We’re so excited to introduce you to Kaleb Shaw, a bookkeeper who’s been with us since he started as an intern in 2022. Many of you will recognize his name, as he serves Good Steward’s nonprofit clients faithfully by balancing their reports and reviewing records for accuracy. He’s been a valuable member of our team from the moment he joined us, and this month we’re celebrating Shaw’s accomplishments!

Getting Started with Good Steward

Originally from Sally, South Carolina, Shaw attended Presbyterian College for one and a half years before trading in his Blue Hose gear to cheer on the Rams of Winston Salem State University. He’s currently a senior at WSSU where he’s studying for a bachelor’s in accounting with an information technology focus and looking forward to graduating in May.

Shaw’s journey with Good Steward started when he made the switch to WSSU. “When I transferred, I decided to lock fully into my accounting career,” says Shaw. “I talked to Jasmine about the internship, and there was a real personal connection. It was more than just a job. That’s when I knew if I got the opportunity, I’d make the most of it. It’s history from there. I started with Good Steward in August at the beginning of my junior year, and I’ve been working with them since.”

Founder and CEO Jasmine S. Galloway can’t say enough about how Shaw has contributed to the work of Good Steward since he’s been a part of the team. “Kaleb goes above and beyond in all he does,” she says. “There hasn’t been a time that he hasn’t come through when I’ve reached out to him for assistance meeting a deadline or another last-minute need. He ALWAYS comes through. He’s also mastered the art of time management while working as a full-time college student, and it shows.”

Choosing a Career and Pursuing Excellence in It

When he’s not hitting the books or balancing accounts, you’ll find Shaw spending time with the people who matter most to him — often while cheering on his favorite college football teams, which is one of his favorite things to do, by the way. Ask him what he’s proud of, and he’ll tell you that his tenure as a Division I athlete for the Presbyterian College football team is one accomplishment he celebrates.

It’s not his only accomplishment, however. With a number one goal of providing a security blanket for his future family, Shaw has relentlessly pursued excellence in learning and applying what he’s learning.

“I could be studying something in class one day, and then later on that afternoon, I’ll be working on something for a client that relates to what I was studying that morning,” says Shaw. “It’s been a great experience being able to tie real world experiences to the things I’m learning in the classroom. That’s one of the reasons I like working at Good Steward so much.”

Shaw chose accounting partially for the security a career in the finance industry can provide. “Every business has accounting,” Shaw explains. “I knew working in accounting would mean that I would always have a job with financial security.”

And while security was a top priority, Shaw also wanted to pursue a degree he enjoyed. An advisor had initially steered him away from accounting and toward computer science, but when entry level calculus and analytic geometry proved a tad too challenging, he revisited his plan of study.

“I ended up taking the entry level accounting classes, and I made As,” he says. “I also really enjoyed the work. Accounting was like a puzzle. The balance sheet will balance. And you’ll know you did it right when it does. Being able to see my work in the beginning and to see it through to being completed and knowing it’s right — the process is rewarding.”

So, he’s continued to pursue accounting and added technology to the mix with an information technology focus. The combination gives him an advantage in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

“With accounting now focused on things like artificial intelligence (AI), we’re working more with management information systems,” explains Shaw. “Being able to use different databases makes processes a lot easier because we’re focusing on how to make the systems work rather than crunching numbers. Understanding how to use platforms like Power BI, Alteryx, and other data visualization tools is allowing me to be more successful in my career.”

Drawing Inspiration from Mentors

When asked who’s influenced him most through the years, Shaw doesn’t hesitate. “Two professional mentors are Dr. Carol Cain and Jasmine S. Galloway,” he says. “Dr. Cain is now the chairman of the accounting department at WSSU, and she was my advisor initially. As time went by, she became more like a mother to me, and she’s always someone I can lean on.”

“Jasmine has given me this opportunity, believed in me every day. Encouraged me. And believed in my goal of working in accounting,” he adds. “She allows me to communicate about what I’ve got going on in school and in my personal life. She’s always there to listen. Working at Good Steward is like a tight-knit family.”
On a personal level, his mentor is the person who’s known him the longest. “My mom’s always been a helping hand and supportive in whatever I do,” he says. “She’s always making sure that whatever support I need, she’s just always there.”

Experiencing the Scholarship Dream

With such a great team of support cheering him on, it’s no surprise that Shaw has received the opportunity of a lifetime — a full-ride scholarship to study for a master’s degree in accounting at NC Agricultural and Technical State University.

The scholarship is funded by the Deloitte Foundation Accounting Scholars Program, a US nonprofit initiative dedicated to fostering equity, innovation, and excellence in education. Supporting diverse students pursuing fifth-year master’s degrees in accounting, tax, or specialized concentrations, the scholarships are providing $25 million over several years to cover 100% of the recipients’ tuition expenses with the aim of bringing new diverse talent into the CPA profession.
Shaw credits Dr. Cain for encouraging him to pursue the funding. “Dr. Cain has been a big part of my journey in accounting, both as a student and a person,” he says. “She called to tell me about the program and suggested I look into it.”

After the process was complete, it was Dr. Kecia Williams Smith, CPA, Director of the Master of Accountancy (MACC) Program at NC A&T on the other end of the line. “When she said, ‘We’ve got some money for you,’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’” Shaw explains. “And she told me that based on my academic performance and all the great things they were hearing about me in the community, they wanted to offer me a full ride to North Carolina A&T. And I about shouted on the phone! It was so real to see everything come full circle.”

With an internship lined up at Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP (PwC) this summer, plans to start his master’s in the fall, and a full-time job with PwC waiting for him following completion of his degree, Shaw is taking advantage of every opportunity that comes his way and pursuing his dreams.

Paying It Forward

“Anything I do, I do it 110% — whether that’s washing dishes, cleaning up the house or doing accounting, I just try to put my best foot forward.” – Kaleb Shaw

Shaw’s also paying it forward with the creation of Project Perseverance, a nonprofit primarily for the underprivileged but open to all kids. “A few weeks ago, I went back to my old middle school for Career Day,” says Shaw. “The main thing I say to the younger generation is about preparation. I have five P’s I live by — Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. If you have a plan in what you’re doing, and you write it down, and you’re physically able to see it every day, it means you’re going to indirectly and directly work at getting to that goal. Pick something you really enjoy, then put the work in behind it, and there’s nothing you can’t do.”
And that’s something Shaw is himself living — a belief, and the effort to go with it, that there’s nothing he can’t do.

His colleagues on the Good Steward team are some of his biggest fans. “It warms my heart to watch Kaleb’s journey,” Galloway says. “When I welcomed Kaleb to the team, it was my hope to provide an opportunity for him to gain experience while pursuing his degree in accounting. That was something I’d longed for while in college and fortunately, as a senior, had an opportunity provided to me. With a similar background and upbringing as Kaleb, I understand his persistence and perseverance in all that he does, and I know it will continue to pay off for him in the long run.”

– Julie J. Novara