17/10/2015

HPCarlyFiorinaSpeech:Technology,BusinessandourWayofLife:What'sNext

HPsitesusedatacollectiontoolssuchascookies.HPusesthesetoolsto:
PersonaliseyourexperienceonHPwebsites

Youcanchangethesesettingsatanytimebygoingtoour
PrivacyStatement.
Byclickingcontinueyouconfirmyourunderstandingand
agreementforcookiessettingsasindicatedonleft.

AllowHP,usingpartners,toshowHPadsmeetingyourinterestsonotherwebsites
Collectanonymousstatisticalinformationtoenhancesitefunctionalityandperformance

Continue

+LearnthebenefitsofchoosingYes
UnitedStatesEnglish

Search:

ContactHP

HPExecutiveTeam

AllofHPUS

Executiveteam>CarlyFiorinaspeeches

Speeches
Companyinformation
Executiveteam
Boardofdirectors
ExecutiveCalendar
FormerCEOs
Relatedlinks
Aboutus
Newsroom
Investorrelations

CARLYFIORINA
MINNEAPOLIS,MINNESOTA
SEPTEMBER26,2001
"TECHNOLOGY,BUSINESSANDOURWAYOFLIFE:WHAT'SNEXT"
Copyright2001HewlettPackardDevelopmentCompany,L.P
Allrightsreserved.DonotusewithoutwrittenpermissionfromHP.
Thankyou.Goodevening,everyone.
Imhonoredtobeherewithyou.SomuchhaschangedsinceIacceptedyourinvitationtospeak.
Sincethen,wevebecomecitizensofanationinmourning.Anationwhosebasicfreedoms,including
ourfreedomofmovement,arebeingweighedagainstothervalueslikesafetyandsecurity.Insomany
ways,weareanationmoreunitedthanwewerejustafortnightagobutwerealsoanationinsearch
ofnewmeaningandcontext.
OnthemorningofSeptember11,IawoketothenewsthattheWorldTradeCenterhadbeenstruck.
Likemanyofyou,Istoodtransfixed,staringattheimagesontelevision,horrifiedbytheevents
unfoldingbeforeoureyes.AndlikemanyAmericans,Ifeltadeepandextraordinaryconnectiontothe
peopleintheWorldTradeCenterandthePentagonandonthoseairplanes,tothecompanies
decimated,tothefamiliesforeveraltered,totheparents,andfathers,andmothers,andchildrenwho
arestillhopingbeyondhopethattheirfamilymemberswillreturn.
Andasabusinessleader,Iexperiencedawholeothersetofemotionsfirstandforemostconcernfor
thesafetyofouremployeesandtheirfamilies.Concernforthesecurityofouremployeeswhoareof
MiddleEasterndescentorwhopracticetheMuslimreligionhereintheUSandabroad.Concernfor
employeeswhoaretraveling,andhowtogetthemhometotheirfamiliesasfastaspossible.Andthena
concernforthesafetyofcustomersandpartnerslocatedintheWorldTradeCentercomplex,inthe
Pentagon,andintheairlineindustry.ConcernaboutthepotentialthreatofcyberattacksagainstIT
infrastructure.Concernforthesecurityacrossourinternationaloperations.
ThesearenoteverydayconcernsforaCEOandforthatreasontheyaresobering.Theyaregrounding.
Timesliketheseforceyoutothinkdeeplyabouttheroleofleadership.
IftheeventsofSeptember11hadneverhappened,Iwouldhavecoveredmanytopicswithyoutonight.
Iwouldhavemadethecasethatthenexteconomicupturnwillbeenabledbyawholenewgeneration
ofinformationtechnology.
Iwouldhavetalkedabouthowthatnewwaveoftechnologywillempowercustomerstransforminghow
wedobusiness,transforminghowwecreatevalue,andtransformingentireindustries.
AndIwouldhavespenttimetalkingabouttheresponsibilityofleadersinguidingaworldinwhich
technologyanditsbenefitsareaccessiblebyall.
Iwouldhavetalkedaboutthefactthatifwedonottakeresponsibilityforclosingthegapbetweenthe
havesandhavenots,betweenthetechnologyenabledandthetechnologydeprivedthatwecannot,
infact,callourselvesleaders.
Increasingly,oursuccessasleadersisdefinedbyourabilitytoseehowourorganizationsfitintoa
muchlargerecosystemofcausesandeffectshowthepushandtugofanactionononesideofthe
globecanpositively(ornegatively)affectfamilies,companies,nations,andentirepeoplesontheother
side.
AllofthesetopicsarestillworthyofafulleveningofdiscussionandwhileIstillholdallofthesethingsto
betrue,Ithinkfortonight,weshouldfocusontheroleofleadership,particularlyinbusiness.Insome
ways,September11marksthestartofaneweraofleadershiponeinwhichcorporationswillhaveto
takeanevengreaterresponsibilityonaworldstage.
Businessleadersinthiscountryhaveadauntingtaskahead.Itgoesfarbeyondthephysicalrebuilding
ofNewYorkandWashington,D.C.Itgoesbeyondresurrectingthetowersthatsymbolizeeconomic
strengthandprosperity.Itgoesbeyondrefocusingourcompaniesandourteamsonforgingaheadwith
business,anditgoesbeyondreturningAmericatosomekindofnormalcy,inthefaceofactions
designedtocorruptanddestroyourwayoflife.
Butitsquitesimple:Asleaders,nowmorethaneverbefore,wehavearesponsibilitytoredefinethe
roleofthecorporationonaworldstageandtoleverageourabilitytoimpactindividuals,companies,
communities,nationsforthebetter.
Wemustremakeourbusinessestobefarmoreactivecorporatecitizenscreatorsnotonlyof
shareownervalue,butalsoofsocialvalue,inwaysthataresystemic,andsustainable.
Itbecomesourjobtouseaprofitenginetoraisethecapabilities,extendthehopes,andextinguish
despairacrosstheglobe.
Wehaveachanceandanimperativetoimprovethechoices,andeconomiccondition,andsphereof
opportunityforbillionsmorepeoplehereathomeandaroundtheglobe.Itsagreatermandateone
thatourcustomersincreasinglydemandofus,onethatisdeservedbyeverycountryinwhichwedo
businessandone,Idarguemustbeundertakenbecauseitcanbeundertaken.
Thisisamandatethatstartedasaquietwhispermorethanadecadeagoandmorerecentlycouldbe
heardmoreloudlyinSeattleandPragueandGenoa,inthevoicesofprotestorswhodeclarethatglobal

