Meet Drew Shaw | Educator, Author, and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Drew Shaw and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Drew, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I think there is gravity to the saying, “No risk, no reward.” We can all pull from examples throughout history where courageous men and women took a risk and became a notable entry in the history books. On my entrepreneurial journey, I discovered that I slowly became more and more comfortable with taking calculated and faith-filled risks. There are so many unknowns: “Will people like what I’m creating?” “Where will the money come from?” “How will I figure out how to solve this new problem?” Despite my trepidation, I had to make a choice, move forward, and be patient. In this process, my risk tolerance increased and the confidence in my decision-making ability strengthened. Now, I can better identify suitable risks for my companies and how they affect my life holistically.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a person who recognizes and then walks through open doors. I follow my passions and build connections between them to create innovative companies, ideas, and ventures. I started out building an education consulting company, Acumen Learning Innovations, harnessing my diverse background in education to offer training and learning solutions for schools and teachers. Then I back into my creative toolkit and released my first children’s book, Rosewood Circle: The First Day. In this story, the main character is an elementary school-aged boy who wears mismatched socks. I connected that idea with a desire to positively impact the community by establishing my company, Voyce Threads. Voyce Threads is a socially conscious apparel brand that partners with nonprofit organizations and turns their work into apparel, like mismatched socks. All of our apparel is designed to cause conversations about the issues and organizations that exist in our community. The journey was filled with doubts and extreme learning curves, but the community and connections I made along made no challenge too difficult to overcome. I learned that consistency and patience go a long way. Even the smallest idea can bloom into something wonderful if you decide to stay with it long enough and ask for help.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are a couple of places in the city where I always take friends visiting from out of town. The first place on the list would be Hole in the Rock at Papago Park. Phoenix already boasts some of the most gorgeous sunsets on the planet, but when you pair that with the natural beauty of the rock formation, it takes it to a new level. With a short hike up to the rock, you and your friends can watch the sun descend and the sky display its colorful art over the city skyline. It’s an experience that is unique to Phoenix. It’s imperative to walk around downtown a bit when it isn’t too hot to do so. Walking around at night, you can see the city transform and come to life. One of my favorite stops is Hanny’s. Not only does it offer great food and drinks, but it has character. I always drag my friends downstairs to the basement and the open elevator shaft. And, of course, the bathroom area can’t be ignored. Other than that, exploring the various hiking trails, museums, and the botanical garden always makes the list of options to make for the perfect visit to Phoenix.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shout out Galvanize Phoenix, the best coworking space in Phoenix. The staff and coworkers there have been instrumental in the development of my business ventures, offering support, safe space, and companionship throughout my journey. I encourage any entrepreneur or small business owner to take a tour of the large, industrial-yet-intimate space. Located in downtown Phoenix, Galvanize offers a wide variety of amenities from an abundance of parking, modernized working spaces, and an ambiance that promotes productivity

Website: https://www.voycethreads.com

Instagram: @voycethreads

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/voyce-threads

Twitter: @voycethreads

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voycethreads

Image Credits
Photo of Drew: Brad Reed Photography
Photos of Socks: Mike Schmidt