Sam Scott started his career as an engineer before transitioning to finance and operations roles at companies like Citibank, Corn Products, and CPC International. He was serving as head of a major North American division within CPC, where he became CEO, when he was offered his first corporate board role with Motorola, which came about through a referral. Scott then served on the boards of Reynolds Metals and BNY Mellon (formerly Bank of New York) before retiring.
Scott believes both work competencies and board skills were factors in his board recruitment. He initially focused on the operating experience he brought but later expanded his skillset by serving on committees like compensation and governance. Building relationships with other directors to advocate shared goals was key. Though Scott wasn’t seeking diversity roles, he felt obligated to raise relevant issues through ongoing education and dialogue rather than confrontation.
According to Scott, board service has changed over the past few decades, with greater time commitments and growing emphasis on diversity and areas like technology and supply chain management. However, he sees progress for African American board representation stalling due to political shifts and limited Csuite talent pipelines. Ongoing advocacy by current directors along with expanded recruitment and self-initiated networking efforts are needed to drive lasting increases. Scott urges aspiring directors to pursue board opportunities with care and contribute meaningfully once selected.
