Amy Callahan

Amy Callahan has had a copy of Sam Walton’s 10 Rules for Building a Business on her desk since she left college.

She said the rules are equally important for building and running a successful business, but some of her favorites include commit, exceed and appreciate.

“A simple thank you is worth a lot, and I always want to make sure the people who work with me know how much I appreciate them believing in this idea and working hard every day to make it a reality,” Callahan said.

Collective Bias, a marketing company she helped found in 2009, specializes in what it calls “story selling.” It has tripled in size over the past four years, growing to 122 employees with offices around the country and in London. Under Callahan’s leadership, the company has also averaged 108 percent compound annual growth in revenue.

Callahan has been recognized as one of 11 entrepreneurs in Forbes’ annual America’s Most Promising Companies and as one of Arkansas Business’ 40 Under 40.

Callahan has worked in the shopper marketing industry for 10 years and worked with retailers including Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Walgreens and brands including Nestle and Kraft. She said she realized the power of storytelling in her work and the influence it could have, leading to the inception of the company.

“At one end, the brand’s messaging is about being helpful, and at the other end, the brand’s messaging is about entertaining. Helpful content shows how the product fits in [a shopper’s] life, hits on convenience or utility, takes her behind the scenes, introduces her to a community or simply shows her how it works. Entertaining is about letting her express herself, making her smile, laugh or cry, to even giving her a chance to win,” Callahan said.

Callahan also serves as a board member of the Kendrick Fincher Hydration for Life Organization, is vice chairman of the National Arkansas Technology Council and supports the Network of Executive Women, both locally and nationally.

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