Ursula Burns is a name that stands for breaking down barriers and changing the way businesses are run. Burns was the first African American woman to run a Fortune 500 company. She was the CEO of Xerox Corporation from 2009 to 2016, which was a historic moment in American business. Her rise from a poor background to the top of the business world shows how strong, creative, and good at leading she is.
Life and Schooling as a Child
Ursula Burns was born in New York City on September 20, 1958. She grew up in a low-income housing project on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Olga Burns, her single mother, raised her in a Panamanian-American family. They had financial problems, but they taught her the importance of education and how to be determined. Burns often says that her mother’s work ethic and sacrifices—like running a home daycare and doing ironing jobs—shaped her drive.
Burns did very well in school. In 1980, he graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of New York University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. She went on to get a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University in 1981. This was the start of her career as a technical and leadership expert.
Rise at Xerox
Burns started working at Xerox as a summer intern in 1980, doing mechanical engineering work at first. Her skill and determination helped her move up the ranks. Over the years, she worked in a number of different roles, such as product development, global manufacturing, and strategic planning. She was a senior executive by the early 2000s, first as president of Xerox’s Business Group Operations and then as president of the company in 2007.
Burns was named CEO in July 2009, taking over from Anne Mulcahy, who she had worked closely with. Her hiring was historic because she was the first Black woman to run a Fortune 500 company and the first woman to take over as CEO of such a company from another woman. Burns’ leadership came at a time when Xerox was facing problems because the digital world was changing and the economy was still recovering from the 2008 financial crisis.
Xerox’s leadership
Burns led Xerox through a time of big changes as CEO. In 2010, she led the $6.4 billion purchase of Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), which changed Xerox from a company that made copiers and printers to one that offered a wide range of business services. This purchase added IT services and business process outsourcing to Xerox’s portfolio, giving it a chance to compete in a market that is changing quickly.
Burns stressed the importance of new ideas, diversity, and running a business efficiently. Xerox spent money on research and development to stay competitive in digital printing and managed services while she was in charge. She also fought for diversity in the workplace, using her own experiences to push for inclusion at all levels of the company. Her strategic vision helped Xerox’s finances stabilize, but the company still had problems because of changes in the market.
Burns left his job as CEO in 2016 but stayed on as chairman until 2017. She left behind a legacy at Xerox of modernizing the company’s business model and encouraging a culture of flexibility and acceptance.
What happened after Xerox and what it meant
Burns had an impact on business and society even after he left Xerox. She became a member of Uber’s board in 2018 and helped the company through a time of cultural and leadership changes. She has also been on the boards of big companies like American Express, Boston Scientific, and the National Academy Foundation. President Barack Obama chose Burns to head the White House’s STEM education initiative from 2009 to 2016. This shows how much she cares about education and opportunity.
Burns wrote her memoir, Where You Are Is Not Who You Are, in 2021. It tells the story of how she went from being poor to being a corporate leader and gives advice on race, gender, and resilience in the workplace. The book makes clear her belief that where you come from does not determine what you can do. This is a theme that has come up many times in her life and work.
Burns has received many awards, such as being named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women and Forbes’ Most Powerful Women in the World. For her work in business and technology, she was given the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2010.
Life and Legacy
Ursula Burns is married to Lloyd Bean, who used to work with her at Xerox. They have two kids together. She still fights for diversity, equality, and education, and she often talks about how important it is to make it easier for people from underrepresented groups to get jobs in business and STEM fields. Her story is an inspiration for people who want to be leaders, especially women and people of color. It shows that determination and opportunity can help people get past systemic barriers.
Burns’ time at Xerox and her larger impact on business and society show that she is a person who has changed things. Her leadership changed a huge company and made it possible for boards of directors all over the country to be more diverse. Ursula Burns’ legacy is one of breaking through barriers, pushing for new ideas, and showing that where you start doesn’t have to be where you end up.
