Tomorrow’s Leaders Meet a Pioneer: Students Connect with Ursula Burns During Women’s History Month
In a remarkable opportunity that aligned with Women’s History Month celebrations, 14 exceptional Student Leadership Network students attended an exclusive fireside chat with Ursula Burns earlier this month. Burns, who made history as the first Black woman to serve as CEO of a Fortune 500 company during her tenure at Xerox, shared her journey and insights alongside Andy Sieg, Citi’s Head of Wealth and Global Women’s Network co-chair. The event brought together students from CollegeBound Initiative partner school East Side Community High School and The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria, creating an environment where conversation served as a powerful catalyst for our young leaders.
As Burns recounted stories from growing up in humble environments to taking on leadership roles and breaking barriers, our students absorbed valuable lessons. Recounting her career shift from leading her own lab at Xerox to becoming the Executive Assistant to a senior executive, Burns recalled, “At first I wasn’t sure I wanted to do this. I earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in mechanical engineering, and I’m running my own lab. What does being an executive assistant even mean? But in the end, this was the best way to learn about the inner workings of a company and have a seat at every table, and it became my second most favorite job. So never say no just because of a job title. Look for the learning opportunities in every role.” She later went on to hold several senior leadership roles before becoming the CEO of Xerox, and has since served on numerous corporate boards and co-founded the private equity firm Integrum Holdings.
The impact of this encounter extended beyond the event itself, with each student departing with a signed copy of Burns’ memoir, “Where You Are Is Not Who You Are.” Burns’ authentic perspectives on navigating complex professional landscapes while staying true to her core values resonated with our diverse group of aspiring young leaders. Our students left the event visibly energized and equipped with fresh perspective as they continue developing their leadership skills.
Special thanks to Erika Irish Brown, Megan Lindley, Ariadne Reza, Kelley Smith, and Alfreda Twumasi from Citi, who made this special event possible for our students!
Fireside Chat with Ursula Burns Citi’s Andy Sieg 
Networking activities for students with Student Leadership Network alumna Kenya Bryant 
Students meet Ursula Burns on stage
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