Scott Kresan Tilbe has never been interested in limiting himself to one field. From photography and web design to office administration, his career reflects a willingness to explore different interests, develop new skills, and find work satisfaction that requires both creativity and attention to detail.
Born in Goderich, Ontario, and raised in the Barrie area, Tilbe grew up surrounded by encouragement from his parents, both physicians. As a teenager, he earned a black belt in karate, played saxophone, and placed second at a local Kiwanis Music Festival. He also developed an interest in photography, history, and science.
Those interests eventually led him to study media, digital photography, and web design. At Georgian College, he faced academic challenges that required extra support and determination. Rather than abandoning his studies, he put in the additional work and completed his diploma with honours.
Tilbe went on to work as a photographer, take on independent web design projects, and gain customer service experience before moving into medical office administration. Today, he works at a gastroenterology clinic in Barrie, where organisation and reliability are central to his responsibilities.
Outside his career, Scott Kresan Tilbe continues to pursue photography, painting miniature figures, building historical models, and travelling. His approach to personal growth is grounded in curiosity, persistence, and the belief that meaningful success doesn’t always require public recognition. Sometimes, it comes from completing something difficult, developing a new skill, or being someone others can depend on.
An Interview With Scott Kresan Tilbe
What’s something you were terrible at when you started but eventually became good at?
There were a couple of courses at college that really challenged me. I was interested in the subject matter, but certain parts didn’t come naturally, and I had to put in more effort than some of the people around me.
I eventually sought additional help and spent more time working through the material. I completed my diploma with honours, which made the achievement more meaningful because I knew what it had taken to get there.
That experience changed how I approach difficult things. I’m much less likely to assume that struggling means I should give up. Sometimes the problem isn’t your ability. You just haven’t found the right way to learn something yet.
If someone looked at your work history, they might wonder how photography led to medical administration. How do you explain that journey?
I can understand why the connection isn’t immediately obvious. I’ve worked in photography, web design, retail, and now medical office administration. On paper, those roles look quite different.
But they all involve paying attention to details and understanding what other people need. When you’re photographing someone, you need to think about the finished result. When you’re designing a website, you need to consider how someone will use it. In an office, you need to make sure important tasks are completed properly.
I didn’t plan every career move years in advance. I followed opportunities and continued developing the skills I already had.
What’s one thing people misunderstand about being a creative person?
I think people sometimes imagine that creativity is mostly about having unusual ideas. In my experience, there’s a lot of repetitive, detailed work involved.
I enjoy painting miniature figures and building models of historical buildings. Those projects require patience, research, and careful attention to small details. You might spend quite a while working on something that most people wouldn’t even notice in the finished piece.
Photography is similar. The finished image might appear effortless, but there’s thought behind the composition and technical decisions. Creativity isn’t separate from discipline. The two often depend on each other.
Has there been a time when someone else’s encouragement made you reconsider what you were capable of?
My parents have always encouraged me to continue learning and pursuing my interests. Growing up with both of them working as physicians, I saw how much commitment their careers required.
Their encouragement became particularly important when I encountered difficulties during my education. Having people who believed I could succeed helped me continue working when I was frustrated.
I’ve also learned that encouragement doesn’t have to come from a large group. A few reliable friends can make a much bigger difference than dozens of people who only offer support when things are going well.
You’ve travelled across several continents. Has visiting different places changed the way you see your own work?
Travelling has given me opportunities to experience different cultures and see places I’ve previously read about. Because I’m interested in history and architecture, I particularly enjoy being able to connect what I’ve learned with something I can observe in person.
I think photography makes you pay attention to things you might otherwise walk past. You start noticing architectural details, patterns, and the way different environments are designed.
Those experiences also remind me that there’s always more to learn. Even when you know quite a bit about a subject, seeing it from another perspective can change your understanding.
What’s a lesson from karate or music that still comes back to you years later?
Both taught me that improvement usually happens gradually. I earned a black belt in karate, and as a teenager, I played saxophone and participated in local music festivals.
When you’re learning an instrument, you can’t expect to play a difficult piece perfectly the first time. You practise the sections that give you trouble until they become more manageable. Karate requires that same kind of repetition.
I still apply that thinking to my other interests. If I’m working on a detailed model or learning something new on a computer, I try to focus on making progress rather than expecting an immediate result.
Do you think people put too much pressure on themselves to find one passion and turn it into a career?
I think there’s value in having interests that exist outside your profession. I enjoy photography and web design, but I also like reading about science, cooking, and building models. I wouldn’t necessarily want every hobby to become a business.
Sometimes an activity is rewarding simply because you enjoy doing it. There’s freedom in being able to experiment without worrying about whether somebody will pay for the result.
My career has also shown me that interests can overlap in unexpected ways. Skills from one area can become useful somewhere else, even if that wasn’t the original intention.
What’s a personal rule you follow when deciding whether a project is finished?
I want to be satisfied that I’ve completed it to the standard expected by the person I’m working for, as well as my own standards.
That’s especially important in photography and web design, where small details can affect the finished result. I try to assess whether the work communicates what it’s supposed to and whether there’s anything obvious that needs improvement.
I also believe there’s a difference between improving something and endlessly changing it. At some point, you need to recognise when you’ve produced good work and move on to the next responsibility.
What would you tell someone who feels behind because their career hasn’t followed a straight line?
I wouldn’t automatically view that as a disadvantage. I’ve studied several subjects and worked in different environments, and each experience has taught me something.
I think it’s more useful to consider what you’ve gained from those experiences than to concentrate only on whether your career looks conventional.
I’m still interested in learning new things, and I don’t see that changing. For me, success means completing work I’m proud of, being able to help others, and having good people in my life. Those things matter more than following a particular career timeline.
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