Ursula Burns reveals the importance of determination
Enoch Antwi
For a person to be great, one has to develop effective ways to become successful. This requires consistency and determination.
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It’s always great to be an icon. But how many people are ready to endure the time and efforts that one has to endure to become one? Our chief executive, Ursula Burns, cannot be denied of her daring achievements.
Life at Xerox
The first black woman to head a Fortune 500 company, Ursula Burns, became noticeable for her enviable engineering and managerial skills. She is the CEO and President of the Xerox Corporation and was elected chairperson of Xerox in May 2010.
She initially joined the company in 1980. Her first position started at a summer internship program, where she served in a mechanical engineering intern's capacity.
Her skills were so clear that she was promoted to head several positions in her field of learning and consequently became the head of the company's Product Development and Planning sector.
Ursula Burns never rested on her laurels and continued her successful leadership spree in key positions at the Xerox Corporation. She became the Vice President, Corporate Strategic Services in the year 2000. She was elected president of Xerox Group Operations in the year 2002.
Equipped with the ability to succeed, Burns showed spectacular leadership in corporate marketing with innovative skills when she became president of the company in 2007.
She was instrumental in the company's success in the Information Technology (IT) division. Ursula also fostered human resources, corporate strategy, and the company’s global accounts in a way that continues to enhance the company’s vision.
Ursula Burns in retrospect
Ursula Burns made a name as the first African American woman to lead a prestigious Fortune 500 company. Born on September 20, 1958, the darling iconic image graduated with a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University in 1981. Before this, she also had her bachelor's degree from the New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering.
She currently serves on formidable national boards and associations. These have recognised her for her continues inspiration in technology, innovation, and science.
Forbes magazine has also recognised her as one of the most powerful women in the world.
She is a loving wife and married to Lloyd Bean. She is also blessed with a daughter, Melissa, and a son named Malcolm.
The resolve and tenacity of Ursula Burns show that when we determine to excel, we will succeed. Her early childhood stories, coupled with her entire persona, attest to this.
Enoch Antwi
Enoch Antwi is the managing editor at The Business Frontal. He worked as a business and an environmental journalist in the late 1990s with the Business and Financial Times. His passion is to provide on-demand valuable information and insights on business, entrepreneurship, leadership, innovative technologies, and principles for corporate success in today's business world.
