Student Research Symposium Program Portal: Submission #179

Submission information
Submission Number: 179
Submission ID: 9027
Submission UUID: 3a733767-f96b-4915-8874-1e5dd85d5a1e

Created: Sun, 01/25/2026 - 07:55 PM
Completed: Sun, 01/25/2026 - 08:33 PM
Changed: Wed, 01/28/2026 - 09:00 PM

Remote IP address: 2607:3c40:1104:9b20:1533:7209:cc31:b030
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Primary Student Contact First Name Gabrielle
Primary Student Contact Last Name Aziz
Pronouns
Primary Student Contact FSU Student Email gabrielle.aziz@gmail.com
Photo of all individuals presenting this work Gabrielle Aziz.jpg
Major(s) of all individuals presenting this work MS Systems Engineering
Bio of all individuals presenting this work Gabrielle Aziz is a career changer. She holds a doctorate degree and previously worked in the field of dietetics throughout the Florida Panhandle. She is currently an engineer. She has received a second bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and currently works at Eglin Air Force Base as a test support manager. In this role, she ensures warfighters have reliable test mission resources and support before, after, and in real time. As the primary point of contact for assigned efforts, she coordinates with key stakeholders to identify requirements, secure resources, and keep projects moving toward execution. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in systems engineering. Her research interests focus on practical engineering problem-solving, project management, and data-informed decision support to improve operational performance in aerospace and defense environments. Long term, she aims to grow into an engineering leadership role that connects technical execution with team coordination and mission outcomes. Outside of work, she is married with children and enjoys spending time with family, attending comedy shows, and going on date nights with her husband.
Poster Title Breaking Barriers and Leading Change: The Leadership of Ursula Burns at Xerox
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.
Research Mentor Name Dr. Daniel Georgiadis
Research Mentor's College (or High School) College of Engineering
Research Mentor's Department (or Subject) IME
Research Mentor's Email dgeorgiadis@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Additional Research Mentor(s)
Co-presenter(s)
Keywords Ursula Burns, Xerox CEO leadership, Organizational change leadership, Corporate turnaround strategy, Women in executive leadership
Poster Session/Number
Work Complete
Presentation Modality Asynchronous Online Presentation
Year 2026
Annual description 5th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 17, 2025
Update URL https://pc.fsu.edu/student-research/symposium/research-symposium-program-portal?element_parents=elements/student_photo&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=KVqzvmC9egIvTZsoHhQf1zNBIeF4d_Ch2YCWUq0mQAQ