Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Devoe Sherman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Devoe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you’re open to it, can you talk to us about the best (or worst) investment you’ve made. What’s the backstory and the relevant context behind why you made the investment

The biggest investment I made was in myself when I graduated from Woodward High school in 2015. I paid for college on my own with little to no money working at Krogers & Macys. I studied political science and Liberal arts @ The University of Cincinnati. College gave me a new perspective on life. It taught me about the importance of mental fortitude and personal & professional development. I was living an impoverished lifestyle I didn’t have a choice but to go to college because that’s what everyone around me was pushing for. I went to college to escape the reality of living in poverty. My return on investment has been beneficial to my life. Now I am a self-employed business owner that has manifested my destiny to help inspire others to grow.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Growing up in a low-income neighborhood where all you saw was abuse, violence, and poverty was a constant challenge to overcome barriers- both invisible and visible. It was hard to overcome these barriers because I was constantly living with a little fear in the pit of my stomach. Living in a neighborhood where there are few opportunities and even fewer resources in school made it extremely challenging for me to graduate from high school. I always thought to myself, “What if all that I achieved was suddenly taken away from me”, “What if I could not provide for my family anymore” and even “How do I make my ancestors proud?” As I was growing up in this chaotic world, entrepreneurship was never mentioned by the adults in my life, and I would have never thought one day I would be an entrepreneur; but luckily that is what life had in store for me. As I began to listen and learn from others, I was able to become fearless.

​Now, I can use my story to help others overcome that same fear that many of us have. I believe as we overcome fear together, we should help others do the same by contributing to their success!

De’Voe Sherman is a graduate of Woodward High School class of 2012 and is from Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied Political Science/ Liberal Arts at the University of Cincinnati. He was born and raised in Cincinnati and now wants to give back/work with the city with a vision of constructing a plan for everyone to live in harmony. Devoe says, “My involvement in the church has made me a better person with better character.” De’Voe is driven to implement programs for students who need guidance and this stems from his time in high school. While attending Woodward High, he started to think about how to help the students graduate on time and begin their future careers consistently.

Devoe Sherman, known as The Electrified Speaker, is one of Cincinnati’s Premier Millennial Entrepreneurs and a true “Poverty to Success” story. De’Voe has built his career in a variety of roles and industries; mostly in small companies where he is the gatekeeper, business consultant, blogger, and community organizer. In his 27 years of life, he has experienced many heartbreaks and joys and has learned what it takes to hustle through tumultuous storms. He is a thriving businessman who believes in elevating success and making a positive impact in the community.

He is a modern-day serial entrepreneur who operates two business ventures. De’Voe the educational director for First Generation Leaders of America, FGLA, is a whole-person centered mentoring and academic support program that delivers life skills and motivation in a proven, engaging format. Our programs are driven to academically support our school-aged youth. We take pride in our authentic ability to relate to the youth and encourage them in a language they understand.

Devoe has established himself as a business coach @ Shermans Consulting Firm with over 6 years of coaching and facilitating experience. He has been trained by a 30-year veteran in the business industry. His background encompasses a wide range of programs and initiatives for individual development, team building, organization design, and facilitation. Devoe helps leaders at various points in their career-new hires, individuals taking on challenging new assignments, leaders with management issues, and other kinds of high-potential managers who can benefit from clear and constructive feedback. He adapts his coaching process to the culture of each organization and the unique expectations and requirements for success. He helps each client to assess more accurately his or her strengths and development needs and create a specific but realistic action plan to build on identified strengths and areas to improve. Devoe offers a wide range of coaching programs and services – from individual coaching to workshops and keynote speeches.

Both diversity and inclusion are his strong suits; he is dedicated to serving the needs of the community. With his organization, FGLA, he often visits schools across the Cincinnati area both to encourage and mentor youth to rise above their present environmental circumstances and pursue their dreams. He has worked in the political arena also in conjunction with AFL-CIO, as well as, functioned as a campaign manager for local & national politicians within the Cincinnati area.

​He is a fanatic for details particularly when it comes to presentation. He has worked in copious community-organized projects that provide leadership for our communities to help create/maintain a welcoming and respectful climate for diversity. His zeal for diversity and success is insurmountable, truly making him a “change agent” in the community. De’Voe believes, “Unity is paramount, and consistency is key.” De’Voe Sherman is a winner with a positive attitude toward life, a driver for change, and a successful manager of success.

Credentials and Awards :

101.1 The Wiz Cincinnati Trailblazer 30 under 30 Nominee.
Certified Crypto and Business Coach.
Urban League Young Professional Affirmed Nominee
Cohear Bridgebuilder.
African America Cultural Resource Center University of Cincinnati Community Engagement Nominee.
University of Cincinnati Upward Bound Community Career Award.
As seen on Channel 9. Channel 5, USA Today, Voyage Ohio, UC Diversity & Inclusion, & Cincinnati Enquirer.
Public Ally Alumni.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I vividly remember cold-calling prospects to tell them about my business. During my first few years, I did that constantly but never gave up until someone said yes we will do business with you. The no’s kept me pushing. To me, no meant next opportunity. Once I received the internal confidence of my why which was a constant reminder I gave myself I believed I can do more. I never gave up even though I got rejected 100 times over and over. Starting a business wasn’t meant but I always kept an optimistic attitude.

How did you build your audience on social media?

If you wanna build a solid strong following you must consistently post on social media in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Post at least 3 times a day. Minimize the friend list and you must constantly engage with your audience. It’s the stories that sell, not the product! I learned that people connect to stories. It is the emotional attachment that a brand builds with its audience. Stories inspire ideas and encourage interaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: shermansconsultingfirm.com
• Instagram: [email protected]
• Facebook: shermansconsultingfirm
• Linkedin: [email protected]
• Youtube: Devoe shherman
• Yelp: shermansconsultingfirm