Successful African American Business Owner

SUCCESSFUL AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS OWNER

DAVID STEWARD

CEO & FOUNDER, WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY

David Steward grew up in a Christian home in a small town of Clinton, Missouri. As a teen, he lived through the racially tense '60s, attending segregated schools, sitting in the balcony of the movies, and being barred from the public swimming pool. David doesn't harbor any negative feelings about having to endure those days, especially since his mother warned him against becoming bitter and resentful. He literally lived on the other side of the railroad tracks, but learned that division doesn't work.

Though his family had few material possessions, David believes he inherited considerable wealth from his parents because they taught him what was important: treating people right. David recalled homeless people stopping by the house. "No one was ever turned away," he said. "I saw faith in action." David also remembers his mother giving her lat dollar to the church. He knew that it was seed to be sown with the expectation of a harvest. These principles of sowing and reaping have stayed with him his entire life.

David always had a lifelong dream of owning his own business. It was a burning desire inside of him. After college, he spent ten years in sales for three Fortune 500 companies. As the senior accountant for a major corporation, David was awarded Salesman of the Year and was made a member of the company's hall of fame. They presented an ice bucket with his initials engraved inside. David looked inside the bucket and realized that it was empty. This was a defining moment; he asked himself is this what he really wants out of life. At the time, David and his family were living paycheck to paycheck, but David had complete faith in God. It was clear in his mind that his belief in God, coupled with the desire to work hard to serve others, meant he was destined to succeed.

After many years and five failed companies, he finally figured out the secret to success, 'treat people right.' He launched Transport Administrative Services in 1987. The company's purpose was to provide online automated transportation audit services to seven major rail carriers. He later decided to diversify his business interest by capitalizing the start-up of World Wide Technology (WWT) in 1990 on a shoestring budget and 7 employees. He wanted to be part of one the greatest revolutions that ever hit history, the information stage. WWT is the largest black-owned business in the United