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/speeches/fiorina/minnesota01.html

1/4

17/10/2015

HPCarlyFiorinaSpeech:Technology,BusinessandourWayofLife:What'sNext
companieshavenotliveduptotheirresponsibilities.
Whatisimportanthereisnottotakesidesintheglobalizationdebate,buttolookattheproblem,and
worktowardarealsolution.
TheMandate
Astheworldmovestowardaknowledgeeconomythemandateforleadershipchanges.
Unlikeaworlddominatedsolelybymanufacturingprowessordistributionreach,oneinwhichsuccess
isoftenaboutwringingcostoutofthesystemormaximizingasupplychainweveenteredadifferent
world.
Inaknowledgeeconomy,aneconomydrivenbyintellectualandhumancapitalinadditiontofinancial
andphysicalcapital,thetransferofknowledge,andinformation,andknowhowtheexchangeof
serviceswillbecomeanincreasinglyimportantdriver.Insuchaneconomy,partnershipandtrustand
reliabilityandrespectbecomeimportant.Whichiswhy,inaneconomywhereintellectualcapitalis
currency,corporatebehaviorbecomesascorecardbywhichyouarejudgedbyyourcustomers,your
employees,yourshareowners.
Thatscorecardwillofcourseincludeyourabilitytobeacostcompetitiveplayer,butequallyimportant
onthescorecardwillbe:
Yourintegrityandyourcharacter
Yourabilitytotransfervalueandknowhowintolocaleconomiesinwhichyoudobusiness
Yourtrackrecordasasociallyresponsiblecorporatecitizen
Yourabilitytosustainandnurturetruepartnershipsandecosystems,inwhichallpartiesgain
bothsocialgoodandeconomicgain.
Thewinningcompaniesofthiscenturywillbethosewhoprovewiththeiractionsthattheycanbe
profitableandincreasesocialvaluescompaniesthatbothdowellanddogood.Somuchsoinfact,
thatbusinessleaderswillnolongerviewdoingwellanddoinggoodasseparatepursuits,butasone
unifiedpursuit.
And,increasingly,shareownersandcustomersandpartnersandemployeesaregoingtovotewiththeir
feetrewardingthosecompaniesthatachievesocialchangethroughbusiness.Thecompaniesthatwill
beworthyoftheirinvestment,money,timeandenergywillbethosewithsimilarvaluesandthosethat
canmeetamuchhigherstandardofperformance.
Ishouldnotethishasnothingtodowithpoliticsorsubscribingtoaparticularideologyoreconomic
theory.Thisissimplythenewrealityofbusinessonethatweshouldandmustembrace.
Thequestion,ofcourse,is,how?
Andsoletmespendamomenttomovethisdiscussionfromthetheoreticaltothepractical.Whether
yourbusiness,likeHPs,spanstheentireglobe,orjusttheeightblocksaroundthisbuilding,thesame
principlesapply.
Therearefourkeyleadershipimperativesthatareatwork,andmustbemastered,forallofusas
leaderstooperateandsucceedgoingforward.
Imperativenumberoneistheprincipleofleadershipandthemandatetobuildawinningculture.
Thisfirstleadershipimperativestartswithinthewallsofyourcompanyinthevisionyouset,andinthe
cultureyoubuild.
Evenasrecentlyastwoweeksago,inthebusinessworldwetalkedaboutcultureasaleverforchange
andameansofmotivatingemployeesand,certainly,thatsstilltrue.ButparticularlysinceSeptember
