Inspired Entrepreneurship

From roadside billboards to online advertising: Scott Bell’s journey reveals lessons for entrepreneurial success

Scott Bell, founder and CEO of Bell Media, traces the origins of his successful digital advertising agency to well before he enrolled in the Harbert College of Business’ Entre- preneurial Program back in his junior year at Auburn. “I was raised in an entrepreneurial family,” said Bell, who received his B.S. in Business Administration, Entrepre- neurship in 2007. “My father was a golf pro who took the opportunity to purchase an underperforming golf course in Montgomery and over 10 to 15 years turned it into a successful, profitable business. And my mother was an entrepreneur as well, although not in the stereotypical sense. She built her own private practice in marriage and family therapy, and then transformed that into the only child therapy practice in the area. I saw the entrepreneur- ial spirit — and all the crazy hours of work it took to make them successful — at work from a very young age.” The Harbert College of Business sat down with Scott as part of its Harbert Entrepreneur Spotlight initiative to hear his story and glean some valuable insight for aspiring student entrepreneurs.