- Programme studied: MSc Analysis, Design, and Management of Information Systems
- Year of Graduation: 1992
Susan Scott graduated from MSc Analysis, Design, and Management of Information Systems (now known as MISDI) in 1992. Susan describes her time at LSE as a student and now a professor, along with her career journey – the highs and the lows.
Current job title and description of what this role entails:
My current role is Professor of Information Systems and Innovation at LSE. I divide my time between research, teaching, and service to the international academic community. As group lead for the Information Systems and Innovation faculty, I am responsible for supporting our research environment, recruitment, and staff development.
How was your experience of studying at LSE?
At first, I was unsure whether I could make the transition from humanities to a tech-focused programme, but I loved it and developed a fascination with knowledge engineering for computer-based expert systems in the financial services sector. The one-year MSc degree went by in a flash and my time at the LSE was deeply formative, I definitely grew in confidence. I worked long hours and there were challenges, but I had such a good crew of fellow students that I only remember positives. The academic team were dedicated to giving us the best experience possible without being overbearing about it. This encouraged us all to strive but kept everyone social with well-timed parties. Ultimately, I learned as much from my peer group as I did from hours reading in the library. My Masters’ degree opened an advanced level of academic work to me and provided deep inspiration for the future.
I formed lifelong LSE friendships over nuclear hot Wright’s cappuccinos and an enduring interest in the questions raised by new work, technology, and organisation.
Tell us about your career journey after graduating.
I graduated during a period of economic recession, so my first few jobs were short contract tech consultancy-style gigs. During my Master’s dissertation, faculty members encouraged me to apply for a PhD and I spent some time after graduation developing my proposal. The following academic year, I won a scholarship and began my doctoral research at the University of Cambridge. My first university post was back at the LSE where I re-joined the ISI faculty as a junior lecturer. I’ve had many visiting positions and some long-term international academic collaborations, but LSE has remained my work base since 1996.
Why do you like working at LSE?
The answer to this is the same now as it was when I came to study at the LSE: the students. It’s an amazing experience to share an intellectual journey with LSE’s international body of students, all of whom bring their own unique brilliance and humour to bear on every challenge.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?
Trust in all your years of experience, it will see you through.
What’s the greatest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Commuting to and from London in the winter can become a chore unless you find ways to enjoy the process (books, downloads, meeting up with friends). What else? I don’t think you will find anyone in any sector that enjoys workplace politics.
What is your greatest achievement?
It has been wonderful to see my academic work published and hear others discussing it at international conferences. But equal to that highlight is meeting up with students many years after they graduate and hearing them say how useful they still find the academic training and ideas we teach at the LSE.
If you would like to be profiled or if you would like to nominate a Department of Management alumni, please email dom.alumni@lse.ac.uk.