By Peter Lavelle
Monday 22 February 20:12 GMT
Monday 22 February 20:12 GMT
Recently Adam Byrant of NYTimes.com posted a profile of Xerox CEO Ursula Burns – the first African American woman to chair a company of Xerox’s stature. The article charts Burns’ 30 year rise through the company – her beginnings as a summer intern in 1980 – and her relations with former CEO Anne Mulcahy. The two women are credited with orchestrating Xerox’s move from hardware to IT services – culminating in the recent acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services for $6.4 billion. It is possible Burns and Mulcahy saved Xerox from bankruptcy.
Understandably perhaps, a whole series of accolades have poured into Burns’ lap since becoming Xerox CEO in 2009. Her status as an African-American woman makes her unique among the corporate America bigwigs. Yet what is refreshing about the NYTimes.com article is how completely a non-issue is Burns’ race. Xerox appears a complete meritocracy, and Burns herself is bemused by the tributes she’s received. Other writers – including Philip N. Cohen - have tried to make an issue from Burns’ gender. His article though has a gaping hole where the subject matter ought to be. Far from demonstrating the importance of gender to Burns' success, Cohen's insubstantial analysis reveals it as a non-issue for the Xerox CEO. Ultimately, Burns has become the Xerox chief not as a woman nor African-American, but as a talented individual. Rightly so.
Understandably perhaps, a whole series of accolades have poured into Burns’ lap since becoming Xerox CEO in 2009. Her status as an African-American woman makes her unique among the corporate America bigwigs. Yet what is refreshing about the NYTimes.com article is how completely a non-issue is Burns’ race. Xerox appears a complete meritocracy, and Burns herself is bemused by the tributes she’s received. Other writers – including Philip N. Cohen - have tried to make an issue from Burns’ gender. His article though has a gaping hole where the subject matter ought to be. Far from demonstrating the importance of gender to Burns' success, Cohen's insubstantial analysis reveals it as a non-issue for the Xerox CEO. Ultimately, Burns has become the Xerox chief not as a woman nor African-American, but as a talented individual. Rightly so.
Sources
Adam Byrant, 'Xerox's New Chief Tries to Redefine Its Culture,' NYTimes.com, 20 February 2010.
Philip P. Cohen, 'Women In Charge At Xerox,' HuffingtonPost.com, 21 February 2010.
1 comments:
I worked with Ursula Burns. She is smart and capable, and is a techie at heart. That is a good foundation for managing a tech company like Xerox. Ditto that it is on merit the she has become CEO.
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