David L. Steward
Co-founder and Chairman of the Board
World Wide Technology, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri

Ebony Magazine named David Steward one of the nation's 100 Most Influential Black Americans. In 2004 Black Enterprise Magazine named his company, World Wide Technology, Inc., the #1 Black-owned business in America. With annual sales of $2.5 billion, WWT is a leading electronic procurement logistics company in the IT and telecommunications industry and a major government contractor.

LifeChasers: David, your industry has been hit hard by the recession. How has WWT fared in this tough business climate? What has been your biggest challenge?

Steward: Considering the meltdown in our industry, we were minimally affected. We made money in a terrible market and are well positioned going forward. My biggest challenge this past year was making the decision to lay off people. I thought I would never have to do that. Eventually I recognized it as an opportunity to prune. Pruning is a biblical principle. Jesus said pruning was painful but necessary in order to cut off dead wood and make room for new growth. The layoffs were in our company's best interest to ensure our long-term sustainability. But it was hard.

LifeChasers: Was that your toughest business challenge ever?

Steward: I would say 1993 was tougher. We were a considerably smaller company and we were $3.5 million in debt--due, in part, to a couple of people in our organization who misappropriated funds. It was a very difficult time on many levels. They were people I had known and trusted for years. Looking back, I believe God allowed it to happen to prepare me for the success that came later and is ahead. When we become a billion-dollar company - which will probably happen this year - I will have a better appreciation for what He has brought us through.

LifeChasers: What did you learn from that experience?

Steward: First, I learned that people aren't our greatest asset. The right people are. Secondly, I realized I had a decision to make about whether I was going to be vengeful and unforgiving and choose not to trust anybody anymore. To let that happen would mean letting Evil steal the love and peace God had for me. I chose to cut my losses, fire the perpetrators, put stronger safeguards in place and move on.

LifeChasers: Why do you think you've been successful?

Steward: I believe in applying biblical principles to all my life--principles like sowing and reaping and blessing and giving to others and seeing it return to you. It's not just about what is good business. It's about what is good for the broader scope of my life. My whole life is God's business.

I was named David after King David in the Bible. His name means "beloved." My last name, Steward, means "servant." I believe I'm called to be a beloved servant to everyone I meet--especially the 600 people in my company.

LifeChasers: What does that look like on a day-to-day basis?

Steward: Employees watch and mimic those values that they see exhibited to them by their leaders. I try to set the tone for our company to be a giving and serving culture. I tell my people, "I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to help you be successful." I'm constantly asking if they have the tools, the resources and training they need to succeed. I want that attitude to permeate our whole organization.

It creates a totally different mindset than you usually see in the marketplace. It changes selfish motives and that attitude of everyone looking out for himself. Instead, employees start thinking, "How can I support the team and our customers and suppliers?" And they start to believe in the dream and have faith in the vision for our company. You can't buy that kind of loyalty and trust. I think it's been key to our success.