7 minute read
Zhe Scott
“ I started my first agency with no savings and no business plan. Just my instincts in 2012."
Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do?
A. My name is Zhe Scott, and I am the CEO of the Digital Marketing
Company: The SEO Queen. My company is the leading black owned SEO company that helps black owned, woman owned, and tech companies get more clients and revenue without paying for advertising.
Q. You are also known as the
“SEO Queen” how did you become that?
A. After I graduated from MIT
I worked for Raytheon as a web applications developer.
I did that for a year and then worked on my Masters in Public
Policy. During this time, I never stopped loving technology. To graduate from MIT definitely takes passion for science and technology.
After finishing my Masters in Public Policy at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor I pursued a career in public service as a volunteer and in my professional life I honed in on SEO. Some years after I graduated from grad school, I worked for a series of tech companies where I sold content management systems, built websites, and did SEO. When I graduated from College SEO was not really a thing because search engines were in their infancy. After being on food stamps and struggling to live I finally walked away from a company that I built the book of business up from $0 to $500,000 in recurring revenue in 2 years. I realized that I had to take my professional destiny into my own hands.
I started my first agency with no savings and no business plan. Just my instincts in 2012. I ended up getting pregnant with my second and final child in 2013 and my first agency struggled, and all the fortune 500 companies I applied to were interested in hiring me, but I never made it past 3 rounds of interviews. I gave up on Corporate America at that point, moved to California and started planning the brand: The SEO Queen in 2015 with the help of my day 1 business coach: Fraser Hay.
Q. Who has been your biggest influencer in your life as a woman?
A. I think this is a difficult question for me because I am multidimensional and multitalented. At first (blush) I can say right now that I am the biggest influencer on me. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard no from my parents, companies, clients and more.
I am determined and my mom can tell you that I am a very determined person.
If I am really looking at the entirety of my life, I have to give honor where honor is due. The first persons to influence me were my parents. They inspired me in so many ways and are the foundational reason why I am the success that I’m today. They have poured into me as much wisdom and experience that they can, and I am inspired by so many people. Musically I am inspired by Karen Briggs, Sade, and Janet Jackson. Karen Briggs is the baddest violinist that I have ever seen. David Spradley who co-wrote Atomic Dogg is also a long-time dear friend that really mentored me in the music industry. Business wise, Fraser Hay opened my eyes to see the value of my experience, education and what it really takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Dr. Deena Brown gave me permission to step out of the box of the expectation of what a successful career looks like. She encouraged me to be unapologetically myself and always see the synergy in my life.
My journey has been an intricate one. As an MIT alumni I can’t help but look at my own life with a very analytical point of view. This observation has caused me to seek out experts in areas that I have questions in. My coaches and influences span the personal, professional, and spiritual and many more:
Tai Lopez, Neil Patel, Marquel Russell, Dr. Jeanine Staples, Bennie Randall, Rev Brig Feltus, Patricia Wilkerson, Q. Williams, Aunty Virginia, and Mike Muse, At the end of the day, it really comes down to me to take what has been said and taught to me and act on it. No one can manifest the influence of anyone unless I do it. So, I think I would say I am my biggest influencer because of my passion for learning and ability to ask questions.
Q. How do you define your passion and purpose in life?
A. My purpose in life is simply to show love. When I went through the darkest times in my life, I remember what if felt like to be diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. I remember what it felt like to be a young black MIT graduate with a stellar track record and still face rejection after rejection personally and professionally. My passion and purpose is to build a company where underestimated individuals like me can come, grow and thrive whether they are business owners, team members or community members.
Q. Tell us about your book and the motivation behind it?
A. My forthcoming book: Black,
Brilliant, and Maybe Bipolar (blackbrilliantandmaybebipolar. com) is part memoir and part self-help. I share my mental health and entrepreneurial journey in this book. I was motivated to write it because so many people suffer from mental health challenges. I know what it feels like and I want to be the support that I created for myself for others. The key for my mental health was really asking the right questions and adopting 100+ strategies, tools, and practices to listen to body, mind and soul. Just like my single:
Elevate, I had to elevate my mind and spirit, body and soul. It is human nature to assume. Some of us assume that we are alone, and I want to break down those assumptions and empower those who want support for their mental health while striving for their next greater goal to get the support, wisdom, fellowship and community that they desire.
Q. What has been the biggest achievement or award you have received in your career?
A. This is a great question. Last year in September 2020 in the midst of the pandemic the
Los Angeles South Chamber recognized me with the HOPE
Award as woman business leader. This award was such a surprise! I never thought that my peers in the Los Angeles
South Chamber would think that I was worthy of this honor.
I still see myself as a budding entrepreneur. I still have such a long way to go as a business leader, CEO, and Business
Owner.
Q. Do you have any new events or upcoming projects?
A. Yes, I do! I am extremely excited to announce that the inaugural,
Reach More Clients Power
Conference is happening on
July 29, 30, and 31st 2021.
This new conference has been prepared with the goal of holding space for businesses and brands to come, network, and get the mentorship, information, and support that they need in order to ensure that the end of the year season is their best ever! I have experts in search engine optimization, social media marketing, paid ad marketing, sales, mindset, publicity, operations and more taking the main stage.
I can personally guarantee if a person takes the actions given at this conference their company will make more money. Tickets are already on sale on seoqueen.com/ conference. The early bird rate is 50% off. General Admission tickets for three days starts at $75, and the VIP experience which includes a swag bag, and a choice of a strategy session with me AND one other expert is a great value. Visit my company website for more information and details.
Q. How would you describe your future in 3 words?
A. Undeniable, Blessed, Success.
Q. What advice can you give to the next generation of female leaders?
A. Don’t Quit. Ask Questions and
Seek out Answers. No, you are not crazy. This world is full of propaganda and a multitude of agendas. Listen to your soul and spirit and learn as much as you can so that you can experience the joy of living a life that you choose. As women we worry so much about those that we care for and about. We don’t need to stop doing that.
We simply need to apply that same energy to ourselves so that we can show up more full, more effective and emotionally intelligent. We need to charge what we are worth, follow through and be the best that we can be.
Q. Where can the readers follow you?
A. You can connect with me via email, website, phone or social media: zhe@seoqueen.com 617-475-0964 @theseoqueen @theseoqueen @ZhetheSeoQueen theseoqueen
If you would like to chat with me one on one, please go to: seoqueen.com and click Speak to The SEO Queen.
