Scott Taylor, MBA

Saint Ignatius High School

Assistant Director of Advancement Marketing

BlkDog

We are a brand marketing agency helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, 
and dreamers build brands with purpose.

CEO + Founder

INTERDESIGN

Global Director Brand Marketing

Moen Incorporated

• Lead end-to-end campaign development including identifying target insights,
audiences, developing strategy, briefing creation, defining messaging, channel
planning, brand positioning, and content development
• Lead creative direction of above the line advertising (paid social, tv, radio) to
support key marketing initiatives and branded content
• Track and report the brand marketing data including development of feedback
loops to ensure creative is delivering against company goals, and optimizing
for short and long term impact
• Develop and communicate industry, market, and channel understanding to
advance and address business objectives
• Work collaboratively with cross functional teams on new product launches
and marketing campaigns in support of our Vision Into Action strategy
• Manage and partner with internal marketers, writers, designers, and direct
external agency partners on briefings, creative reviews, and brand activities
• Translate brand strategies into brand plans and go-to-market strategies
• Monitor market trends and research competitor’s activities to find opportunities
and report on marketing activities

Associate Brand Marketing Manager

John Carroll University

• Led strategy and execution of creative, marketing, and web projects to
support John Carroll University’s strategic marketing efforts
• Led creative, brand, and web strategies including positioning, digital,
social media, and web management
• Co-led athletics rebranding process between 2018-2019
• Developed and enhanced brand positioning and brand guidelines
• Increased in-house creative capabilities including adding video and animation
• Led the visual direction of John Carroll University’s new website in 2019,
including consultation of UI/UX brand experience
• Directed external resources including a team of writers, photographers,
marketing specialists, and digital teams to execute strategic brand initiatives
• Coached and mentored team members on professional development growth
opportunities including training on brand marketing best practices

Director of Marketing and Creative Services

Director of Creative Services

Senior Graphic Designer

University Hospitals

• Lead designer for key accounts including The Cleveland Browns, UH Harrington
Heart & Vascular Institute, Corporate Communications, and Human Resources,
Sports and Orthopedics, Institutional Relations & Development
• Partnered with marketing and communications teams to produce the highest
standard of brand collateral to meet hospital objectives and enhanced brand
awareness across all marketing channels.
• Collaborated with senior leadership on system initiatives including evolving
processes, products, and tools

Graphic Designer

Sherwin-Williams

• Executed, coordinated, distributed, and supported Sherwin-Williams Protective
& Marine (PM) marketing and brand initiatives for North America
• Designed marketing and sales collateral including sell sheets, brochures,
print and digital ads, and event materials supporting North America and
Global sales strategic efforts
• Developed and managed the PM divisions’ first online digital magazine,
e-Coating Solutions, over 40,000 subscribers globally

Graphic Designer + Marketing Specialist

Co-Founder @ BlkDog, Brand Marketing Agency For Small Businesses | Connecting People + Brands to Purpose | Creative, Leadership, Strategy

Hi! I'm Scott. 

I'm a creative turned brand marketing leader. I'm here to share my experiences, life lessons, ideas, network, and help others. 

In addition, I am a…
🔸 Proud Father and Husband 
🔸 Cleveland Sports Fan - Go Browns, Guards, Cavs
🔸 Foodie - I love cooking and discovering new restaurants and breweries
🔸 Traveler - Travel changes us. It's the gateway to growth and creativity.
🔸 Lifelong Learner - Growth is never done. I love learning new skills and ideas to keep things fresh. 

I graduated with an MBA from John Carroll University and Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design from the University of Dayton. 

I have over 14 years of professional experience in marketing, communications, brand, and creative design. I’ve had the privilege to work in several roles in varying industries including Manufacturing, Higher Education, Healthcare, Technology, Security, Art & Design, Law, Software, Event Planning, Athletics, Health & Wellness. 

My diverse professional experiences have helped me remain agile, innovative, and focused on growth as a person and professional. Lifelong learning is at my core. Of course I wouldn't be where I am today without countless talented and incredible mentors, colleagues, and partners who have pushed me to continue growing. 

