Ever wonder if the key to SaaS success isn't about chasing every new growth hack, but about getting back to basics? Things like showing up, leading by example, and never forgetting that at the end of the day, people buy from people?

That's exactly what Charlene Ormo explores in this episode of Humans Behind the Metrics with Scott Nazdan, Vice President of Product Marketing and Strategic Communications at Panopto. Scott is a seasoned marketing and sales leader who calls himself a "player-coach," and he lives by one core belief: genuine human connection is the foundation of everything.

Scott's journey is truly inspiring. He took Ensemble Video from its early "guerrilla marketing" days in 2007 all the way to a successful acquisition by Panopto in 2020. Imagine a 15-year ride, pushing through constant market education, competitive battles, and the challenge of being ahead of the curve in a market that didn't even realize it needed video management solutions yet!

But here's why Scott's story stands out: He's not just another SaaS executive with a typical "hockey-stick" growth narrative. As a former Division I baseball athlete, he brings that same competitive fire, team-first mentality, and "practice when nobody's watching" work ethic to every single business challenge.

Now at Panopto, he's scaling those very principles, skillfully balancing the raw entrepreneurial hustle with the structure needed to compete in the big leagues. And if that's not enough, he's also a digital marketing professor at Syracuse University and hosts the "Learning Never Stops" podcast. He's someone who genuinely believes the best leaders are right there in the trenches with their teams.

If you're grappling with how to blend your instincts with established systems, maintain your raw drive within a corporate framework, or scale your business while keeping that personal touch, this conversation is your essential playbook.

"There is no secret pill for being great. It really is very simple in sports and in business. It's about the values and how you lead and how you operate daily and consistently. And that usually just means leading by example."

- Scott Nazdan

• The Division I Dreamer. Scott spent years dedicated to baseball, becoming a Division I athlete with professional aspirations — until his body and reality taught him that his real playing field would be business, not baseball.
• The Accidental Entrepreneur. Started in K-12 education, taught himself web design and video production, and stumbled into solving a massive problem in higher education that would become his life's work for 15 years.
• The Digital Deal: How Scott Nadzan Signed Away Ensemble Video with 75 Clicks During COVID. After 15 years of building Ensemble Video, Scott "sold" his company by clicking DocuSign file 75 times during COVID — no handshakes, no champagne, just digital signatures and tears of accomplishment.
• The Professor-Practitioner. While building and scaling his company, Scott has been teaching digital marketing at Syracuse University, staying connected to the next generation of marketers and keeping his skills sharp.
• The 4 AM Warrior. Scott's morning routine starts at 4-5 AM, getting ahead of the day to be productive and ready to serve others when "the bullets are flying" during business hours.

[00:02:54] The Sport of Business Mindset:

How Scott's Division I baseball background shaped his competitive business approach, applying sports values and Mark Cuban's "sport of business" framework to leadership. Greatness comes from consistent daily values and leading by example.

[00:10:38] Guerrilla Marketing for Startups:

Master the...