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Ursula Burns on reparations

From Founder Series - "Lasting Impact" featuring Ursula Burns · · Impact X Capital

“I think that black society around the world has been wronged really wronged and i think that we are we deserve an apology and i think that the apology will do more for the people who apologize than for us and if that helps the people who apologize to write their minds about recognizing that they wasn't wrong so the people who are in this group i'm fine with it i don't think i don't depend on it there's a whole bunch of discussions about it i think we have to be really aware and clear that this is not i mean apologizing is not going to do a damn thing now if they're going to pay money i think that i would take it but this again is not going to solve any problems.”

Ursula Burns
Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, XEROX HOLDINGS CORP
Controversial reparationsapologysystemic racism

On , Ursula Burns, Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at XEROX HOLDINGS CORP, spoke about reparations during Founder Series - "Lasting Impact" featuring Ursula Burns on Impact X Capital.

Founder Series - "Lasting Impact" featuring Ursula Burns
Watch on YouTube at 37:41
Founder Series - "Lasting Impact" featuring Ursula Burns
Impact X Capital
Watch on YouTube at 37:41
She describes herself as an “ordinary human being” who had a “very good start”. But ask anyone about the powerhouse that is Ursula Burns, and they’ll tell you she’s far from ordinary. In fact, the word they’re most likely to use is extraordinary. Ursula is an international business leader who made history when she became the first and only black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company when she was appointed CEO of Xerox. She is credited for turning the multi-billion-dollar company from a print and copying firm, into a world-class technology and services enterprise. Ursula is formidable across multiple industries including technology (VEON, Uber), health (Mayo Clinic), finance (American Express), food (Nestle), education (MIT), philanthropy (Ford Foundation, National Museum of African American History and Culture), and the arts (New York City Ballet). She joins Impact X's Founders Series for a candid discussion of sustainable strategies the European Fast Growth Community can employ to combat racism. Ursula will be joined by Eric Collins the CEO of Impact X to discuss personal, organisation level and ecosystem actions that can be taken. Ursula and Eric are both Founding Members of Impact X. The discussion will be facilitated by journalist and founder of public relations firm ESPR, Eva Simpson. The Founder Series Webinars are a series of panels and talks with founders and leaders in our network. Our mission at Impact X is to support the growth of underrepresented founders and one of the ways we do that is through sharing the rare insights and unique advice from some of the incredible founders and leaders that we know. This promises to be another unique webinar presenting transformative strategies for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Learn more about Impact X Capital: Website: https://www.impactxcapital.com LinkedIn:   / impact-x-capital-partners-llp   Medium:   / impact-x   Twitter: https://twitter.com/impactxcapital?la... Instagram:   / impactxcapital  
Ursula Burns

About Ursula Burns

Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer · XEROX HOLDINGS CORP

Ursula Burns spoke at the Opportunity Network Gala on May 20, 2026. She reflected on her upbringing, describing her mother's advice to "keep looking around" and not let others define one's future. Burns attributed her own success to "a couple of interactions" that made the difference between contributing to society and becoming a "detractor." She urged students to pursue their goals aggressively, stating that "dreams belong to the people who push" and that success involves working through rejection and sacrifice rather than avoiding them.

Profile compiled from Ursula Burns's verified public interviews and appearances. See all quotes & transcripts →

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