Background

Deborah Hazzard, DBA, MBA, CDE^®,  serves as Associate Dean of Access, Opportunity and Community Engagement at the Darla Moore School of Business. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Hazzard holds a professional doctorate from Georgia State University, an Executive MBA from Winthrop University and a bachelor’s degree in business management from North Carolina State University. She also earned a Diversity and Inclusion Professional certificate from Cornell University and holds a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) credential.

Hazzard also serves as a clinical associate professor in the management department at the Moore School where she teaches upper division courses in corporate social responsibility and stakeholder management and principles of management. She was also instrumental in curriculum development efforts that led to the creation and launch of the Moore School's first ever diversity and inclusion course, MGMT 408, offered by her since spring 2019.

Hazzard transitioned into academia after a rich career in business and industry where she spent more than 20 years building and nurturing strategic business relationships, alliances, and collaborations in both the public and private sectors. She actively seeks opportunities to engage others in meaningful conversations about business ethics; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and stakeholder engagement. 

Hazzard is also principal consultant at 2 Higher Heights, LLC, a global management consulting and training firm specializing in diversity and inclusion training. 

Hazzard hopes her efforts will ultimately help address pervasive economic and social inequality that persists across the globe while leading to more ethical, inclusive, socially responsible, and competitive enterprises. When asked what inspires her about her current work, Hazzard says: “I want to make a difference in the lives of others and inspire them to make a difference in the lives of those who come behind them. As Maya Angelou eloquently penned, 'When you get, give. When you learn, teach.'”

Expand allWhy should a student take your class? How does your class help students become employable?

My goal is to help students make the connection between theory and practice so they are better able to engage in a real-world business context. I want them to be successful in their career endeavors! That said, critical thinking and analysis activities (such as business case analyses) are heavily integrated into my courses in order to expose students to practical situations and scenarios. I also draw from my professional network to provide guest speakers that lead to richer, more meaningful learning and networking experiences for my students.

What do you research?

I am intrigued by strategic business collaborations, particularly in undeveloped and developing economies, in order to meet the needs of these underserved markets. I am particularly interested in the proliferation of emerging technologies (such as wireless mobile devices and mobile payments) in emerging and undeveloped markets and the far-reaching impact on consumers in these markets.

How do your research projects make a difference?

Ultimately, I hope my research will help address pervasive economic, social, and environmental inequality that persists across the globe while leading to more ethical, inclusive, socially responsible, and competitive enterprises.

What inspires you about your work?

I became a professor to share knowledge, insights, and experiences with students in an effort to make a difference in their lives and careers. Along my academic and professional journey, people took the time to do the same for me, and in doing so they educated, empowered, and inspired me. Needless to say, it truly made a difference with respect to my personal and professional development and relative to my overall progression. I want to make a difference in the lives of others and inspire them to make a difference in the lives of those who come behind them. The quote shown below sums it all up for me:

“When you get, give. When you learn, teach.” –Maya Angelou

What are you doing when you're not working?

In my free time, I spend quality time with my immediate and extended family.