Ursula Burns is an American businesswoman who served as the CEO of Xerox Corporation from 2009 to 2016. She was born on September 20, 1958, in New York City. Burns is widely recognized as a trailblazer in the business world, particularly as an African-American woman in a leadership position. Burns joined Xerox in 1980 as a summer intern and steadily climbed the corporate ladder over the years. She held various positions within the company, including roles in product development and planning. In 2000, Burns became the senior vice president of corporate strategic services, overseeing manufacturing and supply chain operations.
During her tenure as CEO, Burns played a crucial role in leading Xerox through a period of significant change. She spearheaded a strategic transformation initiative, guiding the company’s shift from a traditional document and printing focus to a more diversified portfolio of business services and technologies. Under her leadership, Xerox acquired Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) in 2010, which expanded the company’s capabilities in business process outsourcing.
Throughout her career, Ursula Burns has been recognized for her achievements and leadership. She has been listed among Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women” and Fortune’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business.” She has also served on the boards of several prominent organizations, including Exxon Mobil, American Express, and Nestlé.
Beyond her corporate endeavors, Burns has been actively involved in various educational and nonprofit initiatives. She served as the chair of the President’s Export Council under the Obama administration and was a founding board director of Change the Equation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving STEM education in the United States.
Please note that my knowledge cutoff is in September 2021, so any events or developments regarding Ursula Burns after that date may not be included in my response.