Scott Sutton

@nrmehta Just be you!! What even is a “real CEO” . You are a real, passionate, motivated and funny person. Let that shine through. 2026 needs less grey suits and more really awesome people just being themselves.

Trying to be a "real CEO" was one of my worst misakes: We launched Gainsight in May of 2013 and hosted our first ever Pulse conference for the customer success industry. The event would later become the standard, with thousands of annual attendees. I did my typical "cringe-but-lovable" thing and somehow ended up on the keynote stage in stunner shades. Later I had a football helmet on and did a really bad Heisman pose. You had to be there. Anyway, the event was a huge hit. I think people were endeared to our quirky culture. We raised more money that year and were on the path to being a real company. In January of 2014, we were four months from Pulse 2014. We were growing up and I wanted to too. So I hired a speaking coach to take my game to the next level. She was well regarded and very good at her craft. And she said: "Nick - you need to be more professional. No weird outfits. Speak slowly. And stop being so excited - it's strange. Also, read the script off of the prompter." So I did. And Pulse 2014 was BY FAR my worst keynote. I was robotic. My speech was forced. Very few smiles. A typical CEO speech. You can see it for yourself on YouTube. Actually, please don't! The next year, I went back to me. No script. No notes. My typical, frenetic, nerdy, corny self. Fired up. And yes - ridiculous props and outfits. Over the years I was: * A robotic man from the future * The wizard from Wicked * Ted Lasso * A kid from the Breakfast Club * And a rapper (who actually rapped on stage!) It worked. And damn it felt good to be myself again.

Tucker/Candace/Megyn are having no effect on @POTUS immense popularity among Republicans. Their MAGA credentials are in tatters.

@BrianSozzi People can wear what they want. Banking should show more personality. Only guy in a leather jacket at MS TMT was Jensen. He is doing just fine.

Amazing Goldman Sachs' comms. team allowed a 24-year old entry level-ish investment banker named Mason Clarke sit for a photo spread showing a Hermes tie, Celine suit and maybe an Omega watch (can't tell). Very counter to the well-known non-showiness (at least externally) of the culture at Goldman. "Meet Wall Street’s baby-faced new finance bros — they flash $10K Rolex watches, wear Celine suits and say life in NYC costs too much" nypost.com/2026/03/04/lif…

The irony of the three finance bros next to me hand transcribing @sama’s entire Morgan Stanley TMT session is wildly comical in the world of AI.

Later has evolved into the world’s most intelligent influencer marketing company, combining cutting-edge AI technology, a creator marketplace of 180,000+ real people, and expert-led campaign services that help enterprise brands create unforgettable campaigns. This is not a cosmetic refresh. This is Later showing up as the company we have built and the partner our customers deserve.

Every business is a “People Business”.

Creators like Mason Smith (dadsocial) great reminder of what powerful content actually looks like. Genuine. Intentional. Built around uplifting dads, families, and real life.
 This is proof that when content is created with purpose, it doesn’t just perform, it resonates.

Back at CES and had to check out the Creator Space. Who’s at CES this week?

@Jason Landing right now!!

CES?

One thing that seems to get overlooked in business? Getting back to people in a timely matter… I struggled with this early on. Responding on time is part of doing the job well.

Another great year in the books. Can’t think of a better way to celebrate than getting together with our team to cap off the end if the year.

A reminder I wish more people heard: you didn’t end up where you are by accident. If you’re feeling imposter syndrome, pause for a moment. You’ve earned your seat at the table. It’s okay to take it in, enjoy the moment, and recognize the work that got you here.

A competitive job market rewards preparation, not luck. The best candidates don’t wait to be hired to add value. They show it early.

We once cut 67% of inbound leads — about 4,000 a month. It sounded risky, but the data was clear: low win rates, diluted focus, wasted capacity. After modeling the entire funnel, ASP went up, conversions improved, and reps produced more. How confident are you in your data to make a decision like that?

Fast forward one year… 
The growth. The passion. The momentum. I’ve been genuinely blown away by how creators have leaned in, built together, and turned opportunity into real impact. This community is special — and we’re just getting started.

One thing the creator industry needs to leave behind in 2026 is relying on too few (social) platforms. Every platform has a different audience and strength.

$2.4B annual GMV run rate. $250M+ paid out to creators. None of this happens without: Creators building real trust. Brands believing in creator-led growth, and an incredible team pushing every day. One year after the Mavely acquisition…Just getting started. emarketer.com/content/later-…

“If you’re not prioritizing influencer marketing now, you risk falling behind your competitors.” Check out my insights on 2026 in the full article here… netinfluencer.com/the-creator-ec…

The creator economy has graduated from trend to core growth strategy — not just a social tactic but a channel that drives culture, trust, and measurable business outcomes. Check out my article in Forbes for the 3 things that brands NEED to be doing in 2026. forbes.com/councils/forbe…

Consistency doesn’t mean doing the same thing every day. It means continuing to move forward, no matter what.