RelationshipOps of the Week #19.
Brand Naming Agency
|
Feb 27, 2026
“That one relationship shaped the next 22 years of my career.”
Scott Milano.
This week, we’re featuring Scott Milano from Tanj, a brand naming studio based in New York.
He might be in a niche that not many talk about, but he’s definitely not new to the game.
For the past 16 years, Scott’s been helping companies find the right words to launch their brands with clarity and meaning.
What stood out most recently isn’t just the studio’s tight focus on naming, it’s how he’s been putting himself out there. In 2025 alone, Scott created 250+ short-form videos across his social channels, such as Instagram and LinkedIn.
Not to chase likes… but to build real connections.
In a space where attention is scattered, and brand work is often behind the curtain, Scott’s showing up, sharing the process, and giving people something tangible to engage with. That clarity, consistency, and commitment to the craft are what made us want to feature him in this week’s series.
Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s meat.
22 Years of Impact.
Leonard Chin: What’s an instance when a relationship led to a big win or a really great opportunity for your business?
Scott Milano:
“There are honestly too many to count.
If I had to pick an early, extremely foundational relationship, I’d go back to when I first landed in Tokyo as a young American copywriter. I built a strong relationship with a creative director who ended up introducing me to the world of naming and branding.
That one relationship shaped the next 22 years of my career. It set me on the path to do work I love, meet incredible clients and partners all over the world, and build a pretty great business along the way.”
250 Short-form Videos.
Leonard Chin: What's your daily/weekly routine for maintaining relationships that help your business?
Scott Milano:
“I’m not perfect at this, but I’ve come to really see its value.
Over the past year, my main focus has been showing up consistently with short-form video on LinkedIn and Tanj’s social channels.
The algorithms aren’t perfect, and it’s obviously me pushing content out on my network, but the videos get views, engagement, and increase visibility, and I’m able to build and maintain relationships with almost anyone who likes or comments.
I made 250 short-form videos in 2025 and plan to keep (or increase!) that pace in 2026.
On the personal side, I check in with close work friends, long-term clients, and agency partners regularly without overdoing it. Naming isn’t something people need every week, so quarterly touchpoints feel right.
We also send quarterly updates to our email list of about 5,000 contacts. It keeps people in the loop without overwhelming them with naming-heavy content.”
The Return is Real.
Leonard Chin: What tips would you give to your younger self around relationships and how they impact business?
Scott Milano:
“Network like crazy, but with intention.
I’ve watched younger agency founders do it with speed, scale, and style, and it’s impressive.
Those relationships compound in ways you can’t predict early on.
Start earlier. Show up more. The return is real.”
Key Takeaways.
Being a foreigner in another country is definitely not an easy task, so how Scott Milano leverages relationships to grow as a person and his firm, Tanj, is definitely something respectable and worth learning.
We’re glad to have him with us on this week’s series, and if anything, here are a few key takeaways:
Introduction to naming. A single early relationship introduced Scott to the world of naming, shaping the entire trajectory of his 22-year career.
Stay focused and consistent. He posted 250 short-form videos in 2025 to stay visible and spark engagement, using content as his main relationship touchpoint.
Start networking earlier, but do it with intention… relationships take time to compound, but they always pay off.
That’s all for now.
If you're open to sharing your experiences in one of our future articles… or know of someone who is, feel free to drop me an email here.
Author.
Leonard Chin
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Scott Milano.
This week, we’re featuring Scott Milano from Tanj, a brand naming studio based in New York.
He might be in a niche that not many talk about, but he’s definitely not new to the game.
For the past 16 years, Scott’s been helping companies find the right words to launch their brands with clarity and meaning.
What stood out most recently isn’t just the studio’s tight focus on naming, it’s how he’s been putting himself out there. In 2025 alone, Scott created 250+ short-form videos across his social channels, such as Instagram and LinkedIn.
Not to chase likes… but to build real connections.
In a space where attention is scattered, and brand work is often behind the curtain, Scott’s showing up, sharing the process, and giving people something tangible to engage with. That clarity, consistency, and commitment to the craft are what made us want to feature him in this week’s series.
Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s meat.
22 Years of Impact.
Leonard Chin: What’s an instance when a relationship led to a big win or a really great opportunity for your business?
Scott Milano:
“There are honestly too many to count.
If I had to pick an early, extremely foundational relationship, I’d go back to when I first landed in Tokyo as a young American copywriter. I built a strong relationship with a creative director who ended up introducing me to the world of naming and branding.
That one relationship shaped the next 22 years of my career. It set me on the path to do work I love, meet incredible clients and partners all over the world, and build a pretty great business along the way.”
250 Short-form Videos.
Leonard Chin: What's your daily/weekly routine for maintaining relationships that help your business?
Scott Milano:
“I’m not perfect at this, but I’ve come to really see its value.
Over the past year, my main focus has been showing up consistently with short-form video on LinkedIn and Tanj’s social channels.
The algorithms aren’t perfect, and it’s obviously me pushing content out on my network, but the videos get views, engagement, and increase visibility, and I’m able to build and maintain relationships with almost anyone who likes or comments.
I made 250 short-form videos in 2025 and plan to keep (or increase!) that pace in 2026.
On the personal side, I check in with close work friends, long-term clients, and agency partners regularly without overdoing it. Naming isn’t something people need every week, so quarterly touchpoints feel right.
We also send quarterly updates to our email list of about 5,000 contacts. It keeps people in the loop without overwhelming them with naming-heavy content.”
The Return is Real.
Leonard Chin: What tips would you give to your younger self around relationships and how they impact business?
Scott Milano:
“Network like crazy, but with intention.
I’ve watched younger agency founders do it with speed, scale, and style, and it’s impressive.
Those relationships compound in ways you can’t predict early on.
Start earlier. Show up more. The return is real.”
Key Takeaways.
Being a foreigner in another country is definitely not an easy task, so how Scott Milano leverages relationships to grow as a person and his firm, Tanj, is definitely something respectable and worth learning.
We’re glad to have him with us on this week’s series, and if anything, here are a few key takeaways:
Introduction to naming. A single early relationship introduced Scott to the world of naming, shaping the entire trajectory of his 22-year career.
Stay focused and consistent. He posted 250 short-form videos in 2025 to stay visible and spark engagement, using content as his main relationship touchpoint.
Start networking earlier, but do it with intention… relationships take time to compound, but they always pay off.
That’s all for now.
If you're open to sharing your experiences in one of our future articles… or know of someone who is, feel free to drop me an email here.
Author.
Leonard Chin
Follow me on LinkedIn.