11,culturehasalsocometomeansomethingelse:AccordingtoarecentWallStreetJournalarticleon
theredefinitionoftheworkplaceinlightofrecentevents,"Thetragedybroughttheneedforsafety,
security,belonging,andaffiliationintosharprelief."
Clearly,itsleadershipsresponsibilitytogiveemployeesspaceandsupporttorethinktheirprioritiesin
thewakeofrecentevents.Butthearticlegoesontosaythatif"managedcorrectly,recentevents
presentanopportunitytostrengthenemployeessenseofaffiliationthroughacommonvision,a
commonmission,acommonsenseofpurpose."
Inthiscontext,asleaders,wemustanswerthequestionforouremployees:inaworldwhereknowhow
andinsightandintelligenceandinventivespiritarethekeystosuccess,whatrolewillourcompany
playinfosteringitandwhatrolewillweplayinharnessingit?
Onceweanswerthis,wethenhavetofosteraculturethatcandeliveronthatvision.
Itsimportanttorememberthattopleaderscansetavision,setastrategy,setasystemofrewardsand
metricsthatencouragepeople,rewardpeople,trainpeoplebuttherestisultimatelyuptothe
individualsandteamsinourcompanies.Itisverymuchactsofindividuals,theeverydayactsofmany,
thatmakethebiggestdifferenceintheoverallperformanceofacompany.
IthinkthatssomethingthatBillHewlettandDavePackardunderstoodwhentheystartedHPsixtytwo
yearsago.BillandDavedidntcreateHPin1939tobuildanempireorafortune.Thesetwoyoung
Stanfordguyswith$538betweenthemsimplywantedtoinventwhattheycalledtheusefulandthe
significantusefulinpeopleslives,andcontributingtotheworldinasignificantway.
Andtheywantedtocreateameritocracywherepersonal,everydayactsofleadershipcounted.
Whichiswhytheyweredevoutlyegalitarianandprogressiveinthewaytheydesignedemployee
programssuchasemployeestockownershipallemployeeswouldbecomeleaders,inasense.They
rewardedpeoplebasedonperformanceandcontribution,ratherthanonrankortitleorsizeof
organizationortimeinjob.
Today,youcanseethefoundationsofthatculturemagnifiedininitiativeslikeHPsWorldEInclusion
effort,designedtospreadthebenefitsofthedigitalworldintoareasthathavebeenexcludeduntilnow
tonationsacrosstheglobe,totownsandvillagesandbusinesseseverywhere,intothelivesofbillions
whohaveuptonownothadthetoolstosharetheirinventionwiththerestoftheworld,andwhohave
everyrighttoparticipateinaknowledgeeconomy.ItsnotaboutrecyclingPCsorimposingWestern
technologyondevelopingnations.Itsinherentlyaboutcreating,fromthegroundup,locallysustainable
solutionsthatareculturallyrelevant.Itsaboutrethinkinghowtechnologycanempowerandsustainand
liberate,ratherthanexcludeanderodeandrestrain.
Itsultimatelyabouttechnologyasmeans,notenditself.
Sothatsimperativenumberone.
Imperativenumbertwoisaboutleadershipandtheneedforsustainability.
Inthesechallengingeconomictimes,wearealltryingtoignitethegrowthenginesinsideour
companiesandtohelpreignitetheeconomyasawhole.Mostofushavetakenthenecessarystepsto

