Quote

I realized I was more convincing to myself and to the people who were listening when I actually said what I thought, versus what I thought people wanted to hear me say.

Ursula Burns

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Ursula Burns
Age: 66
Born: 1958
Born: September 20
Business Executive
Engineer
Manhattan borough
New York City
Ursula M. Burns
People
Convincing
Versus
Realized
Listening
Hear
Actually
Thought
Wanted

More quotes by Ursula Burns

Image
I've had many mentors, but the one that has the most impact was my mother.
Ursula Burns
Image
As Ive progressed in my career, Ive come to appreciate -- and really value -- the other attributes that define a companys success beyond the P&L: great leadership, long-term financial strength, ethical business practices, evolving business strategies, sound governance, powerful brands, values-based decision-making.
Ursula Burns
Image
This old notion that work is drudgery is nonsense. Most days, even back when Xerox was under siege, I could not wait to get to the office.
Ursula Burns
Image
My perspective comes in part from being a New York black lady, in part from being an engineer. I know I'm smart and have opinions worth being heard.
Ursula Burns
Image
I'm an advocate for change and eager to break a little glass when needed.
Ursula Burns
Image
My mother was pragmatic, focused and extremely, exceedingly practical, and she was the ultimate self-determining person.
Ursula Burns
Image
Admiration takes on a whole new level when you appreciate just how complex it is to run a modern business.
Ursula Burns
Image
Find something that you love to do, and find a place that you really like to do it in. I found something I loved to do. Im a mechanical engineer by training, and I loved it. I still do. My son is a nuclear engineer at MIT, a junior, and I get the same vibe from him. Your work has to be compelling. You spend a lot of time doing it.
Ursula Burns
Image
Believe that there are no limitations, no barriers to your success --- you will be empowered and you will achieve.
Ursula Burns
Image
Crankiness is a human attribute that when people walk in the door of Xerox, they remain human. The best way to get the best out of people is to not force them to be something other than they naturally are. Now what do they have to be? They have to be respectful. You can't be ridiculously disrespectful.
Ursula Burns
Image
My mother raised us to think that if we worked hard, and if we put our end of the bargain in, it would work out OK for us.
Ursula Burns
Image
Dreams do come true, but not without the help of others, a good education, a strong work ethic, and the courage to lean in.
Ursula Burns
Image
The world is changing. We all know this. And as that world changes, if you don't transform your company, you're stuck.
Ursula Burns
Image
I say to my team all the time that this is how I grew up: Always thinking that, at any minute, I could be unemployed. You have to scramble. You have to work hard and get ahead of things.
Ursula Burns
Image
I'm a black lady from the Lower East Side of New York. Not a lot intimidates me.
Ursula Burns
Image
CEOs resign when the internal dynamics of the company and the external dynamics of the company actually come together to say it is appropriate. When the internal dynamics ask you whether you have a replacement. I think the transition from CEOships have also become cartoonish.
Ursula Burns
Image
I don't want to overemphasize this, but not a day goes by when I don't think about my mother and what she would think about what I just did. I often adjust my approach.
Ursula Burns
Image
Xerox is really good at managing documents, and we're definitely good at managing through a process.
Ursula Burns
Image
You don’t have to be at every volleyball game. We can’t guilt ourselves.
Ursula Burns
Image
I want to stop transforming and just start being.
Ursula Burns