CPD 415 Women In Leadership
This course looked at the experiences, challenges, and strentghs of women in leadership roles. Through weekly discussions, we talked about topics like barriers women face in the workplace, leadership styles, and what it takes to grow as a leader. The journals made it personal. I interviewed a woman in senior leadership to hear her story firsthand and created my own self-development plan to map out where I want to grow. The class wrapped up with the final project researching a well-known woman leader, and I chose Ursula Burns. Check out the project below.
Project Name: Women in Leadership: Ursula Burns
For this project, I researched the life and leadership of Ursula Burns and presented it as a narrated Powerpoint. Burns grew up in public housing on New York's Lower East Side, raised by a single mother, and started at Xerox as a summer engineering intern. she eventually became the company's CEO, making her the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 Company. I looked at how her background, her engineering mindset, and her straight-talking style shaped the way she led, especially during big changes at Xerox.
The biggest insight I got from this project was that where you start doesn't decide where you end up, but the people who invest in you and the chances you take along the way make a huge difference. Burns was known for speaking up and telling the truth even when it was uncomfortable, and that stuck with me as a leader. It reminded me that being honest and real can be a strength, not a risk. And honestly, sharing her first name make the project feel a little more personal.
Click Ursula Burn's Picture below to Watch Presentation