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/speeches/fiorina/minnesota01.html

2/4

17/10/2015

HPCarlyFiorinaSpeech:Technology,BusinessandourWayofLife:What'sNext
boostefficiency,eliminateredundancyandreducecosts.Butitsnotpossibletocostcutourwayto
growth.Growthisdependentonnewrevenues.Andsothenextleadershipimperativeisfocusedon
creatingsustainabilitythroughthesimultaneouspursuitofgrowthopportunitiesinexistingbusinesses
aswellasinwhollynewmarkets.Pursuinggrowthinexistingbusinessesmeansavoidingcomplacency
andpostponingshorttermgainsformediumtermrewards.
Butletmeunderscoretheimportanceofemergingmarketsandthedistinctivelydifferentapproachthat
mustbetakenindiscoveringthem,nurturingthem,andgrowingthem.
Obviously,mostofthesemarketsarelocatedinthedevelopingworld.Thepotentialforgrowthinthe
emergingmarketeconomieshasneverbeengreater.Asanexample,recentOECDstatisticsshowthat
spendingoninformationtechnologiesintheseeconomiesisgrowingattwicetherateofthe
industrializedworld,althoughoffalowerbase.Itillustratestheimportanceofthinkingaboutdeveloping
marketsasacentralpartofacompanysgrowthstrategy.
Andinthesedevelopingmarkets,sustainablesystemsaretheonlywayyoucanderivelongterm
growth.
"Sustainable"inthatthesolutionsareeconomicallyviable,andcanremainsoforyearswithoutoutside
interference."Sustainable"inthatthesolutionsdonotdegradethelocalenvironment."Sustainable"in
thatthesolutionsrespectsocialandculturalmoresinfact,theyoptimize,celebrate,andrewardthem.
Inthesemarkets,itsespeciallytruethatitsnotjustwhatyoudobutalsothecharacterwithwhichyou
doit.
Wewilllosecustomers,shareowners,andultimatelyemployeesifwedonotdemonstrateleadership
anddevelopnewmetricsforgaugingourperformanceonaworldstage:
Arewemakingusefulandsignificantcontributionsthatareeconomicallyandculturally
sustainable?
Arewedoingeverythingwecantounlockthedoorstotheinformationeconomyinaway
that,again,isnotWesternimposed,UScentric,orhomogenous?
Thefactisweareinasingleglobalecosystem,wired,connected,overlappingbenefitingfromeach
otherssuccesses,andsufferingfromeachotherslosses.September11th madethisallthemorevivid
morethan60countrieslostcitizensonthatday.
ThecollectivemomentofsilencehonoredaroundtheworldhereinAmerica,inMexico,inCanada,in
England,inJapan,acrossthecontinentofAfrica.inthedeepestpartsofsmalltowns,onthestreetsof
ourbiggestcities.Thisgesturemadevisibletome,atleast,howdeeplyconnectedweare.
Complexitytheorytellsusthatimbalanceandasymmetryresolvesitselfintime,eitherthroughnegative
resolutionslikewar,ordisease,oreconomicbreakdown,orthroughpositiveresolutionslikethe
removalofbarriers,theopeningupofsystems,orthemovementofwealthandknowledgeand
personalopportunityandfulfillmenttoamorebalancedgeographicdistribution.
Leadershipbothatthehighestlevelandatthepersonalleveliswhatcausesthependulumtoswing
inonedirectionortheother.Thesystemneedstofindbalance.Humankindisthecatalystthatforces
thebalancetoswingonewayortheother.
Whichleadsustoimperativenumberthree.Thisimperativeisaboutleadershipanddiversity.
Ifwearetrulygoingtocontinuetoleadourcompaniesthroughperiodsofgrowth,andbroadenourrole
