267: Give in to Your Curiosities and Experience All You Can With Optimism
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267: Give in to Your Curiosities and Experience All You Can With Optimism
Starting from his childhood fascination with media, Scot Safon shares his professional journey starting in the advertising agency world and moving to executive marketing roles in major media companies such as CNN, TNT, HLN, The Weather Channel, and more. He recounts anecdotes from his formative years, explains his career transitions, and outlines his current consulting practice.
Scot grew up in a diverse, working-class neighborhood in Bay Shore, New York, a town on the south shore of Long Island. He is a long-time friend of Tammy’s going back to junior high school. Scot appreciated the variety of hardworking adult role models who demonstrated that family life was not superseded by one’s work. While he always enjoyed learning and his classes, he noted that his favorite activities went beyond classroom time. He was fascinated with all kinds of media. At a young age, he would go to sleep listening to news radio, he went to every movie he could (that didn’t have an R rating), and later took the train to New York City to see Broadway shows every chance he could. Through his school and university years, Scot was active in the drama club, an editor for his high school newspaper, a curator and promoter for a film festival, and he worked as a reporter for a regional NPR station near his college.
Scot attended the University of Virginia, where he earned his BA and went on to Cornell University for his MBA. He then went to New York City to work in advertising on consumer product accounts. Scot set his sights on moving over to the media industry and was offered an opportunity to work on the CBS Network account. Then he moved to Atlanta to work for Turner Network Television, elevating to serve as Chief Marketing Officer or Head of Marketing for a number of major media brands across a 40-year career, including CNN, The Weather Channel, TNT, and MotorTrend. He also was the EVP/General Manager of CNN’s HLN network.
Today Scot is a media marketing and branding consultant whose clients range from global blue-chip brands to not-for-profits. He advises C-suite decision-makers on strategic communications to launch products, address crises, and explain policies. His focus: helping clients "find the right words" to support their initiatives. His consulting clients have included Ford, HBO Max, Showtime, the Scripps Networks, The Grand Ole Opry, and New America. He is a consulting associate with agencies Civic Entertainment and Cultique.
Emphasizing curiosity and adaptability, Scot offers valuable insights on navigating career advancements and leveraging the power of effective communication. His journey illustrates how passion, persistence, and a willingness to embrace new challenges can lead to a fulfilling career in media.
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About Tammy, host of
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Prior to establishing her practice, Tammy held a variety of positions in mental health services, higher education administration, public policy analysis and fundraising. Her practical knowledge and experience in organizational development, program management and business operations builds a relatable relationship with clients striving for higher performance results.