Carly Fiorina
Extract from a speech by Carly
Fiorina, CEO of Hewlett-Packard.
There was once a civilization that
was the greatest in the world.
It was able to create a
continental super-state that stretched from ocean to ocean, and from northern
climes to tropics and deserts. Within its dominion lived hundreds of millions of
people, of different creeds and ethnic origins.
One of its languages became the
universal language of much of the world, the bridge between the peoples of a
hundred lands. Its armies were made up of people of many nationalities, and its
military protection allowed a degree of peace and prosperity that had never been
known. The reach of this civilization’s commerce extended from Latin
America to China, and everywhere in between.
And this civilization was driven
more than anything, by invention. Its architects designed buildings that defied
gravity. Its mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable
the building of computers, and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined
the human body, and found new cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the
heavens, named the stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration.
Its writers created thousands of
stories. Stories of courage, romance and magic. Its poets wrote of love, when
others before them were too steeped in fear to think of such things.
When other nations were afraid of
ideas, this civilization thrived on them, and kept them alive. When censors
threatened to wipe out knowledge from past civilizations, this civilization kept
the knowledge alive, and passed it on to others.
While modern Western civilization
shares many of these traits, the civilization I’m talking about was the
Islamic world from the year 800 to 1600, which included the Ottoman Empire and
the courts of Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo, and enlightened rulers like Suleiman
the Magnificent.
Although we are often unaware of
our indebtedness to this other civilization, its gifts are very much a part of
our heritage. The technology industry would not exist without the contributions
of Arab mathematicians. Sufi poet-philosophers like Rumi challenged our notions
of self and truth. Leaders like Suleiman contributed to our notions of tolerance
and civic leadership.
And perhaps we can learn a lesson
from his example: It was leadership based on meritocracy, not inheritance. It
was leadership that harnessed the full capabilities of a very diverse population–that
included Christianity, Islamic, and Jewish traditions.
This kind of enlightened
leadership — leadership that nurtured culture, sustainability, diversity
and courage — led to 800 years of invention and prosperity.
In dark and serious times like
this, we must affirm our commitment to building societies and institutions that
aspire to this kind of greatness. More than ever, we must focus on the
importance of leadership– bold acts of leadership and decidedly personal
acts of leadership.
The full text of this speech can
be found at the Hewlett-Packard website at:
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/speeches/fiorina/minnesota01.htm
It was delivered on 26 September
2001 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at a conference whose theme was: "TECHNOLOGY,
BUSINESS AND OUR WAY OF LIFE: WHAT'S NEXT"