asstewardsofanewglobaleconomythatnurtures(ratherthandestroys)everycultureinitspath,we
needtotakeanapproachthatembracesideasandapproacheswehavenomodelfor.Tobe
successful,wemustharnessdiversityofthought.Yes,diversityofpeople,diversityofbackground,
diversityofexperience,diversityofskills.Butmostimportant,diversityofideas.Diversityof
inventiveness.
Ifwearedoingourjobascorporateleaders,wemustthinkmorethanaquarteroutbeyondthe
currentstockprice.Wherewillnewideascomefrom?Wherewillnewbusinessmodelscomefrom?
Wherewilltalentcomefrom?Wherewillourcustomerscomefrom?
Werelivinginanerathat'sdefinedbythepowerofideas,thepowerofconnectionstoknowledge,to
information.Smartpeopleresideeverywhereintheworldallkindsofpeopleandsmartpeople
brimmingwithideasthathaveyettobeheard.
Thisisaboutanewdefinitionofdiversitythathastodowithmorethannationaloriginorraceorcreed
ithastodowithkeepingthemarketinmotionbyfeedingitnewmodels,newideas,newapproaches.
WeseethepowerofdiversityinthewakeoftheeventsofSeptember11th thediversityofthosewho
waitedhourstogiveblood,thediversityofthosewhohelped,thediversityreflectedintheculturesand
religionsthattookpartinthememorialserviceatYankeeStadium.Diversityinthosewhohavedonated
theirtimetocourageouslylookforsurvivors.Thediversityofoutpouringfromvirtuallyeverynationon
thisplanet.Ibringallofthisupnottobedramatic,buttosayifthisisthestrengthwecandrawintimeof
collectivecrisiswhatisthepowerwecouldharnessinaneffortofcollectiveaspirationandhope?
Whichbringsmetothefourthandfinalimperative:leadershipandcourage.
Inrecentyears,themarkethasplacedmoreemphasisonshorttermresultsorthepromiseofshortterm
resultsmorethanthecreationofenduringvalue.
Aleadersjobcantfocussolelyonshorttermresults.Aleadermustfocusonthelongtermhealthofthe
franchiseandthecreationofbusinessvalueforshareowners,customersandemployeesoveryearsto
come.
Thismeans,asleaders,wemustbeboldinouractionsaheadofthemarket,usingthecourageofour
convictionsandourjudgment,experienceandinstinctsasourguide.
SinceweannouncedourmergerwithCompaqthreeweeksago,muchhasbeenwrittenaboutthe
combination,muchofitfocusedonPCmarketconsolidationorcreatingscaletocutcosts.Butthose
stories,frankly,missthemuchbiggerpoint.
StepsliketheoneMichaelCapellasandItooktwoweeksagoarebasedonasharedcommitmentto
leadinganddrivingtheindustrythroughitsnextinflectionpointtheacceleratingshifttowardmarket
unifyingarchitecturesandapproaches.Ashiftthatservescustomersbetter,ashiftthatwillunleashthe
inventiveenergiesofthisindustryonanewgenerationofproducts,applicationsandsolutions,inthe
enterprise,inthesmallandmediumbusiness,inthehome.
Andwhileperhapssomecriticsdonotyetseethefullbenefitofthemerger,theroleofleadershipis
sometimestotakeboldactionsthatdefyconventionalwisdom.
Idontmeantopainttopleadersassolelycharteredtomakesuchmoves.ButIdobelievethatcourage
isrequiredofleaders.
Ithinkinthelasttwoweeks,wehavewitnessedactsofcourageonagrandscaleandataveryhuman
scale.As46yearoldNewYorkerJimPesomensaid,"Thetoughestpartwaswatchingfiremenandthe

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/speeches/fiorina/minnesota01.html

