Meet Lauren Campbell of Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Campbell.

Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my career in Scotland as a hairdresser before moving to the United States in 1995 for my husband’s job in the film industry. Shortly after arriving, I worked briefly in a well-known Beverly Hills salon, but I quickly realized that my true calling lay elsewhere—within the animal health field.

Answering a newspaper ad for a receptionist position at a veterinary diagnostic lab, I applied despite my strong Scottish accent and complete lack of experience. I didn’t get the job at first, but after six months of persistent follow-up, I was finally hired. That role turned into a 15-year career, where I eventually managed the day-to-day operations of the lab.

In 1999, I welcomed my daughter, and by 2003 I found myself a divorced single mom with a visa about to expire. Thankfully, my employer sponsored me, and after years of trials and perseverance, I earned my green card.

When the lab sold in 2010, I transitioned into the manufacturing side of animal health, working across startups, pet insurance, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, distribution, and oncology. One of the most meaningful roles I’ve held was with a biotech company that developed a blood test capable of detecting over 30 types of cancer in dogs. After that company liquidated, I faced a year of unemployment before finding my next chapter.

Today, I’m proud to work for Ceva Animal Health, the fifth-largest animal pharmaceutical company in the world, where I focus on dermatology products and most recently, a conditionally approved treatment for acute onset pancreatitis in dogs.

Beyond my professional career, I’ve dedicated myself to nonprofit work. Since 2017, I’ve served with a Long Beach-based animal welfare nonprofit, becoming its President in 2019. Alongside my board, I work to save animals, support medical cases, and reduce overpopulation through community partnerships with shelters and rescues. In 2025 alone, we’ve already helped over 3,000 animals.

My daughter, now nearly 27, is finishing her BA in nursing. She shares my love for animals and embodies the values I’ve always believed in—that in America, you can be whatever you want to be with determination and heart.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My path has been far from easy. Moving from Scotland to the U.S., I had to start over, breaking into animal health with no experience and a thick accent that initially held me back. At home, I was raising a young daughter while navigating a marriage strained by my husband’s addiction to pain pills and alcohol, which eventually left me a single mother facing the fear of my visa expiring. With persistence and support, I secured my green card and built stability, even through financial strain, company closures, and a year of unemployment. Balancing a demanding career with nonprofit work has been challenging, but every obstacle has only fueled my determination to succeed and to give back.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart is my persistence and resilience—I’ve never taken “no” for an answer and have rebuilt myself time and again, from breaking into animal health with no experience, to overcoming immigration struggles, single motherhood, and personal challenges at home. Over the past 30 years, I’ve built expertise across nearly every corner of the industry, from diagnostics and pharmaceuticals to oncology, distribution, and now dermatology and pancreatitis treatments with Ceva. I specialize in bringing innovative products to market and building lasting relationships with veterinarians, shelters, and community partners, always with the goal of improving animal health and welfare. But above all, what I am most proud of is being a mom—raising my daughter into a strong, compassionate woman—while also leading Friends of Long Beach Animals to save thousands of lives. Every challenge I’ve faced has fueled my purpose to create a lasting impact for both people and animals

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t measured in titles or financial gain—it’s measured in impact, resilience, and legacy. Success means knowing I’ve made a difference for animals through my work in veterinary medicine and my leadership in rescue and shelter initiatives. It means raising my daughter to be strong, compassionate, and fearless in pursuing her dreams. And it means overcoming the personal and professional struggles life has put in my path while still staying true to my purpose. Success, to me, is living a life of meaning, service, and love.

Contact Info:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenjcampbell