Anne: Hi, everybody. It's Anne Duffy, and welcome to the Just DeW It podcast. I'm so excited that you're here today because we have a very special guest. She's a dear friend, and she is an Energizer bunny. I coined that before I knew she had that coined in her office. I'm so excited that we all agree she has energy, a beautiful energy and aura out in the world.
But let me tell you a little bit about her before we get started. Scotti Mazikowski is head of payments at Curve Dental. She has a background in marketing. She took an unexpected turn into payments, proof that careers rarely go in a straight line. Fun facts: She loves fitness and competing in races, HYROX being her most recent obsession, and she is a master life juggler, attempting to balance two kids, fitness, friendships, marriage, and a full-time career.
Her top five strengths are learner, arranger, input, self-assurance, and responsibility. Please help me welcome my dear, dear Energizer bunny, Scotti Mazikowski. Hello, Scotti.
Scotti: Hi. Lucky for you, I don't have the Energizer bunny at the desk, but I do have one at home that I have been gifted before.
Anne: Oh my God, I just made that up when we first started.
Scotti: I know.
Anne: And I'm like, "Oh my gosh, you have to own it." It's a thing. You're a bottle of energizing. I can't believe positivity is not in your top five. It's got to be in your top 10.
Scotti: It is the sixth.
Anne: Oh, that's super cool, because anything in your top 10 could be in the top five. We focus on the top five strengths. For all of you who know about DeW, two pillars that can hold us up are love and living your strengths.
So number six, that's cool, and I'm glad I could figure that out about you because my number six is achiever, and I was trying to figure out, "Why am I checking all the boxes all the time? I don't even have achiever in my top five." But I have it in my top six, so it's just as important. Sometimes people will take the test over. The first time you take it, it's the most authentic, but usually anything in your top five is still going to be in your top 10 when you take it again.
Scotti: Just rearranged in order.
Anne: Yeah, just rearranged a little bit. But don't you love your strengths? Look at you.
Scotti: I do. Learner. I'm not kidding. I was telling someone this today because I was thinking about this, and I think it is single-handedly the thing that's changed my life in my 40s. I think you end up down a path of performing, but you don't put a term on the thing that you're doing most. It helped guide how I view the things that I get into.
Anne: Yeah, how you love yourself. That's what I think. It's like, "Oh, I am a learner. No wonder I go down the rabbit hole."
Scotti: No wonder I ask 500,000 questions about things that people are like, "Why do you care?" Because I just want to know all about it, anything.
Anne: It also speaks to the fact that you have moved in your career, and now you're head of payments. We talked about this before we started. What were you doing when I first met you?
Scotti: My entire career early on was operations, very early in my career, in automotive. Then I transitioned into marketing. I've been in all kinds of marketing. I've been in client management marketing for an agency. I've been in product marketing. I've led marketing teams. You name it, I've touched it.
At Curve, I got into helping launch product launches. It's a part of product marketing, right?
Anne: Right.
Scotti: I went down this path, and one of the biggest launches that we've had was launching payments, which is, in the dental practice, the terminal, running the card. It's the little things that you don't really think about that are a big piece of a practice. When we were in the middle of launching that, I was running the whole project, implementing it through, and someone looked at me and said, "Either you're going to keep running that project, or you're going to hire someone to run that project."
I was like, "No, I'm going to run that project." Honestly, this played hand in hand. I started to see how I get interested in something, and I go down a path. I don't want to stop it because there's so much to learn, and I did dig into that with payments. There's still so much to learn, but the coolest part is that I've been given the opportunity to do it. Normally, you would hire somebody with extensive background. There's plenty of people out there. What there's not plenty of is people who are eager to learn and eager to grow and eager to get the culture and would fit in. There were a lot of risks in that path.
Anne: Well, and execute, right? I'm going to read the balcony of learner: always learning, catches on quickly, interested in many things, finds life intriguing, which is part of your bio, and knows a lot. The other thing about learner is that when you are a learner, you also are a very good communicator. You're not only learning it, but because you learn it so well and you have this broad spectrum, you can communicate it so the people sitting in your room understand it.
Scotti: You're so right.
Anne: Then arranger is executing. That's really cool. Arranger, for me, is number five, and I'm happy with that. I know my husband, it drives him crazy because we'll go one way, and I'm like, "Oh, I think it's better if we go the other way." I always say the funny thing is, "Wait for it. I'm going to change my mind because I'm going to find a better way to do what we're doing."
Scotti: Yes.
Anne: Arranger is a flexible organizer, juggler, aligns and realigns tasks to find the most productive configuration possible. Efficient conductor.
Scotti: This job is everything in this list I've had to use to do that: input, self-assurance, responsibility.
One thing, though, is in something like this, you do have to be open to vulnerability because in marketing, I'm in my lane. I can tell you most things, but not everything. I was not self-assured in the beginning, and I had to just be okay with that. Then it forced me to really own what I know I'm good at and let other people fill the things that I don't have. The other thing that was reminded to me when I took this job was, "We're not expecting you to know this business in and out, payments. We want what you have, which is the ability to bring something to life, the leadership, the arranger, all the things."
Anne: Arranger, yeah.
Scotti: I have to remind myself of that because it is hard. It is a piece of being a woman and being a perfectionist that I have had to work really hard on. Luckily, I'm a year in, but if you had talked to me last year, I was like, "Oh, I'm going to fail. It's this. I don't know it." But yeah.
Anne: So to the first question then, what surprised you the most about this transition from marketing to payments?
Scotti: I love to learn, so I think it was a reminder that you can do things that are out of your norm and hard, and you can do them even if you don't have the background fully. Could someone come in with a payment background and have done it better? In some cases, yes. But would they have rolled it out? Probably not. There's a give and take on both.
I would say it reminded me of my love of learning, and it reminded me of learning to be vulnerable and letting go because it is hard. It is really hard, and it's still hard today.
Anne: Learner and input put together means you're a smarty-pants, so you have to own that.
Scotti: Sure.
Anne: That's the other thing about strengths. It validates the fact that you're smart enough to not only learn it but comprehend it, because that's a learner.
Input is so great because things are changing all the time, so you can't sit on your laurels.
Scotti: That's right.
Anne: Self-assurance is one of those ones that's kind of like woo. I wasn't all happy that it was woo because I thought, "Oh, my gosh, you love everybody, and you can be perceived as superficial." Self-assurance is another one. "Oh, she thinks she's all that and a bag of chips." But knowing that you have self-assurance gives you the knowledge that you know you're going to conquer whatever problem or challenge is coming, because you've got the smarts, you've got the execution skills, and then responsibility. A lot of women don't like responsibility because it feels like, "Oh, my shoulders are so heavy," but that makes you a fantastic leader among women and men because you're responsible. Your team and your upper level, which you're getting up into, they can count on you. If you don't know it, you're going to learn it, and you're going to execute it.
Scotti: Exactly. The more you really think about it, I'm looking to hire for something now, and I'm like, "Yeah, I could hire somebody that's exactly in this field, or I could hire somebody that can figure things out." At the end of the day, figuring it out matters because so many problems change.
The other thing that you made me think about is I was definitely fearful of taking the responsibility because as a mom and a juggler, I don't think I realized how much I've held myself back because of this stage of life. I just had to say, "I'm not fulfilled by my strengths with all of the things that I'm trying to do. I'm kind of holding myself back." Honestly, it was the best decision I ever made, with fear and knowing the unknown. But I did have to level set when I took it. I was like, "This is the thing. I am a mom first, and it's going to come with these restraints."
Anne: Of course. How old are your kids?
Scotti: They are 10 and 6.
Anne: Okay, so they're still loving their mama.
Scotti: Yeah. Still not too cool yet.
Anne: Mama still loves them, and they're probably into sports. I always say the kids don't care that you're not there so much as you don't want to miss it, right? That's the key.
Scotti: Exactly. You know it goes by fast.
Anne: Yeah. But I love that you have found a way. Of course you've found a way to be able to balance it, because first of all, you're an arranger, and you've got all the skills to be able to take something big. You're smart enough, and now know yourself enough, that you're going to be successful in everything you do.
But now tell me, first of all, HYROX. What the heck is HYROX? I've never even heard of it.
