Scott Spjut | Marketer?

I didn’t plan to become a marketer.

My background is in journalism. I spent the early part of my career learning how to do that. I then transitioned into marketing, where I found a use for a lot of those same skills: start with facts, respect the audience, don’t confuse activity with value.

Over the past 15+ years, I’ve worked in agencies and in-house roles, as both an individual contributor and a leader, across multiple industries. I’ve built programs, fixed broken ones, and watched the same mistakes repeat themselves.

This newsletter is a result of those experiences.

It’s for marketers and leaders who are tired of treating marketing like performance art and want it to function like a real business discipline — without losing taste, judgment, or creativity.

You’ll learn more about me and my approach as you read the newsletter. If you do search for me online, just know that I’m the Scott Spjut who isn’t dead.

In the meantime, here are some words other people have shared about me.

Scott is the guy you want in your corner. He's the first to tell you the truth, even when you don't want to hear it—especially when you don't want to hear it. He brings just enough pessimism to keep us grounded, and just enough high school musical theater stories to keep us entertained at team-building events.

Underneath the curmudgeonly exterior is a guy who truly cares about his team and always went to bat for us. His humor may be Saharan, his delivery glacial, but his loyalty and leadership are unquestionable.

The guy who never faked emotion, never played along with the corporate clichés, and still managed to leave a very real mark.

Beneath the sarcasm lies something even rarer: genuine passion, unshakable standards, and a drive to make things better.

I thought I was direct, until I met Scott. Turns out, he can out-Russian a Russian when it comes to getting to the point.

The man dresses like he's waiting for his mom to pick him up from soccer practice. I mean, c'mon, Scott—sweatshirts and T-shirts every day? Most people dress for the job they want; Scott dresses for the nap he hopes to take.