Ursula Burns: Comparison
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  • businesswoman
  • non-executive director
  • veon

1. Introduction

Ursula M. Burns (born September 20, 1958), is an American businesswoman. She is the chairman of VEON,[1] a senior advisor to Teneo,[2] and a non-executive director of the beverage company Diageo since April 2018, among other directorships[3] such as Uber.[4][5] In 2009, Burns became CEO of Xerox, the first black woman CEO to head a Fortune 500 company,[6] and the first woman to succeed another as head of a Fortune 500 company.[7][8] Burns served as Xerox CEO from 2009 to 2016 and Xerox chairwoman from 2010 to 2017.[9][10] In 2014, Forbes rated her the 22nd most powerful woman in the world.[11] Among other civic positions, she was a leader of the STEM program of the White House from 2009 to 2016, and head of the President's Export Council from 2015 until 2016.[12]

2. Early Life and Education

Burns was raised by a single mother in the Baruch Houses, a New York city housing project.[7] Both of her parents were Panamanian immigrants. She attended Cathedral High School, a Catholic all-girls school on East 56th Street in New York. She went on to obtain a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute (now New York University Tandon School of Engineering) in 1980 and a master of science in mechanical engineering from Columbia University a year later.[13][14][15] She has since received additional honorary degrees from New York University,[16] Williams College,[17] the University of Pennsylvania,[18] Howard University,[19] Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,[20] The City College of New York,[21] Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT),[22] the University of Rochester,[23] Xavier University,[24] and Georgetown University.[25]

3. Business Career

Burns first worked for Xerox as a summer intern in 1980, and permanently joined a year later after completing her master's degree. She worked in various roles in product development and planning at the company for the remainder of the 1980s.[26] In January 1990, her career took an unexpected turn when Wayland Hicks, then a senior executive, offered Burns a job as his executive assistant. She accepted and worked for him for roughly nine months before returning home because she was about to be married.[27] In June 1991, she then became executive assistant to then chairman and chief executive Paul Allaire. In 1999, she was named vice president for global manufacturing.[26] In May 2000, Burns was named senior vice president of corporate strategic services and began working closely with soon-to-be CEO Anne Mulcahy, in what both women have described as a true partnership. Two years later, Burns became president of business group operations.[28]

In 2007, Burns assumed the role of president of Xerox.[28] In July 2009 she was named CEO, succeeding Mulcahy, who remained as chairman until May 2010.[26] The first black woman CEO to head a Fortune 500 company,[7] Burns was also the first woman to succeed another woman as head of a Fortune 500 company.[8] Shortly after being named CEO, Burns led the acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services.[2] In 2016, she led Xerox in a split into two independent companies:[3] Xerox Corporation and Conduent Incorporated.[2] She remained chairwoman and CEO of Xerox through the process, and was then appointed chairwoman of the standalone Document Technology company.[29] After stepping down from the position in December 2016, Burns was succeeded by Jeff Jacobson. She retained the title of chairwoman of the newly formed document technology company[3] until May 2017, when she left the Xerox board and her role as chairperson.[30]

U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Burns to help lead the White House National STEM program in 2009,[31][32] and she remained a leader of the STEM program until 2016.[12] In March 2010 President Obama appointed Burns as vice chair of the President's Export Council,[31][32] which she led from 2015 to 2016.[12] Burns has served on numerous boards, including Boston Scientific,[13] FIRST, National Association of Manufacturers, University of Rochester, the MIT Corporation, the Rochester Business Alliance, and the RUMP Group.[13] She remains a board director of the American Express Corporation,[31][33] Exxon Mobil Corporation,[34] Datto Inc.,[31][35] and Nestlé.[2] In July 2017, it was announced that she would join the board of the beverage company Diageo on April 2, 2018.[3] Also in July 2017, she was elected chairwoman of VEON[1] by the VEON board of directors.[36] She joined Teneo as a senior advisor in June 2017.[2] Burns joined the board of Uber in late September 2017.[5]

4. Community Activities

Burns provides leadership counsel to community, educational and non-profit organizations including FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), National Academy Foundation, MIT, and the U.S. Olympic Committee, among others.[31] She is a founding board director of Change the Equation, which focuses on improving the U.S.'s education system in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).[31][37] She served as vice chairwoman of the executive committee of The Business Council between 2013 and 2014.[38][39] She has delivered the commencement address at universities including MIT,[40] University of Rochester,[41] Xavier University,[42] Howard University,[4243] Williams College,[4344] and Georgetown University.[25]

5. Media

Burns made headlines in 2009 when she became the first black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company.[6] Burns has been exceptionally visible during her tenure, making frequent public appearances.

