Scott Smith Welcomed as Next Executive-in-Residence

Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business (HSB) announced the appointment of Scott Smith as the Christian Leadership and Ethics Executive-in-Residence this fall. Smith will serve the Business School by connecting with students and providing guidance for their career development. 

“Baylor’s commitment to faith and excellence equips its community for lives of purpose, and I’m honored to play a small role in encouraging that vision forward,” Smith said. “It is a privilege to give back to the University that helped shape my journey.” 

Matt Quade, PhD, the director of Christian Leadership and Ethics at HSB, believes Smith will serve as a great resource for the Business School’s students, faculty and staff.

“We are honored to have Scott Smith join us this fall to serve as the Christian Leadership and Ethics Executive-in-Residence,” Quade said. “He brings extensive leadership experiences having served in several senior and C-suite leadership roles within a Fortune 100 company. More importantly, Mr. Smith has a heart for using his gifts and skills to serve others.”

Smith most recently served as the chief human resources officer at DirecTV, where he was responsible for leading and executing the business’ overall HR strategy, including talent acquisition, training and development, benefits and compensation, labor relations, organizational performance management, and culture and employee experience for more than 10,000 employees. 

Prior to his role at DirecTV, Smith served as chief human resources officer at AT&T Communications, supporting more than 200,000 employees and leading a team of 2,000 HR professionals. Prior to serving in HR leadership roles, he held a variety of positions during his 35-year career in finance, billing, auditing and information technology. 

Smith’s leadership balances effective interpersonal skills with a focus on results, partnering to define business priorities that improve performance and accelerate growth. He has been recognized for his ability to make human resources a strategic component of business transformation and improved profitability in highly competitive global environments. 

“What excites me most is the chance to engage with both students and faculty,” Smith said. “My hope is that every conversation leaves people more confident, more prepared and more inspired. Ultimately, I want our faculty, staff and students to see that a long, impactful career rooted in Christian values is not only possible – it’s powerful.”

Smith graduated from Baylor with a BBA in 1989 and an MBA in 1990. He is a former member of the Hankamer School of Business Dean’s Advisory