With the future of society being as uncertain as it is today, it is imperative to touch the next line of leaders set to inspire and guide them. The next generation of leaders at the University of Memphis got the opportunity to hear from one of the university’s own this week.
Antonio Scott, a 2020 graduate and emerging leader scholar, returned to his alma mater on Wednesday, February 5th as a part of the school’s Leader to Leader Lecture Series.
This series is put on by the Multicultural Affairs and Student Leadership organizations on campus in an effort to bring the leaders of today to speak to the leaders of tomorrow.
Tennessee native Antonio Scott is an organizational strategist who currently serves as the Executive Manager in the Office of the Superintendent for Memphis Shelby County Schools. After graduating from the UofM with a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership, Scott went on to earn three more master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park in Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy.
Additionally, Scott most recently worked as the National Mayors Director for Vice President Kamala Harris / Tim Walz campaign in the 2024 election. With multiple leadership positions held at various companies, Scott has made significant impact with his work.
During his time as the Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives at the National Bankers Association, Scott engineered and assisted in the phasing of the equity-based framework tool focused on closing the racial wealth gap.
In his lecture, held in the campus University Center, Scott recalled his time at the University of Memphis, attributing many skills he uses in the professional world to skills he was taught at the school.
“My time at the University of Memphis I think was marked by involvement,” said Scott. “It was student affairs that saved my life.”
Speaking in a packed conference room, Scott told students how to navigate their way through college while emphasizing the importance of getting professional experience to prepare for post-college life. Scott also spoke about how to be beneficial to the workplace and his own experiences working in Washington D.C.
“Having emotional intelligence in the workplace is something that will take you very far, I argue that emotional intelligence will take you further than your resume in your career,” said Scott.
Students took the opportunity to ask Antonio Scott questions to further add to the experience of getting to hear from a modern leader who has continued to better his community.
