We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brandi Scott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brandi, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
By the time I was fourteen, I had moved between homes, schools, and different combinations of family and friends nearly a dozen times. I fell behind academically—not because I didn’t care or wasn’t trying, but because survival often had to come before school. My family struggled financially, and stability was something I had never known.
At fourteen, I was given the opportunity to move out of state to live with extended family. That move changed the trajectory of my life. For the first time, there was structure, an emphasis on education, and people who invested their time and resources in me. My aunt sat with me and taught me how to read. I received tutoring to help me catch up. I was surrounded by people who believed I could succeed before I fully believed it myself.
Four years later, when I started college, I carried both my progress and my doubt with me. I was admitted provisionally because I still needed to strengthen my writing and math skills, and internally I questioned whether I truly belonged. But I had learned something powerful from my family, use the resources available to you. I lived in the tutoring center. I asked for help. I got involved in student organizations.
College didn’t just educate me, it transformed me. It helped me discover who I was, what I was capable of, and how to navigate systems that once felt closed to me.
My journey became my purpose. I spent fifteen years working in higher education, supporting students from low-income, first-generation, and challenging backgrounds because I know firsthand the power education has to change the trajectory of a life. But my career also taught me something else, being first-generation doesn’t end at graduation. The same unspoken rules, “the hidden curriculum”, you encounter in college often reappear in the workplace. The language, the expectations, the networks, and the pathways to advancement are not always visible or accessible to everyone.
Today, as a coach and consultant, I work with leaders in higher education and nonprofit organizations to unpack that hidden curriculum and create more equitable, transparent environments where people can grow and lead. I help individuals, many of whom share a background like mine, recognize their strengths, claim their value, and move forward with confidence.
My purpose is rooted in my story. I am here because someone invested in me, taught me how to access opportunity, and helped me see possibility beyond my circumstances. Now I do the same for others, whether they are finding their way into college, through it, or into meaningful and sustainable careers.
Education changed my life. Helping others use it to change theirs is what gives my life purpose.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My coaching and consulting practice specializes in higher education and non-profit organizations and leaders. I help leaders address burnout, grow in their leadership, and align team engagement, strategy, and action.
What I love about coaching is helping someone see and believe their awesomeness. When we uncover the self-doubt and habits that prevent us from seeing our successes, it is truly amazing to watch what people choose to do, go for, and how it positive influences the way they lead others.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The first is a commitment to learning. Education is core to who I am, not only the degrees I earned, but the ongoing choice to read, listen, and engage with ideas that push me beyond my comfort zone. Real learning isn’t about reinforcing what we already believe; it’s about developing nuance, expanding perspective, and being willing to grow.
My advice: stay curious. Don’t wait for a classroom to give you permission to learn. Seek out books, conversations, and experiences that stretch your thinking. Growth often begins the moment you allow yourself to not have all the answers.
The second is community. I’ve never had a large circle, but I have a small group of people who truly know me, who support me, challenge me, and remind me who I am when I forget. They are the ones who cheer for me when I take risks and who hold space when things don’t go as planned. My advice, build your circle intentionally. You don’t need many people, but you do need people who are honest, encouraging, and invested in your growth. And be that person for others, too. Purpose and resilience are rarely built alone.
The third is self-reflection. A regular practice of looking inward has allowed me to be honest about the quiet thoughts that try to hold me back. Often what we say is “I don’t know how” is actually “I’m afraid I might fail.” When we don’t slow down and examine those thoughts, they make our decisions for us. Self-reflection creates the space to ask: Is this fear going to lead, or is something else? My advice is make time to pause and listen to yourself. Journal, take walks, sit in silence, whatever helps you hear what’s underneath the surface.
Together, these three, learning, community, and self-reflection, have shaped not just what I’ve achieved, but who I’ve become. They are practices, not milestones, and they are available to anyone at any stage of the journey.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
I’m in year three of being a business owner, and this past year brought a level of clarity that changed everything. By consistently tracking my business data and paying attention to where my work was making the greatest impact, I became much more specific about who I serve. I started with a broad approach, but I’ve intentionally focused my work on supporting leaders in higher education and nonprofit organizations.
For a long time, I was afraid to narrow my scope because I thought it would limit opportunities. Instead, the opposite proved true. Getting clear about my strengths and the audiences who most connect with my voice and services has allowed my business to grow in more meaningful and sustainable ways.
More than anything, this shift has helped me feel aligned and authentic in my work. I’m no longer trying to be everything to everyone, I’m doing the work I’m most called to do, with the people I’m best equipped to serve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brandiscottphd.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandiscottphd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556261462138
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-brandi-scott-53622a2a6/
Image Credits
Several of the headshots and action shots were captured by Nina Diaz with @PhotographybyObscura
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
