Daily Inspiration: Meet Olivia Scott

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Scott.

Hi Olivia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In the ’70s Cary was a small town full of visionaries. Based on two local women artists that ran a local teaching gallery, I thought pursuing a career in art had merit, kept one passionate, and looked fun. In high school, I included a paintbrush in our senior class time capsule expecting to find myself a woman-owned business when it was opened. Fast forward, I did! Not how I envisioned, but still a woman applying her artistic talents.

I’ve always been surrounded by women in leadership, so it never occurred to me that being woman-owned wasn’t always the norm. I started my career as a public-school art teacher, then parlayed my love of painting into murals for businesses and residential homes. It’s fun to still see work around town years later. In 2007, my entrepreneurial side kicked in again when my husband (a scientist by trade) and I started a branding agency called, Promotional Partners. Starting my career as a teacher was a leg up to working with our client base, because teaching art requires collaboration & an ability to extract another’s vision to fulfill the task. I’ve always been a woman living her artistic passion.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Challenges are opportunities for personal and professional growth. Obstacles keep us nimble and adaptable. We bend, but we don’t break. Long before the pandemic, creating new paths for funding and business development required we:

• Learn quickly from mistakes
• Enjoy, but not rest, with growth or achievement
• Always jump feet first into challenges
• Utilize strategies outside our comfort zone
• Listen and learn from others
• Invest in professional development
• Serve our community
• Accept tough realities
• Remain authentic and trustworthy
• Embrace our sense of humor

Our story began by fusing a scientific and an artistic mind. At times it puts my husband & I at odds, but creates a fantastic checks and balance system that’s been the secret to growing our company into a trusted brand agency. Besides learning to work in tandem with my husband, when we have different styles of leadership or ways to hand challenge, there is navigating how to scale the business. Learning to adapt to those challenges, created our synergy as a team.

There is huge risk and responsibility behind growing a business that sustains not only yourself but employees and their livelihood. The longer we are in business, and the more employees that join our team, the more our decisions impact the bottom line for everyone on the team. Those choices are big chapters to fill. However, the flexibility to change the direction of the business keeps our story engaging. The end of the story is always evolving, which keeps our vision fresh – and our future bright.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am creative by nature but choose to work in a detail-oriented environment. Creatives often don’t like list or structure, but I love it! I like creating structure within the chaos. I thrive on a rapid pace, juggling lots of different types of clients and jumping between different marketing & advertising projects: it keeps the day interesting.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Life prepares you in ways you can’t always define or appreciate till many years later. My parents always encouraged me to stand on my own feet, no excuses- create your path and don’t let anyone tell you there is an obstacle you can’t navigate. Hard work just means you’re trying- success means you’ve figured out how to make the most of your skillsets.

Get to know people and understand their stories. I always had a vivid imagination. I love the boundless configurations artistic pursuits offer over logical or predictable outcomes. My dad’s career put me in proximity to individuals from all walks of life, which filled my palette with interesting textures, patterns, and colors.

Those diverse experiences combined with years of teaching and creating my own art provided me with a wealth of resources to tap for inspiration.

Contact Info:

• Email: olivia.scott@promotionalpartnersinc.com
• Website: https://www.promotionalpartnersinc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/promotionalpartners/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/promotionalpartnersofapex
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/promotional-partners-inc/?viewAsMember=true

Image Credits
Danielle Douglas