Veterans day: Shifting the conversation with Scott Moser

As a proud Veteran, I want to share how my life experiences have shaped my past, present and future. I carry values like “Duty, Honor, Country” and “Integrity, Service before Self, and Excellence in all we do” with me every day. These are values instilled in U.S. service members – our Veterans.

Recently, I rewatched one of my favorite movies, National Treasure, starring Nicholas Cage as Benjamin Gates and Diane Kruger as Abigail Chase. In one scene, Abigail says to Ben, “People don’t really talk that way anymore,” and he replies, “Yes, but they think that way.” This reminded me of the values taught to me in service, and how they permeate my life daily, even if they are not spoken about as openly.

I grew up in a small town in Ohio, filled with hard-working farmers, merchants and tradespeople.   We led simple lives without much money, but were proud of our contributions to America. My family was filled with men who had served in the military. Both my father and uncle served in World War II in the U.S. Navy, and all three of my brothers served as well — in the Army, National Guard and Marine Corps. Growing up, my youth was filled with war stories of sacrifice, service and being part of something bigger than yourself. As I grew up, it was natural for me to also want to serve my nation, my family and my friends.

As I prepared for college, the end of the Cold War was shaping world events, and President Reagan was building up the U.S. military in a strategy to defeat the Soviet Union. I was offered a Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) scholarship to both the Army and Air Force. I chose the Air Force, studying Electrical Engineering at (The) Ohio State University.  During this time, I learned a lot about leadership and service, both through formal Air Force classes, as well as in the Air Force’s  “Leadership Laboratory,” which was a practical experience in leading other people. This is where I formed my belief that leadership is an art, focused on motivating other people to accomplish a common vision.

Upon graduation, I began my journey in the U.S. Air Force as an officer, intending to serve four years to pay back my college education and then move on to something else. However, twenty-five years later, I finally retired as a Colonel, having lived in 12 different places and held 15 different jobs. It was a wonderful journey of service, sacrifice and joy, being part of something far larger than myself. I was able to go to Iraq and help free the people of that nation. I was able to lead people from all walks of life, in teams ranging from one to 2,200. People join military service and become Veterans for many reasons, but for me, it was the chance to serve others, achieve common goals and focus outwardly. I feel blessed for this time and believe I received far more than I gave. Veterans choose to sacrifice themselves, even to the point of death, for their fellow citizens – not for wealth or fame. Integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do – those are the values of the U.S. Air Force and my values to this day.

When it was time for me to retire, I sought a new challenge. I didn’t know much about the corporate world, balance sheets, generating revenue or  winning customers, but I did know how to lead people. So, I began again. I knew that I had to improve my skills if I wanted to be taken seriously and lead in a large business. I went back to college for my fifth degree, a Master of Business Administration. I didn’t do it just for the degree, but for the knowledge and experience I’d need in the corporate world.

My transition into corporate America wasn’t immediate. I started as a manager, which was quite a step down from my previous role of Colonel. That time taught me patience and perseverance—don’t expect your dreams to show up overnight, and don’t give up on what you want to achieve. A couple of years later, I finally got my chance to join a large corporation in Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment. I joined as a senior team member and was soon promoted to their CISO. Those three years were critical for learning how a large business operates and how to present to executives and board directors.

My opportunity to join Sabre came when I was least expecting it. Sabre is an amazing global business, rich in diversity of background and thought. Here, we work on and solve exciting technology challenges while partnering with worldwide leaders like Google. I’ve learned that I can engage broadly in Sabre, not just as a technology or cybersecurity leader, but as a value driver in the business.  There is so much that each of us can offer that goes beyond our roles; we just need to discover where we can serve.  

As I look to the future, I look forward to the challenges that Sabre will face, knowing that we win together. That is how I’ve thought about my entire career: we succeed with teams, through service and sacrifice. I still have much more to learn and am preparing myself for future executive leadership roles and board service. I know patience and perseverance are critical to achieving these goals. 

Reflecting on my role at Sabre, I think about my team and how I can help them achieve their personal and professional goals. I want to invest in our team members who are interested in leadership and growth. My advice is that your future success is grounded in these principles:

• Success requires discipline. Define your vision and create an unwavering path that leads toward that future.
• Success requires hard work. The single best thing you can do to be recognized by your leaders is to be the very best in your current role.
• Success requires sacrifice. There will be times that you will have to choose between things you value and placing others’ needs above your own desires. Sacrifice ultimately brings personal satisfaction.
• Success requires commitment. Success is not a destination; it’s a journey toward a better version of yourself, requiring a lifetime of dedication. I’m reminded of the old U.S. Army motto, “Be all that you can be.”

I’ll finish where I started. People may not talk the way that I have in this message, but there are still those who hold the values I’ve shared. I believe you will be appreciated by your team, your friends, your family and your leaders if you adopt values that focus outwardly on service before self. Most importantly, you will find satisfaction in being an important part of something bigger than yourself each day. This is why I’m proud to say that I’m a Veteran. I have served and will continue to serve my nation and my fellow citizens.