HIGH POINT, N.C. – Former three-year captain for the High Point University men's soccer team and class of 2013, Adam Sewell, looks back at his time as a Panther which inevitably helped him start his business. Being a native from England, Sewell was recruited to come to High Point to play soccer during a showcase in London. High Point men's soccer staff were there to meet and greet Sewell and his father telling them all about what being a Panther means and has to offer.
 
Digital Spark Studio was founded by Sewell in 2015 and is now run with a group of four located in Charlotte, N.C. Sewell and his team help companies produce content through creative discussions, leading to finished videos to ensure success of their partners. Sewell is always looking to improve their product and services so the client can reap the benefits of the serious impact that storytelling and human connection has on consumers.



Associate Head Coach Josh Gillon on Sewell: "Adam Sewell's continuous work ethic and ability to unify players on the field still stand among all the players I've coached in my 16-year career. Those same abilities to communicate as a leader & constantly push forward is the same recipe for his success at Digital Spark Studios. We're extremely proud to call him one of our own."

(During his senior year, he suffered an ankle injury that forced him out of much of the season)

"I'm not sure I've seen someone fight so hard to get back on the field. His sheer presence at practice made such a huge impact as soon as he was able to return."
 
Give a little back story about yourself. How were you recruited to HPU? And why did you decide to become a Panther?
 
"I grew up in a small town in the east of England with an older sister and 2 younger brothers. Since I was four years old, soccer, or football as we called it, was always a huge part of my life; it was the thing I looked forward to the most. My friends and I spent hours at the field each week making up different games and ways to compete against each other. It was after my college's National Cup final, that I first heard about the possibility of moving to the US to play soccer. Our team played a Newcastle college and one of their staff also worked for a recruitment agency which toured the country to find players suitable for the American Collegiate system.
 
The recruiting agent came into our locker room, post-game, and asked to speak with myself and one other player. He asked us a few questions and then asked if we'd be interested in moving to America to play for a university. 
 
We were both apprehensive. The idea sounded so out there that there was no way it could be legitimate. At that time in my life, I was stacking fruit and vegetables at the local supermarket after college with no real direction and absolutely no idea that football would be the key to unlocking unrivaled opportunities for my future, so there was no way I was going to miss exploring this opportunity further.

Before long I found myself at a showcase in London with around 100 college coaches watching myself and 75 other potential recruits. After playing, we were debriefed on how things would proceed. The event director said, "If your name is called, go through this door and you'll speak with some of the coaches that watched you play today." 

My name was the 2^nd called out and I went on to speak with about 25 different colleges that day. 
 
Dustin Fonder and John Trice were the head and assistant coaches at HPU at the time. I remember meeting with them and talking about what they had planned for me as a player, and all about High Point University. I vividly remember my dad and I looking at each other with excitement each time they spoke about some of the world class amenities that the school had to offer, and how structured and well defined the program and vision was. It was clear by the end of the day that HPU was where I wanted to go."


 
Did you always know that you wanted to start a business like this? When did it hit you that this is what you were destined to do?
 
"I was always drawn to creating things, and curious about how things worked, but it wasn't always clear that channeling that energy into business was the way things would end up. Throughout the years at High Point, I surrounded myself with a lot of creativity and asked a lot of questions. One of my teammates (Shane Malcolm) was a musician and we found ourselves spending countless late nights and early mornings in the studio just messing around with music and trying to develop something new. Over time that evolved into filming music videos which is where I got my first taste of the video production space. 
 
I will always be thankful that HPU put me in a position to explore different areas of creativity and fostered an environment that encouraged exploration.
After HPU, I found myself in a fulltime role at a company, and it was at that point that I realized working for someone else wasn't for me. I wanted to help more than just one company/client at a time and not be locked into just one industry. That's when the idea of starting my own business came about and in 2015 Digital Spark Studios was founded. I am very proud to say that we are still going strong today."
 
How did High point University prepare you for this type of journey?
 
"High Point University does the best job of giving you the tools you need to succeed in life. Moving to America from overseas, it was important for me to gain an understanding of how the British and American cultures and ethics differed, and the HPU staff and student body played a fundamental role in ensuring that the transition was thorough and true. In more ways the one HPU enabled me to be a business owner/entrepreneur. 
 
HPU enhanced my definition of teamwork and what it meant to have roles and responsibilities; what being a leader meant. Being captain of the Panthers for 3 years was a responsibility that I never took lightly, and it prepared me for the managerial role I serve today. 
 
Additionally, I was exposed to many different areas within the field: Journalism, Media Production, Design, Law etc., all of which have been assets in building Digital Spark Studios.
 
