Fast 15: Sean Campbell

Sean Campbell’s mission is to radically serve people. “That’s what fulfills me — not money, not awards,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been given this special assignment where I get to come alongside businesses, owners and nonprofits and provide a boost to help them reach their audience.”

A native of Rogers, Campbell studied Bible, business and music at Oral Roberts University, graduating with a bachelor’s in 2013 and his master’s in practical theology in 2014.

The summer between degrees, he interned at Sam’s Club and found he loved marketing. After graduation, Campbell worked for the Hilti Group, then for eXpect3 Digital Media Agency. He moved from account manager to assistant general manager in less than a year, overseeing all marketing departments and more than 150 national clients.

“That’s where I fell in love with marketing in a deep way,” he said.

In June 2017, he became director of marketing and public relations for The Rowland Group, a national recruiting agency. He was one of Oklahoma Magazine’s NextGen Under 30 honorees and was a Public Relations of America SilverLink and Award of Merit winner.

Friends began to ask him for marketing help, and in August 2017, he had enough business to start his own company. With the “experience of a big agency but the heart of a small guy,” he created a “more customer-centric agency model to help small-business owners who can’t afford a big agency.”

Wanting to get his family back home, he quit his job at Rowland and moved Campbell Creative to Northwest Arkansas about three years ago, growing it by 30% each year.

Campbell credits the book “The Go-Giver,” with changing his business model and creating his success.

“After I read that book, I changed my language, I changed how I presented sales, I changed how I spoke to customers and really tried to serve people first,” he said. “Within six months, I’d quadrupled my income by not letting money ever be the motivator but just trying to help people.”

In 2020, Campbell won gold-level for web design at the Davey Awards, and his videography work is up for a 2021 Global Effie Award.

Motivated by his faith, he believes in being generous, giving away 10% of his income. A Souls Harbor board member, he gives away marketing time to help nonprofits.