Burns pushed for the $6.4 billion acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services that closed in 2010.[4445] Late in 2013, the company called the police prior to announcing 168 layoffs at its Cary, N.C., facility, noting they "were expecting trouble." It was the second round of a total of roughly 500 layoffs.[4546]

Burns has been awarded an average of $13 million a year between 2010 and 2012. One former employee, commenting on Glassdoor, said, "Most upper management have received salary increase over the last 6 years, but staff has not."[4647]

She has been listed multiple times by Forbes as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world. In 2015, she was listed as the 29th.[11]

6. Personal Life

Burns is married to Lloyd Bean, who also worked at Xerox, and they reside in Rochester, New York.[26] She has a daughter named Melissa (born c. 1992) and a stepson named Malcolm (born c. 1989) who attended MIT.[26][4748] Burns has been a major donor to Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women in New York.[4849]

References

  1. "VEON names former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns as chairwoman," Reuters , Eric Auchard, July 24, 2017 https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuters[1], "VEON names former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns as chairwoman," Reuters , Eric Auchard, July 24, 2017 https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuters
  2. "Ursula M. Burns joins Teneo as Senior Advisor," Teneo, June 28, 2017[2], "Ursula M. Burns joins Teneo as Senior Advisor," Teneo, June 28, 2017
  3. "Diageo announces appointment to its Board of Directors," Webwire, July 26, 2017[3], "Diageo announces appointment to its Board of Directors," Webwire, July 26, 2017
  4. "VEON shareholders elect new independent Supervisory Board directors.". https://veon.com/media-center/Press-releases/2017/VEON-shareholders-elect-new-independent-Supervisory-Board-directors-Ursula-Burns-to-become-Chairman-of-the-Board-/. 
  5. "Travis Kalanick appoints Ursula Burns, John Thain to Uber’s board". https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/29/travis-kalanick-appoints-ursula-burns-john-thain-to-ubers-board/. Retrieved 15 August 2018. 
  6. Adamczyk, Alicia. "Ursula Burns Is the First Black Woman CEO of a Fortune 500 Company. Here's How She Measures Success". http://time.com/money/4929734/ursula-burns-is-the-first-black-woman-ceo-of-a-fortune-500-company-heres-how-she-measures-success/. 
  7. Byrnes, Nanette; Crockett, Roger O. (June 8, 2009). "An Historic Succession At Xerox". Business Week. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_23/b4134018712853.htm. 
  8. Shambora, Jessica (May 22, 2009). "Xerox'snext CEO: Ursula Burns". http://postcards.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/05/22/xeroxs-next-ceo-ursula-burns/. 
  9. "Xerox's stock price is rising, but it's not what you think". http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/money/business/2017/05/23/xerox-ursula-burns-retires-reverse-stock-split/340668001/. Retrieved 15 August 2018. 
  10. Johnson, Kandia (2017-01-06). "Ursula Burns Steps Down as XEROX CEO After Company Split". Black Enterprise Magazine. http://www.blackenterprise.com/career/ursula-burns-to-step-down-as-xerox-ceo-after-company-split/. 
  11. "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/#tab:overall. Retrieved 24 June 2014. 
  12. "Xerox's Ursula Burns: U.S. Businesses Must Embrace Globalization ", US News, Gaby Galvin, May 5, 2017[4], "Xerox's Ursula Burns: U.S. Businesses Must Embrace Globalization ", US News, Gaby Galvin, May 5, 2017
  13. "Ursula M. Burns". BlackEntrepreneurProfile.com. http://www.blackentrepreneurprofile.com/profile-full/article/ursula-m-burns/. 
  14. "Ursula Burns, CEO". https://www.xerox.com/about-xerox/executive-leadership/ceo/enus.html. 
  15. "Xerox CEO Ursula Burns MS'82 ME to Speak at Class Day" (in en). http://engineering.columbia.edu/xerox-ceo-ursula-burns-ms82-me-speak-class-day. 
  16. "Ursula M. BurnsReceives Honorary Doctorate from NYU," New York University, May 12, 2010[5] "Ursula M. BurnsReceives Honorary Doctorate from NYU," New York University, May 12, 2010
  17. "Williams College Announces its 2015 Honorary Degree Recipients," Williams College, March 18, 2015[6] "Williams College Announces its 2015 Honorary Degree Recipients," Williams College, March 18, 2015
  18. "Penn's 2013 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients," University of Pennsylvania, March 12, 2013[7] "Penn's 2013 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients," University of Pennsylvania, March 12, 2013
  19. ""Recipients of Honorary Degrees and Other University Honors (by year)," Howard University". https://www.howard.edu/secretary/convocations/recipients-year.htm. Retrieved 15 August 2018. 
  20. "Remarks at 2013 Honorary Degree Recipients Dinner," Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, May 2013[8] "Remarks at 2013 Honorary Degree Recipients Dinner," Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, May 2013
  21. "CCNY Names Top Three for 2015 Commencement Honors," The City College of New York, March 12, 2015[9] "CCNY Names Top Three for 2015 Commencement Honors," The City College of New York, March 12, 2015
