Ursula Burns: Accelerating Actions, Inspiring Careers
So LinkedIn asked, “Who is a woman who has inspired your career?” #IWD2025… and respond, I decided.
The simple answer? My Mum, of course!
Then, my Aunt, obviously. As captured in this article written by Imperial College London, her passing lit a fire within me and set the stage for a career in energy.
Yet, I have found immense inspiration in the lives and journeys of several incredibly brilliant, talented, and successful women, within and beyond my network. And, if I could speak about one today, then that would be Ursula Burns.
Raised by a single mother, in a housing project in New York City, Ursula persevered, learned & flourished to be recognized as one of the most powerful women in the world!
Ursula began as an Mechanical Engineering summer intern, and with the outstanding mentorship and sponsorship of powerful men like Vernon Jordan, she rose through the ranks — from Executive Assistant to VP, SVP, President, and eventually succeeding Anne Mulcahy, who announced her retirement as CEO at Xerox Corporation in May 2009!
* I was in my final year at the University of Benin, studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, when she was named CEO at Xerox. I vividly remember reading as many news articles about her historic succession, and feeling profoundly motivated by her meteoric rise in a company that was still very much male-dominated.
Making history as the first Black/African American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, becoming a Chairperson just like Anne, and transforming the company from a traditional printing and copying giant into a leader in business services and digital technology, she would go on to trailblaze on multiple fronts.
** She was also recorded to have the first female-to-female handoff at a Fortune 500 company.
But that isn’t all there is to her story.
She is…
A bestselling author…
A courageous businesswomen…
An international fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering…
A prominent beacon of hope for women the world over…
A radiant lighthouse, consistently guiding others through the stormy seas of corporate challenges…
A visionary, value-based leader that radiates confidence, inspiration, and relatability in every interaction…
An outspoken STEM Champion, with unwavering commitment to defying constraints and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion…
A phenomenal “veteran of corporate evolution” as Forbes once published, who has served on the boards of numerous multinational corporations like ExxonMobil, Nestlé & Uber, and provided unparalleled leadership counsel to philanthropic organizations/non-profits such as Mayo Clinic & Ford Foundation.
I recently spent some time listening to a conversation she had with Malcolm Gladwell and Kenya Barris, on their Audible Original podcast, The Unusual Suspects, and it was undeniably refreshing! I was blown away by her authenticity, courage, and vulnerability.
I have profound appreciation for her journey from such humble beginnings to corporate America’s top rungs. It is a testament to the power of hard work, resilience, staying true to oneself, and accelerated action.
On this International Women’s Day, I hope Ursula’s journey inspires us all to take those bold and decisive steps towards dismantling systemic barriers and creating growth opportunities for women in our communities/companies; empowering and supporting them through allyship, mentorship, and sponsorship; and promoting inclusion to create a more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable future.
Happy International Women’s Day!
