Student Research Symposium Program Portal: Submission #179

Abstract This poster examines the leadership approach of Ursula Burns and how her decisions and behaviors shaped organizational performance during periods of strategic change. As the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company as CEO of Xerox, Burns operated under high external pressure, complex stakeholder demands, and rapid shifts in technology and the marketplace. Using a leadership framework lens, this research analyzes how Burns managed expectations, communicated priorities, and balanced people-focused leadership with the need for execution and accountability. The study draws on publicly available speeches, interviews, and biographical and organizational sources to identify recurring leadership themes such as transparency, disciplined decision-making, resilience, and the role of pushback in improving decision quality. Findings suggest that Burns’ effectiveness was reinforced by consistent modeling of standards, clear performance expectations, and an emphasis on organizational learning during uncertainty. The analysis also highlights how her leadership narrative contributes to broader discussions of representation and barriers in executive leadership. This work offers practical insights for emerging leaders in aerospace and defense environments by translating Burns’ leadership strategies into transferable behaviors that support mission outcomes, team coordination, and responsible risk-taking.