Mr. David Steward is a visionary entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a community activist, renowned worldwide for faith in business and commitment to the progress of society. Thus, as the founder and Chairman of World Wide Technology (WWT) he has transformed a small contractor for the US government into the largest African American owned company in the United States employing over 10 000 employees and generating over $20 billion in revenue.
David Steward started WWT in 1990 with a clear intention of revolutionizing technology to advance the community and the provision of the employment of minorities. He also has a quality of visionary and a strong belief, which has taken WWT from a very small company to a technology solutions company around the world. People can attest that with his leadership, WWT not only secured business success, but also rightfully positioned itself as the co-founder of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion movement.
A History Based on Faith and Perseverance
David Steward was raised in Clinton, Missouri after he was born in Chicago and was able to achieve his success through strength and faith. The necessity of the work Steward did was marked when as the first African American employee of Missouri Pacific Railroad to sell rail services and later as a senior account executive of Federal Express. At FedEx organization he was received as salesman of the year in 1981 and honored by being admitted to the sale’s hall of fame at FedEx.
Though, the described project vividly demonstrates that Steward’s entrepreneurial taste made him embrace a risky move in establishing WWT. Initially it was a struggling company, but with the coming of Steward in the company he majored in strategic decisions and relationship building which eventually served to secure WWT a place in the SBA Business Development Program. This support was a big boost to the growth of WWT and this driven the company to ensure that it offer the same chances to other SDBs through its Small Business and Supplier Diversity program.
Innovation Through Diversity
David Steward is absolutely convinced that talent is everywhere, while opportunity is not. This philosophy is also the foundation of WWT’s approach to the recruitment and development of first, diverse workforce and second, diverse vendors and suppliers. Partnerships with organizations like the National Minority Supplier Development Council help make WWT a model of supplier-diversity and show how equity boosts performance.
Beyond Business: A Commitment to Giving Back
It may of course be argued that David Steward has touched lives beyond the corporate America. He spends a significant amount of time carving out interventions that help improve the standard of living of poor communities and bringing about change. Steward has been one of the most prominent supporters of Concordance as the non-profit organization that aims to support individuals and help them stop reinterment in prison.
Being a fan of auto racing himself, Steward has attempted to show the sport in a liberal light. David Steward was instrumental where NASCAR driver Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace Jr. was standing against the Confederate flag and where the NASCAR acknowledged the accomplishment of Wendell Scott who was the first black winner of the race.
Steward is also a member of several organizations promoting diversity equity and Inclusion; National Urban League, Boy Scouts of America, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation. He has been rewarded for his leadership and charity with many honors some of which are honorary doctorate, and membership of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.
David Steward Faith and Leadership
The author has written rather extensively with two of his publications, Doing Business by The Good Book: A Profitable Business Guide for Evangelical Christians and Leadership by the Good Book: Lessons for Navigating Business, Money, and Life from the Bible. All these works, represents his strong belief in faith as a foundation in one’s family, workplace, and in life.
A Family of Achievers
David Steward is 67-year-old retiree party member with his wife Thelma for nearly fifty yrs, and they have strong family and public oriented values. David Steward II together with Kimberly Steward have followed their father’s footsteps in offering the best services. Currently, David II serves as the head at Polarity, LLC, the only Black-owned digital animation studio in the United States, and K Period Media serves as the head of the company of the same description, a company that has also received accolades, including Oscars.
A Lasting Impact
David Steward ’s story is an inspiring journey of faith and determination, ALDI’s vision to be an employer of choice for everyone. As the chairman of WWT, he still goes on giving direction to his team, his partners, and his communities defining how business can bring success and sustainable good for society to humanity.
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