Built to be useful — not just impressive on paper.
Unravyl Advisors was founded on a simple observation: most technology cost reduction firms either sell software, take vendor commissions, or operate at engagement scales that exclude all but the largest enterprises. None of those models serve the businesses that need cost reduction most — companies from $5M in revenue through multi-billion-dollar enterprises whose technology spend has outpaced the systems managing it.
We built Unravyl to be the advisor we wished existed for those companies. Vendor-neutral. Transparent. Hands-on. Available to businesses of all sizes.
Five principles that shape how we work.
The work has to be useful, not just thorough.
A 200-page consulting deliverable that no one reads is worse than a 30-page Clarity Report that drives action. We optimize for what gets implemented, not for what looks impressive.
Cost reduction is connected to everything.
Recurring spend touches finance, IT, operations, procurement, and vendors. It doesn't sit cleanly in any one function. We work across those functions because that's where the real opportunities live.
Advice should be independent and transparent.
When a firm hides how it is paid, the advice is compromised. We are straight about our economics: some supplier programs compensate us, we disclose it, and no recommendation is ever driven by it. Independence is about judgment, not the absence of compensation.
Execution is half the work.
Most firms stop at recommendations. We're built to keep going — into negotiation, cleanup, vendor coordination, and renewal management. The savings only matter when they're realized.
Plain English is a discipline.
Every Clarity Report should be readable by finance, IT, and operations stakeholders without translation. If a deliverable needs a glossary, we wrote it wrong.
Built by someone who's done the work
Shawn Michaels Johnson is the founder of Unravyl Advisors, an independent technology advisory firm that helps organizations untangle complex technology decisions and reduce what they spend to run their business.
Shawn brings roughly 20 years of experience in telecom and IT expense management, with a track record spanning thousands of contract negotiations — including multi-million-dollar agreements — across enterprise mobility, telecommunications, cloud, AI, technology expense management, vendor management, and procurement. He has advised enterprise organizations and led large-scale mobility and technology initiatives, working with executives to align technology decisions with business objectives.
Rather than representing a single provider, Shawn helps clients evaluate the full market and compare solutions objectively. He works across leading providers — including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud, Cisco, Zoom, and RingCentral — to identify the right fit for each organization’s requirements, not the vendor with the best relationship.
Shawn believes technology decisions should be driven by business outcomes, not vendor relationships. Through strategic planning, competitive sourcing, contract negotiation, and ongoing advisory, he helps organizations cut unnecessary spend, improve operational efficiency, and make technology commitments with confidence.
The goal behind Unravyl Advisors is simple: one independent advisor across the entire technology landscape — someone who untangles the complexity, tells you the truth about what you’re paying for, and stays accountable for the outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Unravyl Advisors located?
Unravyl Advisors is headquartered in Bel Air, MD. We work with clients across the United States, with engagements conducted remotely and on-site visits scheduled as needed.
Is Unravyl Advisors part of a larger firm?
Yes. Unravyl Advisors is an Eynstyn company and a trade name of Eynstyn Media Consulting. The parent organization provides operational infrastructure and governance across multiple advisory brands.
Are you certified or accredited in any way?
Certifications relevant to the work we do — including procurement, contract management, telecom industry credentials, and related disciplines — are held by individual advisors and listed in their profiles. The firm itself operates under standard professional services contracting terms.
Do you write content for other publications?
Yes, our advisors occasionally publish in industry publications and contribute to webinars. Recent publications are linked from the [Insights] section as available.
How can I get in touch about a speaking engagement or media inquiry?
For media, speaking, or partnership inquiries, contact hello@unravyladvisors.com with details about the request.