• Creative Direction 
• Marketing Strategy
• Integrated Marketing & Communications  
• Digital Marketing 
• Social Media and Content Strategy  
• Brand Strategy
• Agency Management 
• Advertising and Paid Media Execution
• Project Management 
• Team and Staff Development 
• Executive Leadership 

In addition to my full-time work experience, my wife and I founded a brand and design company, BlkDog. We focus on supporting other small businesses, entrepreneurs, & dreamers. We believe in supporting the local Cleveland community and small business owners to achieve their goals by partnering with our team on branding, design, and strategic marketing.

To learn more about our agency BlkDog, visit www.goblkdog.com 

 *All my experiences and opinions shared here are my own.

Director of Global Brand Marketing

Southern Methodist University

Instructor, Cox School of Business Executive Education

Winding River Consulting

Leadership Management Consultant

S & J Allen, LLC

Principal

Practical Wisdom for Leaders Podcast

Practical Wisdom for Leaders is your fast-paced, forward-thinking guide to leadership. Join host Scott J. Allen as he engages with remarkable guests—from former world leaders and nonprofit innovators to renowned professors, CEOs, and authors. Each episode offers timely insights and actionable tips designed to help you lead with impact, grow personally and professionally, and make a meaningful difference in your corner of the world.

Founder and Host

Professor of Management

Associate Professor of Management

Assistant Professor of Management

Visiting Assistant Professor of Management

Collegiate Leadership Competition

Collegiate Leadership Competition (CLC), a nonprofit founded in 2015, creates a digital practice field where students can actively apply what they learn via CLC’s global virtual competition. CLC makes leadership a tangible, high-impact learning experience for future leaders. It's leadership development... for the digital age.

Co-Founder and Board Chairman

Captovation

Captovation builds your confidence and skills as an online presenter. We use our AI-powered technology to help you improve your abilities, adding a human touch via live coaching. We’ll help you craft a crisp message, design an engaging deck, and deliver with confidence. We are building a global hub of digital resources including our new book—Captovation: Online Presentations by Design—and our library of podcasts, online tutorials, and everything you need to improve and deliver your most successful presentation yet.

Co-Founder

Case Western Reserve University

SAGES

King's Daughters Medical Center

Leadership Development Educator

Beta Theta Pi

🔥 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 🔥 

🎓 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫.
For 18 years, I’ve explored what makes leadership work in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities. As a long-time Professor of Management at John Carroll University and Instructor at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business Executive Education, I bring academic rigor to the practical realities leaders face e͟v͟e͟r͟y͟ ͟d͟a͟y͟. I’ve taught thousands of students and professionals, helping them turn insight into influence.

📚 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫. 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫.
I’ve co-authored five books and published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles on leadership. I also host Practical Wisdom for Leaders, a podcast ranked in the top 2.5% globally, and write a weekly newsletter for professionals looking to quickly elevate their knowledge.

🏢 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of energizing teams across Fortune 500 and global organizations, including NASA, Toyota North America, Cleveland Clinic, Nestlé, Progressive, Nordson, KeyBank, Creston, Whiting-Turner, Sam’s Club, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Whether on stage or in a strategy session, my work focuses on helping leaders and teams enhance their communication, culture, and impact.

💬 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫. 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫.
LinkedIn has become an extension of the classroom. It's a space for ongoing conversations about leadership and human behavior. I post daily and love to engage with people around the globe.

🤝 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬. 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
I’m passionate about building communities that advance leadership education and practice. I co-founded the Collegiate Leadership Competition (CLC) and served as its Board Chair, creating an international platform for students to develop real-world leadership skills. I have also served on the boards of the International Leadership Association, Association of Leadership Educators, and the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society. In 2021, I was named an ILA Fellow for contributions to the global leadership community.

💡 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲.
Leadership isn’t a title. It's a series of behaviors. It’s about presence, courage, and the daily practice of helping others do their best.

If any of this speaks to you, I'd love to connect!

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.

Some only see the gaps, and others exist in the progress. 


It's Thanksgiving in the United States this week. 
A time of gratitude.

Gratitude is a matter of perspective, as Bela beautifully illustrates in this image.

Those who see the progress experience the benefits of gratitude.

✔️ Enhanced Well-Being & Optimism
✔️ Increased Satisfaction & Commitment
✔️ Strengthened Team Cooperation & Inclusivity
✔️ Reduced Stress & Healthier Coping

So this week. See the good. See the progress. Reflect on how far you have come. Better yet, reflect with another - a friend or family member.

