Ursula Burns: A Trailblazing Career in Business and Public Service

Ursula Burns is a true trailblazer in the business and public service world.

Ursula Burns was the first African American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, serving as CEO of Xerox from 2009 to 2016.

She rose through the ranks at Xerox, starting as an intern and eventually becoming the company's CEO, a testament to her hard work and determination.

Her leadership style emphasized innovation, diversity, and community involvement, which helped Xerox become a more inclusive and successful company.

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Ursula Burns was born in 1958 to Panamanian immigrant parents.

She was raised by a single mother in the Baruch Houses, a New York City housing project.

Her mother worked hard to provide for the family, taking in washing and ironing jobs, bartering office cleaning for medical needs, and caring for other people's children.

Ursula attended Cathedral High School, a Catholic all-girls school on East 56th Street in New York.

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She graduated from Cathedral High School and then went on to attend Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute (now New York University Tandon School of Engineering).

At Brooklyn Polytechnic, Ursula earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1980.

She completed her undergraduate degree and then earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University in 1981.

Xerox paid for her master's degree through a graduate engineering program for minorities, which included a summer internship with the company.

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Ursula Burns began her journey with Xerox as a summer intern in 1980 and officially joined the company a year later. She worked in various roles in product development and planning at the company for the remainder of the 1980s.

In 1990, she was offered a job as executive assistant to Wayland Hicks, but she returned home a few months later to get married. She then became executive assistant to chairman and chief executive Paul Allaire in 1991.

Burns was named vice-president for global manufacturing in 1999 and worked closely with soon-to-be CEO Anne Mulcahy. She was named senior vice president of corporate strategic services in May 2000.

As senior vice president, Burns worked with Mulcahy on a true partnership, which laid the groundwork for her future success. She was tasked with overseeing manufacturing and supply chain in 1999.

Burns was put in charge of turning around the Xerox Facsimile and Office Color business and head of the European Mid-Range Copier Group in London between 1992 and 1997. She implemented restructuring plans that saved the company close to $2 billion.

Burns was named the first woman president of Business Group Operations (BGO) in 2002, after the near bankruptcy crisis. As BGO president, she was responsible for most of the inner workings of the company.

Burns was appointed president of Xerox in 2007, chief operating officer, and member of the board. She became the first black woman CEO to head a Fortune 500 company in July 2009.

As CEO, Burns led the acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services for $6.4 billion and oversaw the split of Xerox into two independent companies in 2016.

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Ursula Burns has had a distinguished public service career, serving as a leader of the White House National STEM program from 2009 to 2016. She was appointed by President Obama to help lead the program and remained a leader until 2016.

In March 2010, President Obama appointed Burns as vice-chair of the President's Export Council, a role she held from 2015 to 2016. This appointment demonstrates her expertise and influence in the field of export and trade.

Burns has also served on various corporate boards, including American Express, Nestlé, Exxon Mobil, Uber, and Boston Scientific. She has been a member of the boards of these companies, bringing her expertise and leadership skills to their decision-making processes.

Here is a list of some of the notable boards she has served on:

In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Ursula Burns to help lead the White House National STEM program, a role she held until 2016.

Burns' experience in public service has also taken her to the President's Export Council, where she served as vice-chair from 2015 to 2016.

She has been a leader in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Advisory Council on Supply Chain Competitiveness since 2022, serving as Vice Chair.

Burns has been recognized for her influence and power, being listed multiple times by Forbes as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world, including being ranked 29th in 2015.

Here are some notable public service roles held by Ursula Burns:

Ursula Burn has served on the boards of major corporations such as American Express, Nestlé, Exxon Mobil, Uber, PQ Corporation, Lincoln Electric Company, Banta, and Dames and Moore.

Burns also held leadership positions in various organizations, including the President's Export Council, where she served as vice-chair and then chair from 2015 to 2016.

Her experience on these boards demonstrates the value of diverse perspectives and expertise in driving business success.

Burns' involvement with the President's Export Council highlights the importance of international trade and commerce in the economy.

Her ability to balance multiple roles and responsibilities is a testament to her strong leadership skills and time management abilities.

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After leaving Xerox, Ursula Burns continued to make history. She was elected to become the chairwoman of VEON.

Burns' next move was to become the CEO of VEON, following the sudden departure of its CEO.

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