Brittany Scott serves as Vice President of Sales for Zenwork, through its Tax1099 and Compliancely brands, is a fast-growing digital tax compliance and regulatory reporting technology company, with 10+ years of experience powering informational tax returns and compliance checks on behalf of its customer base. At her previous position, as VP of SMB Sales at KnowBe4, she was able to work her way quickly up the ranks and contributed to the accomplishment of the organization going public in April 2021 and an exit to Vista Partners in 2023.
Brittany has won awards for her contributions to KnowBe4’s sales success, including being a 3x Stevie Award for Woman of the Year in Sales – Silver & Bronze Winner and is a recipient of the SVUS Women in Business and Professions World Awards – Silver Winner. Brittany was recognized by Women We Admire as Tampa’s Top 50 Women Leaders of 2023, 2024 & 2025. Brittany was honored with a Global Recognition Award in 2024 for her commitment to leadership by her focus on emotional intelligence and creating a positive, supportive environment. Additionally, she was awarded the #GirlsClub Mentor of the Year, in recognition of her work coaching women in sales to move into leadership positions. In 2023, Globee awarded her the Gold Business Role Model of the Year. She holds a master’s degree in business administration from Johnson and Wales University and an undergraduate degree in hospitality management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with CXO Outlook Magazine, Brittany shared insights on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, the secret mantra behind her success, future plans, pearls of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Brittany. What inspired you to pursue a career in sales and leadership, and what motivates you to continue in this field?
I once had a mentor tell me that what you think your dream is today, might not be your dream tomorrow. Pivots happen all the time during your life, and I was fortunate to have one of these pivots. I originally thought I would go into a career in music but here I am almost 18 years later living a fulfilling life in leadership and sales. I’ve had many people along the way support me and encourage me to take leaps of faith when it came to my career, and for that I am fortunate. This is what truly motivates me to continue in this field, and my life goal is to leave a legacy of leaders by inspiring one individual at a time.
Can you share your insights on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, particularly in the tech industry?
DEI is so imperative to help grow and diversify the culture of the organization. In my previous organization, I founded the Women in Tech Employee Resource Group and was able to meet with passionate women and allies to help motivate and inspire women to go into STEM careers. There is a huge disparity in both women in technology as well as women in leadership positions and my goal is to continue leaving a positive imprint on those wonderful individuals, I get the opportunity to cross paths with.
How do you approach mentorship and supporting the growth and development of women in sales and leadership positions?
I absolutely adore this question. The biggest thing you can do for yourself is to learn about emotional intelligence to have the self-awareness of what your strengths and skillsets are, while having the social awareness to bring out the best of those around you. I approach mentorship from an EQ perspective, truly getting to know my people and what their “why” is. Understanding what drives them, is the first step to developing a professional development plan that is unique to that individual.
You have been a recipient of prestigious awards and recognitions over the course of your career including being recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Tampa for 2025, 2024 Global Recognition Award for Outstanding Leadership and Mentoring. Our readers would love to know the secret mantra behind your success.
It may sound simple but having gratitude and being grateful of the opportunities you have is so imperative to becoming successful. It is so easy to get lost in the shuffle of chasing a title or an award, that we forget to have gratitude for everything we currently have in life. I also believe in being true to who you are at your core,
If you could have a one-hour meeting with someone famous who is alive, who would it be and why?
John Maxwell. He is an introspective, EQ forward, literary genius who inspired me to be the leader I am today. If you haven’t read his books, I recommend you take a look, you won’t be disappointed.
Is there a particular person you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are?
I had an amazing advocate at my previous organization that believed in me, at one point, more than I believed in myself. He taught me what the meaning of leadership is, by continuously pushing me to break those glass ceilings that I put upon myself. Even when others questioned his advocacy of me, he ignored the naysayers, for he saw what I was truly capable of. The values that I carry today are imprints of his leadership that I wear like a badge of honor. Thank you for your invaluable knowledge and making me the leader I am today.
How do you keep your mind healthy and stay resilient?
It is imperative to check in with yourself to be that mindset warrior you aspire to be. It is so easy to get overwhelmed and let your health and wellness take a backseat. To stay resilient and have a healthy mind, one must prioritize taking time for yourself with a work-life balance. I find the best way to calm my sometimes, hectic mind, is to meditate, do things I enjoy and surround myself with those I love. Life is short, so don’t forget to take time for yourself while working on that amazing career of yours.
What do you hope to achieve in the next 5-10 years, and how do you plan to get there?
I am embarking on my next journey by writing a book on emotional intelligence that will hopefully help and inspire others to practice self-awareness and truly getting to the core of their own “why”. Expounding upon this, I hope to one day start a sales/career consultancy to continue driving my vision and mission of creating that legacy of leaders.
What advice would you give to women who are looking to transition into leadership positions in the tech industry?
Be your true authentic self. I lost myself at the beginning of my career by trying to fit into a mold of what I thought leaders looked like. Employees appreciate self-awareness, transparency and above all extreme ownership. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, Be the change you want to see in the world”, meaning instead of waiting for others to make positive changes, take this upon yourself by embodying these values.