Street Style: Meet Debbie Bates-Schrott
Debbie Bates-Schrott didn’t build her career by following expectations – she built it by pushing past them. When others asked, “Why?” she asked, “Why not?” That relentless drive has shaped a 30-year marketing career defined by resilience, instinct, honesty, and trust.
Raised in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Debbie was the first in her family to attend college. When she chose art school, it wasn’t exactly met with applause. “What are you going to do with that?” was a question she heard from her father more than once. But she followed her instincts, studying at Temple University and later at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C.
She arrived in the early ’90s with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and no master plan. What she did have was grit, passion, and a deep understanding that relationships matter.
After starting her career as a graphic designer, Debbie built a loyal following – so loyal, in fact, that when she decided to leave her agency role, clients told her they would follow her wherever she went.
And they did.
In 1996, she launched her first partnership, growing a two-person shop into a 12-person firm. Six years later, feeling the pull to build something bigger and more aligned with her vision for the future, she stepped out on her own.
She founded Bates Creative Group, later rebranded as Beyond Definition, and just as she had grown her previous firm, she grew this one as well. By the fall of 2019, she had scaled to a 22-person agency and opened her dream office in Silver Spring. But just as it seemed the best chapter of her career was unfolding, the world suddenly shut down.
Leading a firm through a global pandemic while raising two high schoolers wasn’t exactly in the business plan. But then again, Debbie will tell you very little in her career ever was.
Meet Debbie Bates Schrott
Self-Styled
Shoot Location: Yes& Agency Headquarters
Photography:Renée C. Gage
Against the odds, her well-respected agency – known for its deep association and nonprofit expertise – survived. Then came an unexpected opportunity: Yes&, an integrated marketing and communications firm, came knocking with interest in acquiring her company.
While she initially wasn’t looking to sell, after more than a year of conversations, Debbie made the decision to do it – not just for herself, but for her team.
“It is probably no accident that the name of Yes& was so analogous to the name of my agency,” she says. “Yes& is based on a tenet of improv theater, and it means that we accept what we are given, work within those constraints, and go beyond them to deliver more that you think is possible. We take positivity and turn it into possibility.”
While some initially questioned the move, Debbie followed her gut and once again proved the naysayers wrong.
Today, Debbie serves as Chief Marketing Officer at the 180+-person agency, guiding the firm’s sophisticated digital marketing and growth program on a national scale. Reflecting on the merger, she doesn’t hesitate: “I’m so glad I did this. It was the right decision, with the right partner, at the right time.”
At her core, Debbie is the leader who asks “Why not?” instead of “Why?” She’s not a micromanager – she’s a momentum-maker, passing her learnings and expertise forward, especially for young professionals who need someone to nudge them toward the room they’re nervous to enter.
“I just want to be remembered as a good person,” she says. “A good boss who thought about and cared for every individual. I want clients to feel like I was always honest, forthright, and trustworthy with them, and I believe I can say that.”
In an industry that constantly reinvents itself, Debbie Bates-Schrott’s legacy isn’t just the agencies she built or the campaigns she led. It’s the relationships she nurtured, the risks she took that paid off, and the confidence that even when someone tells you it won’t work – you can prove them wrong.
And Debbie has done just that.
ABOUT DEBBIE
Your neighborhood: Ellicott City, MD
Your hometown: I grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and moved to the DC area to attend the Corcoran College of Art & Design. After college I spent about 10 years living in Alexandria and Arlington before meeting my husband, who is from Maryland.
What would surprise people about you? I was the first person in my family to attend college, which made the experience especially meaningful for me.
Favorite book or movie: Bad Moms. I know it’s not exactly highbrow, but it always makes me laugh.
Guilty pleasure: Chocolate and a good glass of wine.
Latest binge-watch: Nashville, American Idol and Black Rabbit
Bucket list travel destination: Greece is at the very top of my list. I would love to see the incredible beaches and islands. Portugal is high on the list too.
STYLE
Define your style in three words or less: Comfortable and Stylish
The go-to piece in your wardrobe: Flare Jeans and anything animal print.
Favorite trend: Wide-leg jeans
Beauty product you can’t live without: IL Makiage foundation and Power Lift.
Boots, dress shoes or sneakers? It depends on the season. Cowboy boots in the fall and winter, and sandals the rest of the year.
WELLNESS
Go-to way to de-stress: Hot yoga — it clears my mind and resets my energy.
Favorite way to stay active: Running when I want a real workout, and dancing when I just want to have fun.
Wellness goal: Staying calm, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping my energy up.
Want to try: Living somewhere new and traveling more.
Proudest wellness achievement: Running half marathons for more than a decade has been incredibly rewarding. At one point, I ran about four a year. It kept me fit, helped manage stress, and gave me the chance to travel around the country with my girlfriends. It showed me, I could do anything I put my mind to.
HOME
Favorite room in your home: Our sunroom. It’s filled with plants and natural light and feels like summer all year long. It’s where I start every morning with a cup of coffee before the day begins.
Antiques, modern, or a mix? Modern farmhouse.
Last item you bought for your home: A new espresso machine and cocktail glasses for making espresso martinis when we entertain.
Favorite way to entertain: Espresso martinis on the deck followed by a great grilled dinner with friends.
Clutter-free or well-lived in? Clutter-free.
Next planned purchase: Our next home.
ALEXANDRIA
What do you love about the Alexandria Stylebook? I love the stories highlighting local entrepreneurs and the way it captures the culture and style of the Alexandria community.
Favorite spot in Alexandria: The waterfront
Your go-to shop: Current Boutique — a fantastic designer consignment shop.
Best food spot: Mia’s Italian Kitchen
Favorite local organization(s): Carpenter’s Shelter. We’ve supported them for more than 18 years.
Annual Alexandria event you most look forward to: Since I’m not in Alexandria every day, I don’t have one specific event. What I love most is walking down King Street all the way to the river and dining outside. It’s something I can’t do where I live in Maryland, so I make a point to do it whenever I’m in the office.
