For Susan Watt, strategy is not a buzzword or a slide deck, it is a way of thinking shaped early by place, people, and responsibility. Born and raised in Fort Worth, Watt grew up immersed in the rhythms of the Fort Worth Stock Show, an institution she describes as “woven into who I am.” Long before she advised leaders and organizations, she was absorbing lessons in stewardship, accountability, and the preservation of a way of life that values legacy as much as progress. Those values were reinforced on horseback. Horses have been part of Watt’s life for as long as she can remember, beginning at her family’s ranch, where much of her childhood was spent riding through pastures or helping work cattle. From age ten through her freshman year of college, she showed Paint Horses competitively across the country, experiences that exposed her to new places while instilling discipline, responsibility, and resilience. Horses, she notes, have an uncanny ability to read people honestly, sensing energy, emotion, and intent, and that grounding presence remains central to how she approaches both life and work.
That same sense of awareness and alignment defines Watt’s professional path. While many might categorize her work as marketing, she resists the label. Her career, she explains, has always centered on strategy, narrative, and brand, helping organizations articulate who they are, what they stand for, and how those beliefs translate into action. “Marketing is often the output,” she says, “but it has never been the starting point.” For Watt, clarity of purpose and long-term direction come first; tactics naturally follow when the foundation is sound. This philosophy led to the founding of Watt Partners, a strategic advisory firm built around outcomes rather than predefined services. Watt Partners works closely with organizations and their leaders to bring focus, alignment, and momentum to what matters most. The firm’s approach emphasizes listening first, evaluating deeply, and structuring practical solutions that align with each organization’s vision and priorities. Rather than transactional consulting or one-size-fits-all frameworks, Watt Partners is grounded in trust, relationships, and disciplined execution.
Before launching her firm, Watt held roles across strategy, operations, and leadership, often with organizations navigating growth, transition, or change. Those experiences sharpened her appreciation for what works in practice, not just in theory, and shaped her hands-on advisory style today. Watt Partners, she says, was inspired by the belief that the strongest organizations are built at the intersection of values, relationships, and execution, honoring legacy while moving forward with clarity and confidence.
One of the clearest expressions of that belief is her work with the Humane Society of North Texas Equine Ranch, where she serves as a strategic business advisor. Watt is deeply involved in shaping a long-term redevelopment plan focused on stewardship, sustainability, and responsible growth. The vision is ambitious yet grounded: a facility that never turns away a horse in need while serving as an engaged, trusted community partner. The Equine Ranch is the only large-scale facility in North Texas dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming horses, yet many residents are unaware it exists. Beyond rescue work, the ranch supports programs for breast cancer survivors and veterans, with plans to expand education and community engagement. Watt sees the effort as both mission-driven and strategic, helping more people discover one of North Texas’s best-kept secrets while ensuring its long-term impact.
Away from work, Watt doesn’t “wind down” in a conventional sense. She recharges by spending time with loved ones, caring for her animals, and being outdoors, activities that reconnect her to the values that anchor her life. People are often surprised, she says, by how deeply she cares about the individuals behind the work. For Watt, relationships matter as much as results, and she takes both seriously. That belief sits at the core of Watt Partners. The firm is not built around a single offering but around trust, showing up, staying true to one’s word, and doing what you say you will do. In a world crowded with noise and quick fixes, Susan Watt has built a practice rooted in clarity, care, and the conviction that meaningful strategy always begins with understanding.
