Sean Shanks is the President and CEO of MoneyWise Payroll, a Virginia-based payroll and HR solutions company serving over 450 small and mid-sized businesses across 39 states. With more than two decades of leadership experience, Sean is known for his people-first philosophy, resilience, and belief that success and compassion can — and should — coexist.

Sean’s path to entrepreneurship wasn’t traditional. Starting his career with no college degree, he worked his way up through customer service and data-driven roles before joining MoneyWise in the early 2000s. By age 26, he was asked to run the company — a decision that set him on a lifelong journey of leadership, growth, and humility.

After the sudden passing of the company’s founder, Sean led a complex succession process, eventually buying the business and becoming its sole owner. Under his leadership, MoneyWise has grown steadily by focusing on what he believes matters most: people, service, and integrity.

A self-described “recovering leader,” Sean is open about his journey of sobriety, self-improvement, and balance. He credits coaching, structure, and endurance sports like triathlon training for helping him maintain focus, health, and perspective — both as a leader and as a father of three.

Sean’s philosophy is simple: it matters how you treat the people you come in contact with each day. He believes great leadership is grounded in empathy, accountability, and consistent service — and that “good customer service is a lost art worth reviving.”