Steelhead CEO Sean Combs: Why We Should Put People and Purpose Above Profit

Sean Combs is the CEO of Steelhead Productions, a live and digital event marketing company that creates virtual engagements and sustainable 3D brand environments. Steelhead is the only B Corp certified trade show company in North America and was named Inc. magazine's Best Workplaces in 2022.

Sean Combs is the CEO of Steelhead Productions, a live and digital event marketing company that creates virtual engagements and sustainable 3D brand environments. Steelhead is the only B Corp certified trade show company in North America and was named Inc. magazine’s Best Workplaces in 2022. Sean and his team led Steelhead through a transformational period in 2004 from a custom exhibit builder to offering full-service trade show exhibiting. He served as President of the EO Las Vegas chapter board, where he was responsible for board selection, strategic planning, and implementation of best practices to ensure chapter health and growth. Sean was also a Store Manager at Foot Locker and G.H. Bass Co.


Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Sean Combs explains what it means to be in an event activation business
• Steelhead Productions’ ideal customer profile
• Sean’s inspiration to join the event industry
• What are the common mistakes people in the event industry make?
• Sean discusses how the pandemic impacted the event industry, and how he overcame the challenges associated with it
• Why Steelhead became a B Corp, and the capabilities the certification has provided
• How Steelhead manages the labor shortage
• Sean’s strategies for building a culture with a remote and regionally diverse team
• How is the event industry evolving?


In this episode…

In a post-pandemic environment, businesses in the corporate event industry are facing a major shift in labor and engagements. So, how can you overcome these challenges to reinstate value in your organization?

Sean Combs says that exhibitors should view corporate events as hospitality opportunities. When developing an exhibition for a customer, it’s important to understand their vision and ideal audience. Following a significant industry shut down, it’s best to host in-person events to restore engagement and purpose. As part of his organizational rebuilding, Sean received a B-Corp certification to positively impact his customers and employees through diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Sean Combs, CEO of Steelhead Productions, to discuss how to succeed in the event industry by valuing your employees and customers. Sean explains the common mistakes people in the event industry make, the challenges the event industry faces and how to overcome them, and how the event industry is evolving.


Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Doxa7.

At Doxa7, we help businesses build and leverage highly-skilled and dedicated global teams that can scale.

By connecting you with the right people, your company can increase output while saving up to 70% on hiring costs compared to similar roles in places like the United States, Australia, and Europe.

You’ll build partnerships with talent that fits your culture and values, reap the benefits of Doxa7’s infrastructure, and gain a full-time, dedicated resource that drives results for your business.

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