Please contact Dr. Works (keworks@fsu.eu) for additional help: Submission navigation links for Research Symposium Program Portal WF ‹ Previous submission Next submission › Submission information Submission Number: 179 Submission ID: 9027 Submission UUID: 3a733767-f96b-4915-8874-1e5dd85d5a1e Submission URI: /student-research/symposium/research-symposium-program-portal Submission Update: /student-research/symposium/research-symposium-program-portal?token=KVqzvmC9egIvTZsoHhQf1zNBIeF4d_Ch2YCWUq0mQAQ 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 Webform: Research Symposium Program Portal WF Submitted to: Student Research Symposium Program Portal Primary Student Contact First Name Primary Student Contact Last Name Pronouns Primary Student Contact FSU Student Email Photo of all individuals presenting this work Gabrielle Aziz.jpg80.82 KB Remove Upload requirementsOne file only.2 MB limit. Major(s) of all individuals presenting this work 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 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 Research Mentor's College (or High School) Research Mentor's Department (or Subject) Research Mentor's Email Additional Research Mentor(s) Co-presenter(s) Keywords Poster Session/Number Work Complete Exploratory (the research question has been identified and design of approach is outlined) Presentation Modality Face to Face Poster session Synchronous Online Presentation Asynchronous Online Presentation Poster PDF Upload Upload requirementsOne file only.100 MB limit. Poster Thumbnail Please take a screenshot of your poster to be a thumbnail on your Symposium Program Profile. Upload Upload requirementsOne file only.2 MB limit. I will be printing my poster CAPTCHA What code is in the image? Enter the characters shown in the image. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Save Leave this field blank
