The Opposite of Poverty with Andrew DeVaney
Guest: Andrew DeVaney, Founder & CEO, As One Ministries
Show Notes:
In this episode of Building the Biz, host Shane Bauman sits down with Andrew DeVaney, Founder and CEO of As One Ministries, to explore what it truly means to pursue dignity-centered impact through entrepreneurship, faith, and community development in rural Uganda.
Andrew shares the origin story of As One—born out of college summers spent in East Africa—and how the organization has grown incrementally over the last decade by responding to real problems on the ground. Rather than chasing rapid scale, As One has focused on density: building schools, health clinics, farms, and businesses within specific communities to restore agency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
The conversation challenges traditional charity models and reframes poverty not as a lack of material goods, but as a breakdown in relationships, dignity, and wholeness. Andrew explains why moving people from beneficiaries to customers creates ownership and accountability—and how earned-revenue models can coexist with philanthropy to catalyze flourishing communities.
Shane and Andrew also discuss leadership formation, healthy friction, culture, EOS, faith, and self-awareness—drawing parallels between lessons learned in Uganda and how American entrepreneurs can build healthier, more purpose-driven businesses.
What’s Inside:
• Why the opposite of poverty is not the American Dream
• Building density instead of chasing scale
• Moving from beneficiaries to customers
• Dignity, agency, and accountability in community development
• Blended models: philanthropy + earned revenue
• Leadership formation and self-awareness
• Healthy conflict and feedback in growing organizations
• Culture-building through mission, vision, and values
• Applying global lessons to American business leadership
Short Description:
Andrew DeVaney, Founder and CEO of As One Ministries, joins Shane Bauman to discuss dignity-centered entrepreneurship, community density, faith-driven leadership, and why redefining the opposite of poverty changes how we build businesses and organizations that last.
Tags:
Social entrepreneurship, leadership, nonprofit leadership, faith and work, entrepreneurship, poverty alleviation, Uganda, organizational culture, EOS, impact-driven business
Shane Bauman is a Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 8672679.1 Exp. 12/27