3/4

17/10/2015

HPCarlyFiorinaSpeech:Technology,BusinessandourWayofLife:What'sNext
courageousgobackintothatbuildingasitwascomingdown.Thoseindividuals,Itellyou,have
courageknowingwhattheyknow."
Anditwasactsofcouragewesawoverandoveragaininthenamedheroes,likeMarkBinghamand
TomBurnettonflight93,butalsothosewhowereheroeslikeawomanwhoguidedEduardoRivera
down70flightsofstairs.Omarsblind,andwillneverseethewomanwhosavedhislife,butwillbe
foreverthankful.
Asbusinessleaders,aswearefacedwithquestionsoflifeanddeathratherthanhowmuchourstockis
worth,thesignificanceofourbusinesscontributiontotheworldmaybeincreased.Andthatisagood
thing.
Illendbytellingastory.
Therewasonceacivilizationthatwasthegreatestintheworld.
Itwasabletocreateacontinentalsuperstatethatstretchedfromoceantoocean,andfromnorthern
climestotropicsanddeserts.Withinitsdominionlivedhundredsofmillionsofpeople,ofdifferent
creedsandethnicorigins.
Oneofitslanguagesbecametheuniversallanguageofmuchoftheworld,thebridgebetweenthe
peoplesofahundredlands.Itsarmiesweremadeupofpeopleofmanynationalities,anditsmilitary
protectionallowedadegreeofpeaceandprosperitythathadneverbeenknown.Thereachofthis
civilizationscommerceextendedfromLatinAmericatoChina,andeverywhereinbetween.
Andthiscivilizationwasdrivenmorethananything,byinvention.Itsarchitectsdesignedbuildingsthat
defiedgravity.Itsmathematicianscreatedthealgebraandalgorithmsthatwouldenablethebuildingof
computers,andthecreationofencryption.Itsdoctorsexaminedthehumanbody,andfoundnewcures
fordisease.Itsastronomerslookedintotheheavens,namedthestars,andpavedthewayforspace
travelandexploration.
Itswriterscreatedthousandsofstories.Storiesofcourage,romanceandmagic.Itspoetswroteoflove,
whenothersbeforethemweretoosteepedinfeartothinkofsuchthings.
Whenothernationswereafraidofideas,thiscivilizationthrivedonthem,andkeptthemalive.When
censorsthreatenedtowipeoutknowledgefrompastcivilizations,thiscivilizationkepttheknowledge
alive,andpasseditontoothers.
WhilemodernWesterncivilizationsharesmanyofthesetraits,thecivilizationImtalkingaboutwasthe
Islamicworldfromtheyear800to1600,whichincludedtheOttomanEmpireandthecourtsof
Baghdad,DamascusandCairo,andenlightenedrulerslikeSuleimantheMagnificent.
Althoughweareoftenunawareofourindebtednesstothisothercivilization,itsgiftsareverymucha
partofourheritage.ThetechnologyindustrywouldnotexistwithoutthecontributionsofArab
mathematicians.SufipoetphilosopherslikeRumichallengedournotionsofselfandtruth.Leaderslike
Suleimancontributedtoournotionsoftoleranceandcivicleadership.
Andperhapswecanlearnalessonfromhisexample:Itwasleadershipbasedonmeritocracy,not
inheritance.Itwasleadershipthatharnessedthefullcapabilitiesofaverydiversepopulationthat
includedChristianity,Islamic,andJewishtraditions.
Thiskindofenlightenedleadershipleadershipthatnurturedculture,sustainability,diversityand
courageledto800yearsofinventionandprosperity.
Indarkandserioustimeslikethis,wemustaffirmourcommitmenttobuildingsocietiesandinstitutions
thataspiretothiskindofgreatness.Morethanever,wemustfocusontheimportanceofleadership
boldactsofleadershipanddecidedlypersonalactsofleadership.
Withthat,Idliketoopenuptheconversationandseewhatwe,collectively,believeabouttheroleof
leadership.
BackToTop

Printableversion
Privacystatement

Usingthissitemeansyouacceptitsterms

Feedbacktowebmaster

2012HewlettPackardDevelopmentCompany,L.P.

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/speeches/fiorina/minnesota01.html

4/4