Scotti: Sorry in advance. If you look at the marketing, you're going to be like, "Yeah, of course, Energizer bunny psycho." It's essentially a fitness competition, and a lot of people are into it. You run about five miles, but in between circuits. You're running 0.6 miles, and then you're using the skier for 1,000 meters, and then you're running, and then you're doing lunges. I think there are eight different circuits that you do, and after each circuit you're running. You do it with a partner, or you can do it alone. I've only done it with a partner, but little things like that, I just love it.
Anne: Is this something you do every week, or is this a competition that you train for?
Scotti: It's a competition. They have them all over, and the one in Atlanta is actually not coming back until April. There's one in Nashville. You sign up and you go.
Anne: Okay, so this is like a marathon or triathlon?
Scotti: Yeah, exactly. But they do a lot of training classes around, so I do attend a lot of those. When I say I'm into it, I'm going and basically doing them often and training for them, even though I don't have one to do.
Anne: You don't have one on your schedule?
Scotti: The other thing is they sell out. If you're not watching, it's gone. I am anxiously awaiting April. I'm dealing with a little bit of an injury, so I'm waiting for that to be good, and then I'm back. I'm going to go find one in a different state.
Anne: Of course you will. Where's competition on your list?
Scotti: Actually, 29.
Anne: What? Okay.
Scotti: I guess my competition is more internal. I don't know that I want to beat others as much as I want to internally win.
Anne: It's you versus you. You want to be your best.
Scotti: I want to challenge myself.
Anne: Yeah. Be your best.
Scotti: Exactly.
Anne: You must have a great husband too, because you've got a lot going on here. Do you have help with the kids and with driving and all that, or are you juggling all those?
Scotti: We juggle. He's actually very helpful. I would say the big thing is the two of us are both equally as helpful, and it's not like me and him. He's kind of mastered the "you're picking up today, I'm picking up." I feel like we just try to even it out.
Anne: That's so nice. That's your generation. It's us. I still have a list I have to give to Tom because he's like, "Well, as long as I know, it looks like I got everything done." I'm like, "No. Here's your list."
Scotti: I know. I'm very lucky. He grew up with a single mom, so I think he remembers.
Anne: He's not going to let that happen to you, and that's so good for the kids. It's wonderful. I really love women who keep their careers, as long as you have a company that will let you have a little balance in life. Because no matter what, with your responsibility, you're going to get it done.
Scotti: Exactly.
Anne: So if you have to do something with the kids in the morning, I hope you have that leeway to be able to do that, and then you can work when the kids go to bed.
Scotti: Absolutely. One thing that I have been very adamant about ever since kids, and I would say it happened more so when I had kids, was this work life is here. Luckily, it was around a time when working from home started to become more of a thing. I just said in my mind, "I can see that this stage is short. Nothing is going to take over." This is part of the discipline brain. Since 2016, I've been like, "I'm going to do a really good job, but I am not sacrificing." Obviously there are days where you have to, but I've also always been very upfront with anybody that I'm working with. I am going to give you my best, but I am not a 9:00-to-5:00, sit-at-a-desk person. I'm an arranger, and I'm going to get it done, my friend.
Anne: Yeah, all of it. That gives you so much joy for life, and it's a great example for the kids. You're a great partner in that. I loved bringing strengths to DeW, to the dental arena, because it makes you love yourself for who you are, and then you love other people for what they bring to the party. Everybody's got something going on. Has your husband taken StrengthsFinders?
Scotti: No.
Anne: You should get him to do that. We took it like 25 years ago. I dragged Tom there and two of our adult kids. Joe was still in college, I think, and Katie is in the middle, and she was just out of college. I made them go with me, and they were walking down the plank to get there. But it changed our life because I quit trying to put that darn square peg in a round hole. It's just so lovely. I say, "Okay, love them for who God made them to be, get over yourself, and be happy for that."
We laugh about our strengths. It's like, "Hey, listen, I'm the arranger, so let me take over this."
Scotti: Exactly.
Anne: And you're the maximizer, so you can maximize our parenting, if you will. I think those are all good things.
