Meet Evelyn Shaw Corley | Founder & CEO

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

Hi Evelyn, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting Thrive International Academy, a 1:1 and small group homeschooling, tutoring, and mentoring program, was driven by the personal understanding of the challenges and gaps in traditional education systems. I recognize the need for personalized, individualized support and guidance for students who may not thrive in a traditional classroom setting. Our schools are overcrowded and under resourced with the ability to provide 1:1 attention when so many students need exactly this. I have experience teaching in an array of classroom settings, and I know the system is broken. I know children who are passed on to the next grade level without being ready. I know children who need enrichment and increasingly challenging activities, and they are not getting it in the traditional setting. Where else can you, as a student, be truly seen and supported? I wrote the plans for Thrive into the night for many evenings five years ago, and I have pivoted and readjusted those plans many, many times; however, the foundation is there. My thought process is helping learners- of all ages. My thought process is changing education altogether, and I believe Thrive can do that.

What should our readers know about your business?
Thrive International Academy is my passion, my purpose, my why for waking up each day and bringing forth my best self. Knowing that we are serving students who need “something more” lights my fire of energy, creativity, and compassion. Thrive is in a league of its own with teachers around the globe serving families around the globe through energy, content, empathy, and enthusiasm. What sets me apart as a business owner is that I am constantly brainstorming for ways to improve our service to families. I also know what it is to be a kid who may not necessarily fit in and who very much needed some guidance and a mentor- not to mention math tutoring! Some parts of getting to where I am have been easy, and some parts have been heartbreaking. The easy part is that I get to live in my passion every day. I get to serve the world in a big way and make positive changes in education. The heartbreak comes with tough conversations when it does not work out with independent contractors I care deeply about. Sometimes it just is not the right fit, and sometimes life takes us in different directions. I have learned that being a servant leader means doing it right. I have also learned that in a time when everyone was raising their prices, I lowered my own. I felt in my heart that Thrive needs to be accessible to everyone. I want the world to know that we are here; we are ready to serve. When you join Thrive, you are immediately loved.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
While you are here, first and foremost, check out our historic university, The University of Georgia. North Campus is stunning, unforgettable and one of my favorite spots. We love The Classic Center for shows, concerts, and every kind of artistic performance. My husband, Alex, and I recently discovered Shen Yun at the Classic Center. The Classic City’s downtown Athens is fabulous for shopping and delighting in delicious food. Check out the Globe, The National, and Last Resort! Marker 7, in 5 Points, is perfect for a seafood experience that will make your mouth water, and Terrapin Brewery is the spot for outdoor games and live music. Sandy Creek Park is a wonderful place to enjoy sunshine on your paddleboard if you are seeking adventure. We love to bring our dog, Lennon, there, too!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes! This is fantastic! I want to shout out to my undergraduate college professor and advisor at The University of Georgia, the one and only Gayle Andrews. She believed in me from the beginning and saw something unique and special about me. I remember being 23 years old and traveling to Philadelphia with her to present at a conference at this young age. She helped me to believe in myself and my abilities. Gayle and I are still close to this day, and I am now 42 years old!

I would also like to honor my mentor, Raissa Chandler. Raissa guides me through my multitude of ever-flowing ideas, and she helps me to sift through and find the magic. She is kind, patient, organized, and I adore her.

I also want to dearly thank my husband, Alex Corley, for being my biggest support system along our journey of life together. He inspires me each day with his love, work ethic, and ability to view life through a lens of adventure.

Website: workwiththrive.com

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

Other: welovebeautifulminds.org

Image Credits
Brandy Angel Photography