I met, and still work with, other former HPU Graduates from the School of Communication.
 
Finally, HPU fostered an entrepreneurial mindset by encouraging creativity, innovation, and problem-solving through its many resources and plentiful opportunities for students to engage in entrepreneurial activities. These were opportunities such as creative competitions, guest lectures by successful entrepreneurs, weekly seminars with the President of the School, and networking events. These experiences were invaluable in developing my entrepreneurial mindset, learning to think critically, and maturing strategies to identify and capitalize on business opportunities."

What pieces of being a student-athlete helped you as you transitioned into your career and began starting a video production agency?
 
"The mindset of a student-athlete is something that stays with you throughout your life. It's not something that is temporary or easily forgotten. Every aspect of my life and business is influenced from my previous athletic endeavors and the teammates and mentors that have been involved along the way. Being part of a sports team at High Point University instilled in me a deep understanding of the power of teamwork and collaboration. The camaraderie and shared goals experienced on the field seamlessly translated into my approach to building a successful video production agency. I learned to foster an environment where creativity flourishes, ideas are shared, and each team member's strengths are leveraged. 
 
Building out a successful production requires knowing and embracing the skillset of the crew members involved. Much like on the soccer field, if you place a crew member in a position that they aren't familiar with, the team will underperform. Knowing when to make decisions that will benefit the production is similar to drawing up plays that allow key players to be involved in the moments that make them shine. 
Building and motivating a team, whether in sport or in business, requires leading by example, empathy, focus, clear direction, and community."


 
What is your fondest memory you have from HPU?
 
"Where to start? So many both on and off the pitch. I still remember the first day I arrived at HPU for summer school and met the team. That was a special day because it was the start of some lifelong friendships.
 
During my sophomore year – we played a game away at Coastal Carolina (our biggest rival) in the conference tournament. One of our teammates was going through a tough time and wasn't able to travel to the game. Before the game the team came together and we all agreed that we were not going back without a win, and that we were all playing for that one teammate. We scored the game winner in overtime and the place went wild. That moment, the locker room celebrations, and the trip back to HPU is something that will always be with me.
The skills and values instilled in me as a student-athlete, including time management, teamwork, and resilience, have been instrumental in my ability to build and grow Digital Spark Studios. The unwavering support and transformative experiences at High Point University have undoubtedly laid the foundation for my entrepreneurial journey, and I am forever grateful for the invaluable lessons learned on and off the field.
 
High Point University gave me a lifetime of memories, lifelong friends, and it was the place where I met the woman who was to become my wife. So, it's safe to say that HPU has played a huge role in a many good things that have happened in my life."
 
If you could tell the current men's soccer team one thing you wish you knew at the time you were a student-athlete, what would it be?
 
"If there's one thing, I wish I had known during my time as a student-athlete at High Point University, it would be to embrace the journey and cherish every moment. College years fly by quickly, and your time as a student-athlete is a unique and transformative period of your life. Here's why this advice is so important:
 
Appreciate the Present: In the pursuit of success, it's easy to get caught up in the destination rather than enjoying the journey. Embrace the present and savor every practice, game, and moment with your teammates. Recognize the privilege of representing High Point University and wearing the team jersey. These experiences will create lasting memories and lifelong friendships.
 
Learn from Setbacks: Athletics, like life, is full of ups and downs. Embrace the setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. Each loss or setback is a chance to analyze, adapt, and improve. Approach challenges with resilience and determination, knowing that they will make you stronger, both as an athlete and an individual.
 
Build Relationships: Your teammates and coaches will be an invaluable support system during your time at HPU and beyond. Foster strong relationships built on trust, communication, and respect. The bonds you form on the soccer field will extend far beyond your college years and open doors to valuable networks and lifelong connections.
 
Balance: Remember that your time as a student-athlete is multifaceted. While soccer is undoubtedly a significant part of your life, it's essential to maintain a healthy balance and try different things, prioritize academics, and explore other interests. The diverse experiences you have beyond the soccer field will enrich your overall personal and professional growth."
 
What is your ultimate goal in owning your own business?
 
"The goal is to continuously improve our product and service so that our clients can benefit from the power of impactful storytelling and human connection. 
 
The reason I am so passionate about this field, and this medium of communication, is because nothing comes close to video when trying to create emotional connections with a global audience. Video is so powerful, and I want as many people and businesses as possible to reap the benefits of that."
 
Sewell continues to thrive in his new career after giving his time as a student-athlete at High Point University. He is excited to continue his journey of content creation while always having purple and white in his blood. You can find his work at https://www.digitalsparkstudios.com.