I’m Here Because I’m As Good As You. This declaration is bold, provocative, inspiring.
These words and title come from a 2021 article in Harvard Business Review, which features an interview with Ursula Burns. Are you familiar with the name? Ursula Burns is the former CEO of Xerox. She also happens to be the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.
Ursula’s story is a fascinating one. She’s a mechanical engineer with a master’s degree from Columbia University. Ursula stepped into her role as CEO in 2010, months after Barrack Obama became the first Black president of the United States. The fact that this “first” happened so recently may surprise you. What surprised me more was what Ursula was told about her life options and what she could aspire to be. As a young woman, she was told she had four choices. She could be a nun, nurse, secretary, or teacher. That’s it. That’s the list. I’m glad she didn’t let someone else’s limits for her become her own.
Since leaving Xerox around 2017, Ursula has served on the boards of several companies, including American Express, Uber, and ExxonMobil. In a recent podcast while Ursula was being interviewed, she brought up the quote in the article title. It turned out not to be a flex. Quite the opposite. She pointed out how people seemed to need to make her some kind of anomaly, as she rose to success. She had to be classified as exceptional because there was no other explanation for her ascension. Her response was, “I am not amazing; I am here because I’m as good as you.”
I was totally captivated listening to Ursula talk. She said when she looks in the mirror, she sees her eight-year-old self, staring back at her with all her fears and insecurities. That one stayed with me. Who do you see when you look in the mirror?
This month, I’m especially proud to celebrate the accomplishments of high-performing, high-achieving trailblazers like Ursula Burns. SMPS is blazing trails of its own. It’s not lost on me that this organization has trumpeted for diverse representation that can now be seen throughout its leadership. My hope is that more organizations will ignore the noise and provide opportunities to talented, diverse candidates who are not only supported but celebrated.
Article written by Antonio Payne, CPA. Antonio is chief financial officer and chief diversity officer for SMPS HQ in Alexandria, VA. He can be reached at antonio@smps.org.
