Deacon Spotlight: Anne Shoemaker

Anne Shoemaker (2000, BS Business, Minor in French)

Principal, Anne Shoemaker & Associates in Greensboro, NC

Tell us about your current job role/employer and what you’re currently working on. 

I am currently working on supporting and elevating women into positions of corporate influence. I spend a lot of time speaking with supplier diversity professionals at corporations that have set ambitious revenue and gender equity goals. It’s a lot of fun to see how supporting the women in their workforce can have a halo effect on other areas of their business, like profitability.

What personal and/or career experiences did you have prior to landing your current job and leading to where you are now?

I was fortunate to have had a series of remarkable mentors early in my career. They generously invested time, money, and energy into my development. I see my work now as a way of paying that back, by investing in the next generation of women business leaders.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job? How do you navigate that challenge?

Like most small business owners managing growth, cash flow management is always top of mind. Luckily, I have a great team to help with the mechanics of this, but it is on my mind daily nevertheless.

What advice would you give to new Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?

Understand the compound effect of small, daily decisions. Foregoing your workout one or two days a week is not a big deal, here and there. However, going weeks and weeks at a time without eating properly or carving out time for friends and family will have a detrimental effect on all areas of your life and career. Do the best you can maintain small, incremental gains, day in and day out, and you will be delighted with the outcome.

We know that relationships are important for any kind of development. How do you build and maintain your network?

I am very intentional about building my network. I track my outreach efforts in the CRM that I use for my business, and include 2-3 notes about each conversation that I have. I always ask what’s top of mind for people on the day we meet, what’s giving them energy these days, what is one thing that they’re working towards, and who is someone they would like to meet. I love making connections between people in my network and helping people make progress towards their goals.

Tell us about your mentoring relationships. What impact have these relationships had on your career and life?

Advice from my mentors is always close at hand. There is no way I would have achieved half of what I did early in my career without guidance from my mentors.

What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are interested in working in your industry?

Network like your life depends on it! Never let your network go dormant. People make things happen, and people need you and your advice and support just as much as you need theirs. Networking is a two-way street, so approach each conversation with a service mindset and you will be amazed at what comes your way as a result.

What’s next for your career? What future goals or plans are you pursuing?

I am focused on reaching some ambitious revenue goals in my business over the next five years. I am almost seven years into entrepreneurship now; there’s still so much to learn!

Story published in November 2024. For current updates on Anne’s career path, visit her LinkedIn profile.