Sole Soul

Ron Donovan

The Shoe Maker’s Studio & The Soul Strategist

Fashion-preneur Ron Donovan can be described as nothing less than “refined and impeccably elegant.” With 25 years of experience as a shoemaker, strategist, and coach, he adds value, diversity, and luxury to a lifestyle brand. Describing his childhood as “eclectic,” Donovan’s craft was nurtured at an early age through his exposure to diversity, arts, athletics, and faith. “My parents were both collegeeducated professionals. My mother is a mathematician, and my father is an engineer.” Donovan was born and raised in South Carolina. He attended The Georgia Institute of Technology, and as a freshman, “walked onto” the university’s NCAA Division 1 basketball team with a height of 6 ‘2 and a size 15 in shoes. While playing at Georgia Institute of Technology, he played with and against a Who’s Who list of NBA greats like Kenny Smith, Spud Webb, John Salley, and even Michael Jordan.

After graduating, the “Tech” graduate began a career in technical design and sales. Although he excelled, he left the corporate world to answer the call to his “right livelihood.” In pursuit of business ventures with less than desired success, Donovan’s innate passion for fashion and style was unquestionably calling out to him. His inability to find necessity led him to create a high-quality yet fashionable shoe, “necessity being the mother of invention.” Determined to create men’s shoes that fit his size, 15 ½, he became a cordwainer and hand-crafted his signature brand: Ron Donovan.

Ron Donovan was able to marry his passion for fashion and style with his technical skills, thus creating a platform that would exemplify the exquisiteness of his craft. The creative Ron Donovan designs and produces footwear, accessories, and apparel for both men and women. In addition, he offers footwear and accessorymaking classes through his studio. The creation of his New Yorkbased luxury “lifestyle” brand, was a segue that allowed his skills as a craftsman to explore other entrepreneurial endeavors: The Shoemaker’s Studio.

The Trying of His Faith

Ron’s faith was strong before one of the most dismal times of his life. He was diagnosed and faced with prostate cancer at a considerably young age, which considerably changed his perspective on life. “While difficult at times, my faith helps me remain in gratitude and embrace the beautiful life that I have versus mourning the life I, at times, used to “think” I lost.” He describes his faith as a foundation of his mindset combined with logic and creativity. “It is integral in all I achieve and transcend. This balanced mindset has developed over time and forged from many trials, tribulations, and

The Transition of Becoming…The Soul Strategist

A strategist by nature and an “unofficial” guide most of his life, Donovan expressed that it has always been his goal to teach and share his knowledge with others. He vividly recalls how people of all ages, religions, and races have sought his advice. It wasn’t until he had a conversation with a trustworthy friend that he considered the idea tangible. Inspired, Donovan, again, began to “craft” and build upon the idea. As an avid reader and staying abreast of information, he read and researched information. He read the advice of some of the most successful coaches. He examined their approaches and beliefs. After comparing his life experiences, along with his failures, challenges, gifts, and success, he could synthesize that there was a void he had been created for and rightly suited to fill. Ron Donovan went from crafting luxury shoes tailored with the finest leather to accompany the “soles” of our feet; to becoming THE SOUL STRATEGIST. Pun Intended. The Soul Strategist is descriptive of his coaching practice.

“Tougher, stronger, lighter, healer” is Donovan’s mantra. It encapsulates his life story. Described as being “resilient, optimistic, focused and gregarious, only to name a few-Donovan admits he strives daily for people to see the good in him. During a candid interview with ATL Plus Magazine, the “renaissance gentleman” and his genuineness to provide the highest quality- exuded him,