Our fall 2022 donor highlight recognizes Scott Cawood, CEO of WorldatWork and proud supporter of MSF for nearly two decades. Growing up on the east coast, Scott now calls Arizona home, leading WorldatWork’s global mission to help organizations create productive, committed and inspired work forces.
Like many others, Matt’s story had a significant impact on Scott, ultimately changing his view of the world and shifting him into action. “I was older than Matt when he was killed, but I also could not escape the feeling that what happened to him could have just as easily happened to myself or many of my friends,” said Scott. “It was also a wakeup call to millions of people around the world about the struggles so many people face just to be who they are.”
In 2019, Scott was able to interview Judy Shepard at a WorldatWork Work Equity Forum. “The first time I met Judy, I ended up crying during the interview (which of course was live-streamed to thousands of people),” added Scott. “The experience was very impactful and was a defining moment for me and others in terms of making a decision to perhaps start focusing our work on dismantling hate.”
While listening to Judy recount her experience as a mother who lost her son in such a traumatic way, Scott had an epiphany – “Judy could have easily retreated, but instead she forged ahead. I believe that after Matt’s brutal killing, Judy needed a hero. . . so that is exactly what she became.”
When asked what makes the Foundation unique, Scott replied, “It’s their ability to look at the world from a 360-degree point of view in how they work to create change. The Foundation covers a lot of ground and although they’ve only been around for 25 years, I feel like they have added 100 years’ worth of value.”
With four degrees under his belt, Scott’s curiosity about how humans learn, matched with his ability to apply this understanding as a counter to racism, sexism, homophobia, and hate, makes him an influential thought partner for the Foundation.