Ursula Burns Case - Essay Example

Ursula Burns Born on 20Th September 1958 in Manhattan, Ursula grew up in a single parent family together with her two siblings (Baillie, Alice & Donna 143). Initially, life to her was extremely complicated but the single mother singlehandedly and with sheer determination managed to put her through private, which was a catholic institution. This was to get the best education she could and that will enable her thrive highly in life. Her mother during then managed to cater for her families needs by relying on proceeds from a day care facility together with ironing that comprised her main income jobs. At a young age, Burns exhibited unequaled interest and capability in mathematics thus prompting her to like mathematics throughout her learning years (West Hartford). Burns’ mother acted as an immense inspiration for being able to cater for own three children single handedly thus giving her inner strength as well as courage. All through her life, almost each thing seemed extremely hard including utter deterrent from people who constantly told her how unlucky she was because been black, underprivileged and more so of being a woman. However, Burns’ mother tried to equivocate all those discouragements get into her and constantly reminded own daughter that, where she was will not in anyway delineate her future (“Embassy of the United States of America”). Back then, she anticipated of embracing nursing career, nun or if not those a teacher. Since, all these aspirations descended from the influence of their teachers in catholic schools where she schooled while undertaking high school studies. Conversely, not all the three options did prompt her feel contented as her ambition was to become an engineer, hence defying careers that her tutors were advising her to undertake (“Lean In”). Nursing this dream and actualizing it did not seem that easy but due to constant encouragements especially from the mother as well as her high school, Cathedral High School she eventually managed (Robertson 3). Due to her proficiency in mathematics, she ended up schooling in Polytechnic Institute of new York University (Smith 1903). Here she chose a career path, which majority of the students was men and mostly the whites thus joining few females dared to pursue engineering. Initially, she opted to undertake chemical engineering but eventually changing to mechanical engineering for she thought it suited her more than the former. After her Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, she proceeded to Columbia University for a graduate program (Smith 1903). This was a special program mainly secured for the minority as well as intelligent students. This program was in collaboration with Xerox Corporation that was partly responsible in paying part of the tuition fees for these minority women (Robertson 3). Because internship was part of the institution’s curriculum, she joined Xerox Corporation as a summer intern in 1980 (Bennett & Miles 25). This internship program helped her learn and grow under the guardianship of a long range of mentors like Wayland Hicks and Paul Allaire who later took her in (Robertson 3). Hicks took her in as his executive assistant in 1990 but later on in 1991, Allaire pouched her from Hicks and made her his executive assistant (“Embassy of the United States of America”). During the inception of her career, she underwent various discriminations from being a woman because the corporation had fewer of them more so those descending from African American (Ferrell, Fraedrich & Linda 71). The major reason for her discrimination was because she was so young yet an executive assistant and this was a problem to most people, mostly some chauvinistic men of lower and higher ranks (Ferrell, Fraedrich & Linda 71). During then, many while working with her wondered how odd it was for a young woman to command respect from those older men at lower ranks. Xerox intervened in catering for her tuition fees until her successful completion of mechanical engineering degree from Polytechnic Institute of New York as well as a student in the Columbia University. Due to her exemplary skills coupled with good reputation that she exhibited while as an intern in the Corporation, she managed to go back then to be a full employee. Burns’ association with Xerox begun as an intern but she started her career mainly as an employee from 1981. That internship was just the beginning of a successful association with this famed Corporation. After her initial years, through hard and working smartly she managed to be in the middle management. Since, her joining of the Corporation, she was contented with her career until when she encountered the executives of Xerox who steered her into another direction, which was more of a management than engineering. Her breakthrough was when she was in a meeting with other executives and employees of the corporation after disapproving a participant’s opinion regarding the female gender in the management. Her boldness coupled with utter frankness caught the attention of the then V. president who later called her for an opportunity to be an assistant executive. This was beneficial for her career because through this partnership she had a mentoring opportunity. Working with the vice president enabled her to gain experience through the mentoring and know how business in the corporation runs (“EJournal USA…”). After working with the V. President, her career was still improving as time moved. She became the executive assistant for the chief executive of the firm. It is after that elevation, which she used to equip herself with daily activities that would happen at the senior level management. Hence, Burns managed to see herself in the management that augmented her necessary sense of confidence that was and is still benefit to the entire business. Due to her exemplary work ethics, she was able to assume famed positions in Xerox Corporation. Here she was able to oversee various bodies including management, engineering, marketing, manufacturing, and product development. She went through several corporate positions of high levels before becoming the Corporate V. President in 1999 and then in 2000 under the strategic services, she was the senior V. President. Through the years, she had an extensive list through various job titles within the