We had the good fortune of connecting with Sierra Scott and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sierra, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk only exists if you’re highly attached to something; Making insane money, getting a million followers, thinking that you’ll fail, or that you’ll succeed…having some type of fixed outcome in your mind, those are things where your decisions to achieve those ends could be “risky” since it all hinges on whether or not that specific outcome comes true. My take is that I don’t care. Money, followers, fame… those have never really been my motivating factors, so it’s never bothered me to put myself out there or say/ do something “risky” in that respect (or not). I value goodness & the only thing I actually consider to be a risk is somehow disappointing people I consider “good”. So I personally think taking risks in your career is fun, cathartic, produces cool things & is necessary, but I’m highly risk averse when it comes to “goodness”.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
They say nothing worth doing is easy, but like seriously, who wants to struggle everyday? BrandTech, or The BrandTech Agency (If you wanna call her by her full name) is a Full Service Software Development and Brand Management Agency. We help people/ companies develop their brands (materials, websites, apps…), and specialize in influencers, entertainment folk & small-medium sized companies. My first proper job was as a talent agent for what was at the time a boutique, niche agency here in LA (they’ve since grown & are doing quite well), but I realized there was a disconnect between what most of our talent thought they needed for their portfolios & what I was seeing in the breakdowns; so I just started offering them affordable photography sessions. Then, after I finished my BS in Software Development during the pandemic, I dove straight into a Masters in IT Project Management & started doing freelance projects for people I knew or met. As that continued & I finished the MS, I noticed that what I was actually doing was more than just software development for them; I was also coming up with slogans, picking color palettes, telling them which social platforms their business would likely perform best on, curating their brand – just everything & essentially for free. I was being paid for the development work I was doing, but one day I was just like, ‘This is a skill too. People literally do this for a living.’ So I rebranded & that’s how BrandTech was born. Now, my business day-to-day consists of using all the skills I’ve picked up from my time as a print & lifestyle model, in addition to the software developer & engineering, branding & pitching talent, & negotiating contracts. It’s really nice to be able to combine all these, at first glance, unrelated skill sets because it’s cathartic for me, beneficial to my clients (because they get someone who understands their business as a whole), and beneficial to casting directors (who cast those “We want a real *insert skill here* people).
What really sets BrandTech apart though isn’t just the fact that it’s a personalized, full service agency, it’s my motivating factor; YOUR long-term success. I’m not interested in creating “one hit wonders”, people who get a little viral notoriety and then quickly fade into obscurity as I move on to the next promising client. All of my clients are a journey with unique and specific paths. My job is to understand each one to their core and develop these paths so that their success is something they can be truly proud of (& I can be proud of for helping them create). During the pandemic I started saying this little affirmation I made up, “You are magic”. It reminds me of everything about my traits, personality, aura, you know, the zhuzh that makes you you, that is good & “unique” & that I put into the world by just being me. The world is just so loud about trying to make people into stuff they’re not and it’s really important to remember that everything about you makes you perfect for something. Even things you might consider flaws. All these things combined, form a multilayered person, who can make a custom space for themselves in business, & that will result in you finding other people who believe in you & your brand.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
California gets a lot of shade because of the prices (of everything) and politics. However, let’s be real, in America, there aren’t that many places where you could hit the beach, desert and mountains, all in a single day. If we had a full week, I’d start in my hometown of Long Beach, which is one of the cutest, little, big cities in LA (imo). Kayaking through the canals is such a great way to get out & enjoy the weather. Then you can go to Tantalum at the Marina, and have dinner on the water, surrounded by lovely boats or spend a little time shopping on Second Street, and maybe grab a bite there at one of the many fantastic restaurants. Shoreline is also a great spot to visit! It’s steeped in history and you can pop by The Aquarium of the Pacific while you’re there.
In DTLA, where my office is, you have so many cool architectural places to see! If you happen to be a bit of a bookworm (like me) the Central Public Library is such a lovely space! There are cathedral like ceilings, with grand works of art, a little museum, the escalators on one side open up to this gorgeous space with hanging sculptures and the library shop is just absolutely adorable. Then you have the Last Bookstore, which is a basically a city landmark. It’s filled with not only interesting book choices, but it’s such an eclectic combination of aesthetics. People LOVE all the sections and nooks – it’s a really fun time.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Everyone who has come on this journey with me. My family for being absolutely insane (in the best way) & providing such an awesomely weird way to grow up! My lifelong & true friends who have shown me what goodness really means, and everyone else who gave me a hand in learning what it takes to trust in yourself and, when it’s right, trust in other people.
Website: www.TheBrandTechAgency.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sierrascottxoxo
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssco/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sierramariescott
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@ITGirlll
Image Credits
All image locations: The BrandTech Agency office, Subject: Sierra Scott