Scott M. Smith is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Co-founder and former Executive of Qualtrics International Inc. (NASDAQ: XM), a global leader in Experience Management (XM) software. His career is rooted in academic research, technology, and serial entrepreneurial disruption.

Smith holds a Ph.D. in Marketing and was a Professor of Business at Brigham Young University (BYU). His philosophical approach centers on technological excellence, industry specialization, and long-term commitment to data accessibility (pioneering the concept of Experience Management). He co-founded Qualtrics in 2002 with his son, Ryan Smith (the CEO).

• Qualtrics International Inc. (Co-founder & Former Executive): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in Experience Management (XM) software (acquired by SAP for $8 billion in 2019, and later spun off/IPOed in 2021).
• Software Pioneer: His success is built on scale software development and dominating the market for customer and employee feedback data.
• Academic Background: He holds a Ph.D. in Marketing and was a Professor at BYU (Brigham Young University).
• Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in SaaS IP and leveraging the massive global growth of enterprise software (specializing in customer feedback/data).

Dr. Scott Smith's strategic genius was his commitment to academic rigor and data science. He co-founded Qualtrics in 2002 (initially focusing on survey software for academics and researchers). His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the specialized vertical SaaS model for Experience Management (XM), demonstrating the power of integrating customer, employee, product, and brand data.

The $8 billion sale to SAP in 2019 secured his initial massive fortune. He stepped down from executive roles (remaining a major shareholder). His wealth is secured by the colossal liquid gains from the SAP acquisition and the long-term appreciation of his stake in the publicly traded company.

Scott Smith's social impact stems from Qualtrics's role in providing essential R&D and data analysis software that accelerates customer and employee experience improvements for global companies. His personal philanthropy, often channeled through family foundations, supports various educational and community initiatives, including significant contributions to Brigham Young University.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Scott Smith maintains the professional, composed style of a technology executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a pioneer in the specialized software sector.

Residing in Provo, Utah, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to technology innovation, strategic management, and academic endeavors.