Written by Shona Simkin
What led Scott Moore to serve as a faculty support specialist at Harvard Business School for 23 years? Much of it has to do with improvisation and evolution. We spoke with Scott about how he came to HBS in the early ’10s, what he loves about his job, the importance of mental health, and more.
What was your career path to HBS?
I moved here from Memphis, Tennessee in the early 90’s. I had $700 in my pocket and one person I knew. This is one of those things you could do in your early 20s that you can’t do now. Although I had no education beyond high school and no job prospects, I arrived here with a certain kind of belief.
For the next six years, I worked in retail at music and clothing stores. I have a very close friend who works at a temp agency, and she placed me in my first office job at Merrill Lynch in Cambridge.
I was there for a while and then became the office manager for boston.com during the dot-com boom. Then, around 2000, the Internet boom kind of crashed. Unfortunately, I was the first to be fired and ended up going back to the temporary agency.
One day they called and asked, “Do you have a tie?” Can you come to HBS and fill in for someone on vacation?’ That was 23 years ago and I’m still sitting in the exact same spot.
What is your job like every day?
My paycheck says FSS: Faculty Support Specialist. But I consider myself an improvisational performer. If you ask anyone who has been in this role for a long time, they will find it difficult to tell you what a typical day looks like. Because 50% of your day is spent reacting to events that happen.
There are always unexpected requests from students and faculty that can derail even the best-laid plans for the day. I see my role as improvisational, reactionary and spontaneous. In summary, my role is to serve as administrative support for faculty regarding their teaching and research, and to act as a liaison between faculty and students when they are not in the classroom.
The two basic tasks are management and liaison. But ultimately it comes down to being able to think for yourself and react in a way that works for your organization, your faculty, and your students.
What excites you about this role?
I think I got different answers depending on where in my career I asked that question.
When I started 23 years ago, part of the appeal was the perks of the job. Having been laid off from my previous job and seeing how quickly the internet went from boom to bust, having a stable environment was a big draw. I knew Harvard wasn’t going out of business. They’ll be there when you wake up in the morning. I also appreciated the community atmosphere and the nature of the role, working collaboratively with faculty who made the most of my skill set.
But over the years, other things have kept me here.
First of all, I should say about the people. I know it’s a cliché, but I’ve had the pleasure of working with some really great people over the past 23 years. I have built relationships with people in finance, DRFD, course distribution, case services, and more. These personal connections have been of paramount importance.
Another thing that keeps me here is that HBS has helped me grow as my life has changed. For example, after COVID-19, I took seven months off due to health issues. When I came back, I had a whole new approach, especially when it came to mental health.
At the end of the day, when I compare who I was 23 years ago to who I am today, what keeps me here is the freedom to evolve in a changing HBS environment – the freedom to grow and feel like I belong. and the freedom to adapt.
Please tell us more about your approach to mental health.
I became an important advocate for mental health on campus. I talk about the importance of integrating mental health into everyday life and the role of employers in creating a safe mental health environment. Everyone is proactive about getting health check-ups and check-ups, but mental health is often overlooked.
I’m happy with how well this article was received. I think my longevity gives me some credibility when talking about these things. It’s also rewarding to see these conversations gain traction.
What do you think has made this role successful for so long?
One is my temporary childhood. I attended 16 schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, and the house I currently live in with my husband is our 25th home. That education taught me to think for myself and adapt. That was very important in this work.
This is not a job for the faint of heart. We must pivot quickly to meet the needs of our faculty and students, but we must also adhere to HBS policies and procedures. This balance can be difficult, but it’s rewarding.
How has your work and the school itself changed over the past 23 years?
The job I had when I started was very different from the job I have now, just in terms of technological advancements. When I started working, my desk had an electric typewriter and a dictaphone. Currently, I host Zoom sessions and use advanced tools to support faculty and students.
Apart from technological and architectural changes, such as the Ciao Center, a completely rebuilt Baker Library, and once-dark and scary tunnels, we’re seeing a cultural shift among our staff that recognizes the whole person. . Although it is still developing, I think freedom of expression and acceptance of individuality are progressing.
That’s part of what I mean when I say I’m grateful for the freedom to evolve here. I feel like I played a small role in that change by simply speaking out about the importance of diversity, individuality, and open conversation.
What makes you happy outside of work?
I’m a music collector. I have over 10,000 CDs and probably over 6,000 records. I spent the first 10 years after high school working in record and video retail, which helped me build my collection.
The great thing is that my husband has the same hobbies. He was a musician in the ’70s and once formed a rock band that opened for Aerosmith. Although he no longer plays professionally, he has a music room where he composes and records. If you want to hear new music, just ask him to write one for you.
My husband also actually works at HBS and has been part of the OLF team since the beginning of Corona. It was so interesting to watch him experience what I experienced in my early days at HBS: community, interaction, and a sense of wonder.
What else stands out to you about working at HBS?
One thing I’ve really come to appreciate is how HBS has adapted to value diverse experiences and skill sets. As I celebrated the 20-year milestone, Dean Datar spoke about skills-based hiring through initiatives like YearUp and OneTen. This really resonated with me because I don’t have a college degree. When he talked about breaking through the “paper ceiling” with these skills-based recruiting efforts, it was one of the first times I felt truly understood. I felt justified in being recognized for my skills and adaptability, rather than my academic background.
Working in a higher education environment without a college degree is not easy. For a long time, I kept the fact that I wasn’t attending college to myself and didn’t reveal it publicly. But over time, I came to embrace my unique journey and realized that I was bringing value through my experiences, adaptability, and perspective.
I have a master’s degree and have worked with people who do the same job as me. Although it’s scary at times, I’ve learned to focus on what I bring to the table. I am very pleased that HBS has recognized my contributions over the past 23 years.
Even when things got tough, peaks and troughs are inevitable in a long career, I always came back to the fact that HBS gave me the opportunity. That doesn’t come naturally to me and is part of the reason I stay here.
I have always been grateful for the opportunities HBS has given me, and I hope to honor that by contributing in a meaningful way. It hasn’t always been easy, but I cherish the growth and connections I’ve experienced over the years here.
