15. Freelance, Corporate, Academia: Why the Best Answer is “Yes, All Three” with Ruth Inman

In this week’s episode, Whitney sits down with Dr. Ruth Inman—founder of Ruth Inman Creative Services and soon-to-be Inman Collective Marketing Group—to talk about building a modern ag marketing agency from the ground up — from strategy and brand development to the business skills creatives need to earn a seat at the table.

Ruth shares how a career spanning higher ed, extension communications, and agency leadership prepared her to launch and grow a full-service shop serving agribusiness and mission-driven organizations—and why aligning work with family priorities ultimately drove her leap into entrepreneurship.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• How Ruth went from teaching ag communications at Oklahoma State to leading digital and paid media—and finally launching her own agency

• The rebrand to Inman Collective Marketing Group and what’s changing as she hires and scales in 2025

• Undergrad vs. master’s vs. PhD: what each truly teaches (how vs. why) and when an MBA might make more sense

• Agency, in-house, or freelance? Why Ruth’s answer is “yes—do all three” to accelerate learning and leadership

• Relationships and reliability in a niche industry: why trust and follow-through outrun any portfolio

• Differentiating your services: knowing what you do well—and when to collaborate with specialists

• Practical upskilling without grad school: curating feeds, targeted workshops, and systems that compound

• Ruth’s take on risk, timing, and building a business that fits real life (kids, show pigs, and all)

Whether you’re a creative in the ag space, a small business owner, or weighing grad school vs. real-world experience, this conversation is packed with clarity, next steps, and encouragement.

CONNECT:

Follow Ruth Inman Creative: Instagram | Website  Follow Club Cultivate: Instagram