up food from their neighbours. What surprised us was that demand wasn’t the issue at all. People are naturally motivated to prevent food from going to waste. The real challenge was encouraging people to take that extra step of sharing surplus food from their homes. To address this, we started rescuing surplus food from businesses, which helped normalise food sharing and gradually build trust and participation within communities.
Q: What has been one of your proudest milestones so far?
Receiving the United Nations Momentum for Change Award at COP was a deeply humbling moment. It recognised Olio as a female-founded business helping mitigate the climate crisis at scale. While we’ve rescued millions of meals and made real progress, it also reminded us that systems change takes decades and many collaborators. Pride and urgency coexist in this journey.
Q: Are you building this journey alone?
Not at all. I co-founded Olio with Tessa, who I’ve known for over 20 years. Our friendship, trust, and constant communication are at the heart of the company’s longevity. We’re very intentional about staying aligned, because the stakes of misalignment are incredibly high.
Q: What are your thoughts on women in leadership today?
Women are natural leaders, often playing the long game rather than chasing short-term wins or visibility. While funding systems still disadvantage female founders, there is also a powerful sense of solidarity among women. I see women supporting each other through mentorship, investment, and community. Women may not always seek the spotlight, but they are quietly driving meaningful, long-term change.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring women entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurship is long, hard, and often lonely, so build a strong support system around you—co-founders, mentors, peers. I’m part of a peer-to-peer coaching group, and it’s been transformational. Also, dream big. The bigger the problem you’re trying to solve, the more momentum and attention it attracts. Don’t be afraid of ambition.
Q: What does success mean to you?
Success is not wishing, at any point, that I was doing something else. It’s contentment, pride, and alignment with purpose—knowing that the work I’m doing is exactly how I’m meant to spend my time.
“Success, for me, is the quiet confidence that I’m working on something meaningful—and that there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Connect with Saasha Celestial-One:
- LinkedIn Saasha Celestial-One | LinkedIn
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