I look back, and I did something this morning and was thinking to myself, "Honestly, I wish I was 50." I think women in their early 40s, that's when you really get your momentum. You're right. You've got energy, and it's all in front of you. I look back and say, "Oh, I wish I was 50." But no, I'm not. I'm the sage woman.
Scotti: You are, Anne. Your energy is a 20.
Anne: I know, but I think that we probably are very similar in our strengths, actually, because I've got positivity in there and communication.
If you had one thing that you wish someone would have told you earlier in your career, I want to know what this one thing would have been, because I want to be able to remember that. There are going to be so many young women joining DeW, and you're one of the ones that I see on rocket fuel right now. What do you wish you would have known?
Scotti: I think the biggest thought was to take a deep breath. It's going to be okay. Looking back at that time, I was anxious to get ahead. Anxious like, "You've got to move up. You've got to do this." But there's so much, and here goes my learner brain, value in putting yourself in every situation possible. Now I look back and I'm like, "Man, all those things just set me up for this moment today." If I had just rested assured, "You're going to be fine, and you weren't actually ready for the things you wanted back then." There were things I was just in achiever mode, like, "I should be here, and I'm not. I'm here." But looking back, it wasn't where I was supposed to be. Also, when you're younger, you're kind of meant to experience everything because it brings you to the place you're supposed to be.
Anne: Yeah. But your self-assurance, if you took it in your 20s, would probably still be there. They say the first time is the most authentic. Self-assurance you've always had, and I think if you look back on your life, you could see that thread. I'm sure your parents could see that thread. Like, "Oh, yeah, she's a bossy cow." Nothing's going to get you down.
But I do think, as women, we all recognize the fact that we sometimes hold back. You didn't know that no matter what was put in front of you, you could learn it, and you could do it. Sometimes we don't raise our hand immediately because we're not quite ready for it. But now you know. You got thrown into payments. I was so shocked when I thought, "Oh, she's in the field of payments." Here you are, and you're loving it, and you're growing with the company. Curve has been a great partner of ours. Shout-out to Curve. Of course, you've got orange on. Do you always wear orange when you're in the office?
Scotti: I think this is more pink, but it does look orange.
Anne: It does look orange.
Scotti: No, I don't really think about it. I just show up, but it does look orange.
Anne: It does look orange, and I have orange lipstick on for Curve. I'm rooting for Curve, and I've got this orange lipstick on. That's what we're doing.
Scotti: Orange. We planned it.
Anne: Oh my God. I love how you're partnering with all these other great companies, which is really cool too. I love seeing the partnerships of cultures coming together. In dentistry, good people find good people, and you're one of them, Scotti.
How do we get in touch with you? If we want to know about Curve or we also want to know a little bit about you, how do we get in touch?
Scotti: This is where my lack of woo comes in. LinkedIn. Our emails at work are just our names, Scotti Mazikowski at Curve Dental. Definitely social media. LinkedIn, Facebook, you'll find me. Instagram, I may not be publicly posting videos, but I'm there.
Anne: That's what I love. I love reaching out to people on LinkedIn because there are so many people who are so interesting and good to find out about, especially if they might be a good partner for Curve. Reach out to you there.
Scotti: It's a great company with a great future, and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't.
Anne: Anybody that's considering it, all good things for Curve. All good things for Curve going forward.
Thank you for your time. I will see you at the retreat, ladies. See you soon. If you don't have your ticket for the retreat, get your ticket. It's November 12 through 14 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's going to be amazing. Scotti's been there for a couple of years. She walks in, and the room lights up, which is really cool.
Scotti: And if you're a learner, we can talk for 100 hours about whatever you want.
Anne: There are all these little nooks and crannies. Find her, and you'll find a partner in crime there. It's so good to see you. Have the best summer. Enjoy getting the kids back to school. That's a big deal.
Scotti: Time.
Anne: I know. I love it.
Scotti: The juggle is back.
Anne: The juggle is back. Wonderful to see you today. Thanks so much for carving out time for us. Most importantly, everybody, if you're listening to us, keep doing you. Thanks, everybody. I'll see you next time. Scotti, I'll see you in November.
Scotti: See you soon. Bye.
Anne: Thank you.