firm, for illustration; in 2001, when she embraced the President’s post of Document System Solutions Group. In July 2009, Ursula was the CEO of the corporation and later in May 2010, she was the chairperson (Belasen 37). She took over the reign after the former CEO Anne Mulcahy (Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson 360). Being the chairperson, she expanded her leadership role to involve IT, human resource, corporate strategy as well as marketing. Even before she assumed reputable positions, many had known her reputation, contribution, frankness as well as direct speech. Burns was the only black female to assume top post of Fortune 500 Company who exhibited an exemplary leadership (Markus, Fein & Kassin 13). Some of the traits comprising her leadership included her power of communication through being honest and straightforward. She had power of culture that improved the diversity and teamwork through the corporation. She also had the power of vision where her aim was to attain the corporate’s highest goal possible. Finally, her value of leadership was priceless for she exhibited state of being dependable, forceful coupled with honesty. Due to these traits, she has been in charge of approximately five diverse divisions within the firm besides contributing to the realization of approximately 80% of the total profits in Xerox Corporation. Burns is tough and very engaging as she still engaged the former CEO of Xerox, Anne Mulcahy in advices that were of matter to the management of the corporation. She was part of the executive in 2001 that participated in saving the corporation from bankruptcy. She began changing the face of the corporation to something that would bring the maximum profits. For instance, she shifted the company from machine making roots to a purely different business. This new face in the corporation has been successful with evidence of increase in profits and income. Burns has also been in support of the gender balance more so at her Xerox Company. Prove for this is that her top thirty management people, eleven of those are women. This compared to the other years of management in the corporation has been a tremendous change and an encouragement to the women out there that there is a top place for them in many areas. Other than the everyday businesses, Burns has been an advocate and a philanthropist through programs like Change the Equation Initiative led by President Obama. She has been partner of the initiative to encourage young women more so the minorities to choose careers that focus on sciences and mathematics. Burns has also been part of team to provide counsel on leadership to various institutions like first, U.S Olympic Committee, and University of Rochester. In other events, Burns has also participated in occasions including Science as well as Technology. In this event, she was the leader of the White House national program. In March 2010, she was also deputizing the President’s Export Council. In appreciation of her works and efforts, Xavier University ended up honoring her with a Doctorate Degree for she was an exemplary personality not only in managing but also as a leader (John). Most of the success realized by Burns was mostly due to her mother who relentlessly encouraged her to keep trying irrespective of numerous odds that proved her otherwise. She viewed education as the way to greatness and therefore used it as a tool in ensuring her children would be triumphant. Hence, this took little time for Burns to see this wisdom in her belief and she worked hard in studies in order to pass. What helped in shaping Burns’ success was confidence she had as well as sense of being frank to speak her mind. These are the critical components of success because it aligns together people who have the same objective towards something. Ursula Burns is fearless, committed, highly competent, and visionary and she represents an example of a woman who has been successful despite the hardships. She is married to Lloyd Bean, who is also a former Xerox Corporation scientist and they have two children. Despite many critics saying that Burns rose because of her gender and race but in the real sense, she prospered because of her performance and commitment. Other than the history made, more importantly Ursula Burns has made a difference and how some people thought about women more so the black minority women. She has also been a great role model and a motivation to many not only the girl children but also some male population. Work Cited "EJournal USA - Making their Mark - Black Women Leaders Document]." AllAfrica.com Jan 04 2012, French ed. ed. ProQuest. 4 Nov. 2014 . “Black History: Women Leaders.” West Hartford. 2012. Web. November 2, 2014. “Ursula Burns, Corporate Executive.” Embassy of the United States of America. 2013. Web. November 2, 2014. http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/133183/english/1311_African_Americans_Ursula_Burns_English_LO.pdf “Ursula M. Burns: Chairman & CEO.” Lean In. 2014. Web. November 2, 2014. Baillie, Caroline, Alice Pawley & Donna, Riley. Engineering and Social Justice: In the University and Beyond. West Lafayette, Ind: Purdue University Press, 2012. Print. Belasen, Alan T. Developing Women Leaders in Corporate America: Balancing Competing Demands, Transcending Traditional Boundaries. Santa Barbara, Calif. [u.a.: Praeger, 2012. Print. Bennett, Nathan & Miles, Stephen. Your Career Game: How Game Theory Can Help You Achieve Your Professional Goals. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press, 2010. Print. Ferrell, O C, John Fraedrich & Linda, Ferrell. Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Hitt, Michael A, R D. Ireland, & Hoskisson, Robert E. Strategic Management: Competitiveness & Globalization. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. John, Pope. “Ursula Burns is Xavier Universitys commencement speaker.” NOLA.com. 22nd March 2012. Web. 4Th November 2014. Markus, Hazel., Fein, Steven & Kassin, Saul. Social Psychology. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, 2013. Print. Robertson, Ian H. The Winner Effect: How Power Affects Your Brain. London: Bloomsbury, 2012. Print. Smith, Jessie C. Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking & Pioneering Historical Events. Canton, MI: Visible Ink Press, 2013. Internet resource. Read More