Getting to Know ADT Leadership: An Intern’s Interview with Dave Scott

My name is Kristyn Johnson, and I am a Recruitment Marketing Intern here at ADT for the Summer of 2024. On our first day here, the first person to welcome our new cohort of 47 interns to the company was Dave Scott, ADT’s Chief People and Administration Officer.  

Dave spoke passionately about how we now had the chance to be a part of ADT’s mission, inspiring all of us with his enthusiasm. Dave shared, “You are now officially a part of the group that helps save lives for a living every day.” His words and insight left a lasting impression on me, setting the tone for a meaningful internship experience where I would now get to be a part of a company with a purposeful mission of helping keep people safe.

Now, almost seven weeks later, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with him for an in-depth interview. As an intern, it was amazing to engage with a member of the Executive Leadership Team at ADT and ask him about his career, leadership, and ADT’s commitment to employee growth and culture. Our conversation covered a wide range of topics, and I’m excited to share some of the highlights with you.

Kristyn: Can you give a quick overview of your career journey and what led you to ADT? 

Dave: I’ve been with ADT for about nine months as the Chief People and Administration Officer. Before ADT, I was the Chief Human Resource Officer at Dish Network and spent 20 years at Walmart in various HR roles, starting out in a store right out of college. At ADT, I oversee everything that touches employees, so things like Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Real Estate, Security, and more.

Kristyn: When you spoke to the interns, you mentioned that you show up to meetings in funny costumes. Can you tell me a bit about that and how it started? 

Dave: Given that we all spend so much time in our workplace, I think it’s important that you enjoy what you do. One of my favorite quotes from Sam Walton that we used at Walmart is, “You can’t take yourself so seriously that you can’t show up in a hula skirt and do the hula on Wall Street.” Sam Walton did this after losing a bet in the early ’80s, and it resonates with me because when leaders show their human side, it makes them more approachable and helps build true connections. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy—even something simple like wearing goofy socks can spark conversations and relationships. For me, that’s showing up in a lot of different ways, and one of them is a costume. 

Kristyn: You also mentioned how your unique career journey at Walmart has impacted your role and leadership. What are some specific ways you’ve noticed that? 

Dave: I have huge respect for the work that happens on the front line, and at ADT, we have 13,000 team members interacting with subscribers daily. In order for me to do my job successfully, I have to understand their roles and experiences: so within my first few weeks, I rode along with a technician and listened to customer calls to understand what our frontline experiences were and how they interact. Now, I have a better understanding of the thousands of individuals that serve our customers each day. 

Kristyn: What would you say your favorite part of your job is, or your favorite part about working at ADT? 

Dave: My favorite part about ADT is the mission: helping people feel secure and safe at home, knowing every second counts. My role is to create an environment where our team can thrive, whether that’s through career development, meeting their needs, hiring, or supporting transitions. I find personal value in impacting lives through our work, and it’s rewarding to be part of a team that supports such a meaningful mission. 

Kristyn: What leadership qualities come to mind as it relates to inspiring others? How do you cultivate those in yourself and in your team? 

Dave: I believe a lot of it comes down to the relationships you build and genuinely investing in people—so that’s understanding what’s going on in their lives, their kids’ lives, knowing where they’re from, and more. My biggest responsibility is to ensure that the team is aligned on the mission, the strategy, and the tactics necessary to accomplish that strategy. Then, I remove obstacles and empower them with the tools they need to move forward. That starts with relationship building, asking questions, and giving space to allow someone to come up with a solution and be invested in that solution. 

Kristyn: Last question, what advice would you give to someone who aspires to reach a leadership position like yours? 

Dave: Never say no to an opportunity. If you’re presented with the opportunity to expand your skill set or take on a new task and it feels daunting or concerning, or that you’re not able to do it, take a second and think about what’s limiting your confidence in taking on that task. If it’s a 51% or greater capability that you have, then I would dive into it and take on that new accountability or responsibility.