  22. "Ursula Burns Inspires RIT Graduates to Strive for the ‘Unimaginable’". https://www.rit.edu/news/story.php?id=46854. Retrieved 15 August 2018. 
  23. "Commencement :: University of Rochester". https://www.rochester.edu/commencement/2011/honorees.html. Retrieved 15 August 2018. 
  24. "Ursula Burns is Xavier University's commencement speaker". http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2012/03/xaviers_commencement_speaker_w.html. Retrieved 15 August 2018. 
  25. "Georgetown Announces 2018 Commencement Speakers". https://www.georgetown.edu/news/commencement-speakers-2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018. 
  26. Bryant, Adam (February 20, 2010). "Xerox's New Chief Tries to Redefine Its Culture". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/business/21xerox.html. 
  27. "Leading the way: Ursula Burns". London Business School. http://bsr.london.edu/lbs-article/641/index.html. 
  28. "Ursula Burns | USOC Board of Directors". Team USA. http://www.teamusa.org/About-the-USOC/Inside-the-USOC/Leadership/Board-of-Directors/Ursula-Burns. 
  29. "Xerox Names Ursula BurnsChairman of Post-Separation Document Technology Company," Xerox, May 20, 2016[10], "Xerox Names Ursula BurnsChairman of Post-Separation Document Technology Company," Xerox, May 20, 2016
  30. "Robert Keegan replaces UrsulaBurns as Xerox chairman," Rochester Business Journal, Velvet Spicer, May 24, 2017[11], "Robert Keegan replaces UrsulaBurns as Xerox chairman," Rochester Business Journal, Velvet Spicer, May 24, 2017
  31. "Ursula M. Burns, Director since: 2007". Xerox. 2016-08-01. https://www.xerox.com/en-us/about/executive-leadership/ceo. 
  32. "Ursula M. Burns" (in en). https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/advisory-boards/jobs-council/members/burns. 
  33. "AXP Company Profile & Executives - American Express Co. - Wall Street Journal". http://quotes.wsj.com/AXP/company-people. 
  34. "Ursula M. Burns Elected to ExxonMobil Board". http://news.exxonmobil.com/press-release/ursula-m-burns-elected-exxonmobil-board. Retrieved 15 August 2018. 
  35. "Datto, Inc.: Board of Directors - Bloomberg". https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/board.asp?privcapId=171978246. 
  36. "VEON board elects former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns as chairman," Reuters and The Economic Times, July 24, 2017[12], "VEON board elects former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns as chairman," Reuters and The Economic Times, July 24, 2017
  37. "Fem Boss: Ursula Burns – Chairman & CEO of Xerox Corporation - Innov8tiv". 27 April 2014. http://www.innov8tiv.com/fem-boss-ursula-burns-chairman-ceo-xerox-corporation/. Retrieved 15 August 2018. 
  38. Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris Elected Chairman, The Business Council , dow.com, October 19, 2012 http://www.dow.com/news/all-news/article/?id=/company-news/dow-chairman-and-ceo-andrew-liveris-elected-chairman%C2%A0-business-council#.UIWXQIba-So
  39. Press Release: The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris Elected Chairman, The Business Council, Yahoo!, October 19, 2012 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dow-chairman-ceo-andrew-liveris-174000939.html
  40. . "Xerox CEO Ursula M. Burns to speak at Commencement - The Tech". http://tech.mit.edu/V130/N52/burns.html. Retrieved 15 August 2018. 
  41. "Xerox Corporation CEO UrsulaBurns to Address University of Rochester College Commencement". Rochester.edu. http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3801. 
  42. [14] "Xerox Chairman & CEO Ursula M. Burns to Deliver Howard University 2015 Commencement Address," Howard University, April 23, 2015[13]
  43. [15] "Ursula M. Burns, Commencement Speaker," Williams College, 2015[14] "Xerox Chairman & CEO Ursula M. Burns to Deliver Howard University 2015 Commencement Address," Howard University, April 23, 2015
  44. "Engineering a revolution at Xerox" (in en). USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/03/24/ozy-usurla-burns-transform-zerox/6824375/. [15] "Ursula M. Burns, Commencement Speaker," Williams College, 2015
  45. "Xerox calls police before layoffs" (in en). ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. http://abc11.com/archive/9351098/. "Engineering a revolution at Xerox" (in en). USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/03/24/ozy-usurla-burns-transform-zerox/6824375/. 
  46. [16], 9-ceos-with-the-absolute-worst-reputations"Xerox calls police before layoffs" (in en). ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. http://abc11.com/archive/9351098/. 
  47. Alesci, Cristina. "Xerox's Ursula Burns: Business is made for men". CNNMoney. http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/03/technology/american-dream-ursula-burns/index.html. [16], 9-ceos-with-the-absolute-worst-reputations
  48. [17], "Major gifts make major difference," Catholic Courier, Mike Latona, August 4, 2014Alesci, Cristina. "Xerox's Ursula Burns: Business is made for men". CNNMoney. http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/03/technology/american-dream-ursula-burns/index.html. 
  49. [17], "Major gifts make major difference," Catholic Courier, Mike Latona, August 4, 2014
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