Marketing Careers from Agency to In-House (with Scott Redick) | Ep. 15

Marketing careers offer a unique path for creative professionals seeking stability. This field attracts liberal arts majors, musicians, and writers who want to leverage their right-brain skills while securing a 401 (k). Host Larry Port speaks with Scott Redick, the Managing Director of Retail Acquisition Strategy and Integration at Charles Schwab. Scott breaks down the two main worlds in this industry: agency work versus in-house roles at a brand.

ㅤ

Scott shares the reality of agency life, which can involve long hours, constant pitching, and fire drills. He contrasts this with the client side, where the pace is often smoother and more focused on long-term strategy. They discuss the "whole brain" thinking required to succeed, blending emotional creativity with analytical logic. Scott also explains why this career requires a thick skin: you might pour your soul into a project only to have a manager request a different color at the last minute.

ㅤ

Guest Bio

Scott Redick is a marketing executive and strategist currently serving as the Managing Director of Retail Acquisition Strategy and Integration at Charles Schwab. Before joining the client side, he spent years in the agency world, including a role as President and Head of Strategy at Heat (acquired by Deloitte Digital). He has also held leadership roles at Isobar and DDB. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University.

ㅤ

What We Cover

1. The difference between agency culture (younger, spiky hours, frequent fire drills) and in-house corporate roles (smoother pace, more stability).
2. Why marketing is often a home for "working creatives" like drummers or writers who need a steady paycheck.
3. The "whole brain" approach: combining right-brain emotion with left-brain analytics and math.
4. The reality of pitching in advertising: doing huge amounts of work for free just to win a client.
5. This career is not for people who need a rigid structure or cannot handle ambiguity.
6. The emotional toll of having creative work rejected or changed by upper management.
7. How AI is currently serving as an editor and thought partner rather than a total replacement for human creativity.
8. The influence of 20-somethings on culture and why brands look to them for trends like TikTok.

ㅤ

Resources Mentioned

1. Charles Schwab
2. Northwestern University