Name: Shawn Saulsberry
Leadership Charlotte (LC) Class: 27
Title/Company: Business Consultant at Ernst & Young (EY) specializing in Strategic Transformation
Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina
Education:
- University of South Carolina – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- University of Phoenix, Charlotte Campus – Master of Business Administration with a focus in Technology Management
- University of Phoenix, School of Advance Studies – Completed 36 credits towards a Doctor of Management in Organization Leadership with a specialization in Information Systems Technology
Current personal or leadership goals:
- Restoring the faith and vision needed to drive myself and inspire others
- Leveraging opportunities that come packaged as limitations
- Shifting from parenting to mentoring as my sons mature
1. What advice that you would you give to current Leadership Charlotte participants?
- Trust the process
- No posing (to assume a particular attitude or stance, especially with the hope of impressing others)
- Identify your passion as a leader
2. What do you remember most vividly from your Leadership Charlotte experience and why?
I will never forget when we had a candid discussion about our biases and how we love others. After studying the Scriptures for so long, it dawned on me that to “love my neighbor as I love myself” began with me first loving myself. I had to face and address so many aspects of “me” that I had yet to confront such as my upbringing, education, race, and personality. So now when I find that I am not treating others well I start with better understanding what issues exist within me that I need to address.
3. What’s a lesson that you learned through LC that has stuck with you and why?
Though my LC experience I discovered that shying away from my innate desire to lead is selfish and hurts those whom I could otherwise serve. It’s important to lead with humility but you must also possess a sense of calling and purpose that make you relentless and impactful.
4. What would you like to see Leadership Charlotte alumni get involved in and why?
As part of our on-going support of LC, I would like to see each graduate paired with a student mentee. The process of finding someone to mentor would occur during the class. At graduation not only would you graduate but also be formally paired with your mentee as part of the ceremony.
5. What are you doing in the community these days?
I have moved back home to Charleston, SC to help expand the services EY provides in the area and give back to the community. As such, I completed Leadership South Carolina and joined Metanoia as the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. Metanoia invests in neighborhood assets to build leaders, establish quality housing and generate economic development. We are pushing forward into new relationships with God and one another to create strong communities. I am overseeing a $25MM project to restore my old elementary school as a center of economic development in the Chicora/Cherokee neighborhood of North Charleston, SC, where I grew up.