Alumni in Action: Bringing SAAS's Spirit of Innovation into the Business World

Ahead of SAAS Summit on October 4th, we're catching up with our alumni speakers for this fall's event. Learn more about SAAS Summit and get your tickets here. 

Andrew Newsome ’12 has made a name for himself in the business world. A finance professional, investor, and entrepreneur, he was recently recognized as a 2025 Emerging Leader by Who’s Who in Black Cleveland and as one of Crain’s Cleveland Business 2025 Notable M&A Dealmakers, among other accolodes from his earlier career days, like making it onto Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Cleveland list. 

But before the prestigious awards came flowing in, his passion for business began back at SAAS.

While taking a Microeconomics course in the Upper School—a part of our signature Innovations department—Andrew became fascinated with both the numbers and the people involved in business. He went on to study Human & Organizational Development at Vanderbilt University and hold several high-impact leadership roles, such as Vice President of the investment firm ScaleCo Capital and his current role as Director of Mergers, Acquisitions, & Partnerships at one of the largest metropolitan chambers of commerce in the nation.

His most cherished career accomplishment, however, is starting Parrish Street Capital, a firm specializing in investing in minority-owned and -led businesses. And he still connects his journey and success to the lessons he learned at SAAS.

"The biggest thing SAAS gave me was confidence," says Andrew. "It created an environment where you were encouraged to try new things and it was okay to fail. By the time I got to college and then into my career, I was comfortable taking risks, speaking up, and entering unfamiliar situations. That mindset gave me the courage to make the leap into entrepreneurship when I launched my own investment firm."

As one of the speakers at our upcoming SAAS Summit on October 4th⸺our first in the new Upper School building⸺Andrew shares the transformative impact of a SAAS education and what he’s been up to since graduating. 

How did you explore your interests in economics and business while at SAAS? What did you learn about yourself or the industry that prepared you for a successful career in business?

My interest in economics and business really started in my Microeconomics class with Barton Truscott. It was my first time trying to understand the intricacies of how businesses actually work. As part of the class, we interviewed a local business owner, and that experience made everything feel real and tangible rather than just theory. I discovered that I was curious not only about numbers and models, but also about people, decision-making, and strategy. That was the first spark that set me on a path toward studying and eventually working in business and finance.

How did SAAS help you develop an entrepreneurial or innovative mindset? How has that translated in your career?

SAAS has a Culture of Performance that encourages students to push themselves in academics, athletics, and the arts. That environment taught me how to step outside of my comfort zone and strive for more, which has been incredibly important in my career.

I also think back to my Senior Project, when I interned at a technology access foundation serving K-12 public schools, focused on coming up with new ways to think about fundraising. It gave me the freedom to take ownership of an idea and see it through from start to finish. That was one of my first real experiences of creating something from scratch, and it mirrored the entrepreneurial process I live every day now as an investor and business builder.

What have been your proudest career moments or achievements? What made them meaningful to you?

My proudest career moment has been making the first investment out of my own firm, Parrish Street Capital. That was a defining moment, because it represented the leap from working as an investor at other firms to becoming an entrepreneur and building something of my own. It was the first step toward independence, and it was meaningful because it showed that I could create a platform aligned with my vision and values.

Were there any adults at SAAS that made a difference in your life? If so, who were they and how did they impact you?

Several adults at SAAS made a lasting impact on me. Sung Lee, who was my 6th grade advisor, was one of the first people to make me feel truly seen and supported at school. My basketball coaches, Michael Claxton and Thadeus Dume, also played a major role in my development. Basketball was such an important part of my time at SAAS, and through it, I learned lessons about discipline, teamwork, and resilience that continue to shape me in business and in life. Two teachers who stand out are Barton Truscott and Tom Hajduk. Both pushed me to become a stronger writer and to think more deeply about the world around me. Those skills have been invaluable in my career, and I remain grateful for the foundation they gave me.

What’s something you got to do at SAAS that you might not have gotten to do at another school? 

One of the most unique aspects of SAAS was the chance to travel and experience the world. I had the opportunity to go to New York, Italy, and Alaska, and those trips sparked a lifelong love of travel. They also gave me perspective by making the world feel bigger and showing me different cultures and ways of life. Those experiences stand out as some of my most memorable moments at SAAS and shaped how I view opportunities today.

How do you feel about speaking at our first Summit in the new Upper School building this year? What does this mean to you, and how do you hope the event impacts the SAAS community?

It is a real honor to come back and speak at the first Summit in the new Upper School building. For me, it feels like a full-circle moment, returning to the community that helped launch me. My hope is that students walk away inspired to see their time at SAAS not just as preparation for college, but as a foundation for a lifetime of possibilities. I want to show that the lessons and opportunities here, whether it is the Culture of Performance, the encouragement to take risks, or the exposure to new experiences, can truly launch them into whatever future they imagine.