Gratitude is a matter of perspective. What do you see?

Sources: DM me for sources.

***
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📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

Professor, Author, Speaker, Podcaster, Expert in Leadership

It's an important question.
And it's 100% true.

All eyes are on you, and it's critical to model the way.

Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of The Leadership Challenge, emphasize that leaders must "Do What You Say You Will Do." As they say, "If people don’t believe in the messenger, they won’t believe the message.” 

Your behaviors tell the story. 

And they always tell the truth.

***
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📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic
📷 Photo by Brian Knox

These are the things no one tells you when you first step into management.
But they quietly shape your success or failure.

There’s obviously more than 11, but this is a strong place to start.

There’s also a great starting point for new managers. The First 90 Days. I just sent a few copies to friends.

I learned this lesson the hard way. In my first manager role, I tried to do everything myself. That’s why this line from Michael Watkins always sticks with me:

“Leadership ultimately is about influence and leverage. You are, after all, only one person. To be successful, you need to mobilize the energy of many others in your organization.” - Michael Watkins

If that book and these lessons are on your radar, you will hit the ground running.

The truth? No one has it all figured out. And you don’t need to. If these are your anchors, you’ll build trust, momentum, and a team that genuinely wants to follow.

That’s real leadership.

What would you add? There’s always one insight new managers wish they had sooner.👇

***
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📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

In my experience, it's one of the toughest transitions.


From peer to manager. 
If you know, you know. It's a tricky one.

In my experience, there's very little support for these new managers, and those who go in with a plan are better prepared for success.

This quick infographic offers some options.

Bottom line: 

✔️ The best new managers have a well-vetted plan.
✔️ The best new managers are skilled at building authentic relationships.
✔️ The best new managers start by listening and learning.
✔️  The best new managers secure some initial wins.

Like me, many of you have made this transition. And I am sure some of you have read Michael Watkins' wonderful book, The First 90 Days. It's gold.

So, what's missing? What would you add?

Note: I am traveling with family, so my commenting may be a little slower this week. For those in the U.S., Happy Thanksgiving!

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
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📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

Could the questions you ask transform the way you lead?


Some leaders talk about empowerment. The best leaders practice it.
The simplest place to start is with the questions you ask.

This image captures eight servant-leader statements that change the dynamic in a room. They tell your team:

🟢 I am here for you.
🟢 Your voice matters.
🟢 We're in this together.

Robert Greenleaf’s early writing on servant leadership was clear. The real test of a leader is whether others grow. 

These questions help you do exactly that.

Combine them with presence, consistency, and follow-through, and you will see trust deepen and performance rise.

Leadership is not a title, it's a set of behaviors.

It's just that simple.

***
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📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

No leader gets to skip the hard conversations.
They are part of the job.

Yet one study found something striking.

60% of employees never received basic conflict management training. Of those who did, 95% said it helped them navigate conflict positively and seek better outcomes. That is a huge gap. And a huge opportunity.

From what I have seen working with hundreds of leaders, success starts before the conversation even begins.

Timing. Purpose. Setting. 
Checking your own emotional state.

Small choices that shape big outcomes.

This one-pager contains nine considerations I encourage leaders to get clear on ahead of time.

What would you add to the 9? 
What is essential preparation for you?

Source: CPP, Workplace Conflict and How Business Can Harness It to Thrive 

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
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📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

It’s wild how easy it is to forget the people who carried us.


We lose sight, get caught up, and let our attention wander elsewhere.

I hope this post centers you square on some of the individuals that helped you along the way. They've pushed, inspired, invested, and shaped the person you are today.

I'm thankful for an amazing wife and kids, professors, coaches, mentors, my wonderful colleagues at SMU, a thriving business, my health, lifelong friends, and the opportunity to do what I love - exploring the topic of leadership.

And I am thankful for LinkedIn. That may sound odd to some, but in the last year, I have met some wonderful people, clarified my own perspective, and had the opportunity to practice a different kind of writing. It's an outlet for creativity, and it's been a blast.

So, wherever you are in the world today, be thankful and see the good.

Note: I am with family, so my commenting may be a little slower this week. For those in the U.S., Happy Thanksgiving!

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

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Scott Taylor, MBA

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.'s LinkedIn Performance

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