Brittany Scott is currently the Vice President of SMB Sales for KnowBe4, which provides the world’s largest platform for security awareness training and simulated phishing. She climbed the ranks at KnowBe4 quickly and played a significant role in the organization’s successful initial public offering in April 2021. Brittany’s exceptional contributions to KnowBe4’s sales success have earned her recognition, including a 2x Stevie Award for Woman of the Year in Sales (Bronze Winner), as well as a Silver Winner of the SVUS Women in Business and Professions World Awards.
Additionally, she was acknowledged as a Top 100 LinkedIn Sales Star for her engaging posts and contributions to thought leadership in the areas of sales and cybersecurity.
Brittany founded the Women in Technology Employee Resource Group at KnowBe4. She also was recognized as a 2022 nominee for #GirlsClub Mentor of the Year where she has spent the last three years working with women in sales who are looking to move into leadership positions. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Johnson and Wales University and a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Brittany Scott:
Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the company?
I grew up in a little town outside of Pittsburgh, PA, with my mother and grandmother. I was surrounded by strong and independent women who really shaped who I am today. I graduated with my hospitality degree when I was 21, packed up my little car, and drove it down to Florida with three hundred dollars in my bank account. Thinking back to that time, damn, I had some guts. I ended up working for Disney for a bit before landing a manager position at Outback Steakhouse. I realized that I wanted to get my MBA, and working 70 hours a week wasn’t conducive to that goal. At 25, I got my MBA, and I ended up doing timeshare resales before I moved to Tampa and fell into a position at KnowBe4 in 2017 as an account manager. I can really attest to the fact that KnowBe4 believed in me and gave me the opportunity to show what I had to offer. I have made it my mission to pay it forward by helping others rise up the ranks like KnowBe4 did with me.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
The people I am surrounded by You have to surround yourself with like-minded, positive, ambitious people who want to bring you up with them. This starts with your friends. I am so fortunate to have a group of amazing men and women who believe in each other and want everyone to succeed. There is no ego, jealousy, or greed. Just people who want their friends to succeed and do well. It’s a beautiful thing. Also, I am fortunate to have an amazing group of employees that inspire me every day to be better and do more. My boss is someone who, from day one, believed in my vision and mission and helped me get to where I am today. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from him, day in and day out.
Which are the major services of the company and how do they the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
We are the world’s largest provider of security awareness training and simulated phishing. We are not only the leaders in this space, but we also think outside the box and constantly improve and add to our platform with our customers’ best interests in mind. We are not just a different kind of security company, but we are a security company that, together with you, makes a difference by helping to manage the on-going risk of social engineering. I’ve never sold a product that I believed in as much as I do here at KnowBe4, and you can tell that is the case with every person that works here. We are helping organizations fight the on-going war with hackers.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
We really do have an inclusive workplace that lends itself to an amazing culture. Every morning, our CEO addresses the entire company in an all-hands meeting. He finishes it by saying our three rules we live by: do it right the first time, do it fast, and have fun while you’re doing it! I also believe in transparency within a company. When we as employees
feel as if the wool is being pulled
over our eyes, this is when we begin to distrust the company.
Also, companies need to invest in the professional and personal development of their employees. We have a team that specializes in helping employees work towards their career goals, which is an amazing attribute of the company.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
I like how KnowBe4 gives you a voice and takes your suggestions into consideration.There have been many times where someone on my team had a great idea that we brought up the chain and instead of instantly rejecting it, they provided a platform to be heard. I learn just as much from my employees as they do from me, and I think that it is important that we provide an accepting space for them to want to come to the table with ideas that will help benefit the organization.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team Processes?
I think both have a place in organizations. I think that it is important to have “go-to” individuals but not to just produce numbers. Those individuals must believe in the mission and vision and be able to disseminate this to their colleagues and employees. This then creates an environment where everyone feels inspired and is on the same page, which ultimately contributes to team processes. Team processes are important staples of any successful organization because they are the foundation of success. You need to build upon these principles in order to continue rising through the ranks and ensure that everyone has a clear sense of purpose and direction.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
When I became VP, I was worried that I had to create a different executive presence to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, as women, we sometimes feel as if we have to be more authoritative or aggressive to be heard. This isn’t the case. People want to be led by authentic leaders, and it is important that you find your own voice and believe in yourself before you try to get others to believe in you. Imposter syndrome is real, and it is something that almost everyone will go through. I went through it a few times before I understood what it truly meant. You will doubt yourself and your abilities, but it’s okay. You are worthy and deserving of everything you receive. Remember that.
