Know Your HBS Staff: Scott Moore
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by Shona Simkin What has kept Scott Moore at Harvard Business School as a Faculty Support Specialist for 23 years? A lot of it has to do with improvisation and evolution. We talked with Scott about how he landed at HBS in the early aughts, what he likes about his work, the importance of mental health, and more.
What was your career path to HBS? I spent the next six years working retail jobs at music and clothing stores. I had a very close friend working at a temp agency, and she placed me at my first office administrative position at Merrill Lynch in Cambridge. I was there for a while and then became the office manager for boston.com during the whole dot-com boom. Then, right around 2000, the Internet boom kind of went bust. Unfortunately, I was one of the first ones to get laid off, and I ended up going back to a temp agency. One day they called and asked, “Do you have a tie? Can you show up to HBS and fill in for someone on leave?” That was 23 years ago, and I’m still sitting in the exact same spot. What does your job look like day to day? There’s always an unexpected request from either the students or the faculty, which will end up derailing whatever best-laid plans you have for the day. I think of my role more as improvisational, reactionary, thinking-off-the-cuff. If you boil it down, my role is to act as administrative support for the faculty as it pertains to their teaching and their research, and also to act as the liaison between the faculty and the students when they’re not in the classroom. Those two—the admin work and the liaison work—are the fundamentals. But ultimately, it comes down to being able to think on your feet and react in ways that are going to be helpful to the organization, to the faculty, and to the students. What is it about this role that has kept you engaged? When I started 23 years ago, part of the appeal was some of the perks of the job. Having been laid off from my previous job and seeing how the boom-to-bust with the Internet happened so quickly, a stable environment was a big draw. I knew Harvard wasn’t going out of business; they’d be there when I woke up in the morning. I also appreciated the community atmosphere and the collaborative nature of the role, working with faculty who used my skill set to their advantage in the best way possible. Over the years, though, other things have kept me here. First, I should say the people. I know it’s cliché, but I’ve had the pleasure over the past 23 years of working with some pretty spectacular people. I’ve built relationships with people in Finance, the DRFD, Course Distribution, and Case Services among others. Those personal connections have been paramount. Another thing that’s kept me here is that as my life has changed, HBS has allowed me to grow. For example, post-COVID, I took a seven-month leave of absence for health issues. When I came back, it was with a completely new approach—especially about my mental health. Ultimately, if I look at the person I was 23 years ago versus who I am now, what’s kept me here is the freedom to evolve within a changing HBS environment—to grow and adapt while still feeling like I belong. Tell us more about your approach to mental health. I’ve been pleased with how well it’s been received—I think my longevity gives me a certain amount of credibility when I speak about these things, and it’s been rewarding to see these conversations gain traction. What do you think has helped you succeed in this role for so long? One thing is my transient childhood. I went to 16 schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, and the house my husband and I live in now is my 25th residence. That upbringing taught me to think on my feet and adapt, which has been crucial in this job. This isn’t a job for the timid. You have to pivot quickly to meet the needs of faculty and students, but also stand firm in HBS policies and procedures. That balance can be challenging, but it’s rewarding. How has your job, and the School itself, changed over 23 years? Aside from the technological and architectural changes—like the Chao Center, the completely redone Baker Library, and the once-dark and scary tunnels—there’s been a cultural shift towards recognizing the whole person among the staff. It’s still a work in progress, but I think there’s more freedom of expression and acceptance of individuality now. That’s part of what I mean when I say I appreciate the freedom to evolve here. I feel I’ve played a small role in that change, just by being vocal about the importance of diversity, individuality, and open conversations. What makes you happy outside of work? What’s great is that my husband shares the same hobby. He was a musician in the 70s and had a rock band that used to open for Aerosmith. He doesn’t play professionally anymore, but he has a music room where he writes and records. If I ever want to hear a new song, I can just ask him to write me one. My husband actually works at HBS too, he’s been part of the OLF team since COVID started. It’s been fascinating to see him experience the things I experienced in my early days at HBS—the community, the interactions, and the sense of wonder. What else stands out to you about your time at HBS? It’s not easy working in a higher education environment without a college degree. For a long time, I didn’t share that I didn’t attend college—I kept it to myself. But as time went on, I began to embrace my unique journey and realized that I bring value through my experience, adaptability, and perspective. I’ve worked with people who have master’s degrees and are doing the same job as me. It can be intimidating at times, but I’ve learned to focus on what I bring to the table. The fact that HBS has valued my contributions over these 23 years has been hugely affirming. Even when things got difficult—peaks and valleys are inevitable in a long career—I’ve always come back to the fact that HBS gave me a chance. It’s something I don’t take for granted, and it’s part of why I’ve stayed. I’ve always been grateful for the opportunity HBS gave me, and I try to honor that by contributing in meaningful ways. It’s not always been easy, but I value the growth and connections I’ve experienced here over the years. |
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