Leadership, Creativity, and Purpose: An Interview with Tim Scott

TXADPR content lead Madelyn Haden had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Tim Scott, an alumnus of and professor at the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations. He is also an Air Force Veteran, Texas Creative alumni, brand builder, and founder with outstanding experience and notable advice for students entering their next stage in life.

Military Experience & Leadership

As an Air Force veteran, Professor Scott developed a unique perspective on leadership. "A lot of times, when people aren't being the fullest version of themselves, it's not because they don't want to be—it's because they don't know how." The biggest challenge for many aspiring leaders is simply taking action. He emphasizes that leadership isn't about waiting for the perfect moment. "Every time you don't do a thing, someone else notches up, and then you look back, and suddenly, you're a leader now." This mindset carries over into entrepreneurship as well. "Entrepreneurs don't always know how to fix it, but they just try."

Choosing the Stan Richards School

When deciding where to pursue a master's degree, Professor Scott knew that the Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations at UT Austin was the right choice. Initially, his focus was on PR and sociology, but something felt to be missing. "Through both of those, the thing that I noticed that I was missing as a skill set was the creative ideation and some of the functional skills of graphic design and art direction." While he had a strong foundation in writing and public speaking, he realized that those who could physically create and execute ideas held the most influence in the creative world. "The person that you can never not have on a team, the person that is always indispensable, is the one that makes the stuff—the person that puts together the slide deck, the person that designs the logo." This realization led to a shift in focus. "I wanted to be the type of person who actually put it together. I knew that was extra work, but if I could figure out how to do it, I knew that I'd get to be that person anywhere I'd go and work."

Key Takeaways from Texas Creative

The Texas Creative program provided invaluable skills that carried over into the professional world. "Design, for sure—grinding away on Photoshop." Learning these technical skills was crucial not just for working at an agency but also for independence. "Once you learn, you can use it for yourself. When I wanted to start something on my own, I could. I wanted to be the client, and I could, with knowledge backing those decisions."

Influential Mentors at UT

Reflecting on his time at UT, Professor Scott credits several mentors for shaping his career. "I loved getting to know and work with Dr. Wilcox. He was running the graduate program back then and was just such a great, kind person."

Dr. Love and Sean Thompson also played pivotal roles. "Dr. Love was just a smart, well-rounded individual that I thought could always give great insight." Sean Thompson, who led the creative sequence at the time, helped him understand how to identify meaningful insights. "He probably had a massive impact on just me understanding an insight—like, 'Oh, that's a human truth. There's something there. We've got to work it out a little bit.'" Additionally, Dave Junker's influence in PR and communication helped round out his experience at UT. [I feel lucky that they were around and still here."

Founding Mitscoots Outfitters

Mitscoots Outfitters was born from a desire to merge business with purpose. It was a social impact initiative, both for-profit and nonprofit. The inspiration stemmed from a personal frustration of recognizing the homeless population in Austin, but rather than ignoring that discomfort, he leaned into it. "If something makes you uncomfortable, go learn about it and find out why." That journey led to the realization that there was a significant need for essential undergarments and clothing for people in need.

Most Rewarding Moment at Mitscoots

One of the most defining moments of his career came from witnessing the direct impact of his work. "One of our first employees, Elise, had been living on the street for five-plus years." Over time, Elise transitioned into stable housing. "We had a housewarming party for him, and it was the single best professional day of my life." Seeing Elise regain his independence was a highlight of Professor Scott's career.

Creating Benefit Branding

After Mitscoots's success, Professor Scott found another opportunity. At Mitscoots, "People would come to us and ask, 'Who does your branding work?' And our response was, 'We do.'" This realization led to the creation of Benefit Branding, an advertising agency dedicated to purpose-driven brands. In advertising, "When we were trying to come up with a campaign, we were always trying to find an insight—it's very difficult sometimes. But a lot of these social impact organizations already have that core insight; they live and breathe it every day." Instead of fabricating a sense of purpose, Benefit Branding amplifies the real missions of companies already making a difference.

Advice for Aspiring Advertisers with a Purpose

For students and young professionals hoping to make an impact, Professor Scott encourages action over perfection. Genuine passion in your career comes from experience. "Doing more leads you to find what you actually would love to do. You don't have a lot of knowledge if you don't try different things." He urges students to take advantage of their flexibility and freedom. "[W]hen you're young—you're not established yet, so go out and try different things while you can." Finally, he reminds students that they're still at the very beginning of their journey. "You're stretching. You haven't even started the race yet."