KU alumna climbed her way to the top

By Joe Preiner

Monday, November 17, 2008

When Cynthia Carroll visited Skidmore College in New York as a senior in high school, science was near the bottom of her list of academic interests.

She said she asked her tour guide one question: “I heard there is a science requirement,” Carroll said. “How do I get it over with?”

Carroll chose geology to fill that requirement because she heard it was easy. Four years later she graduated as a geology major and was on her way to the University of Kansas for graduate school.

Carroll, who received her master’s degree in geology from the University in 1982, currently ranks No. 5 in Forbes Magazine’s top 100 most powerful women in the world. In the spring of 2007, she became the first woman Chief Executive of Anglo American, one of the world’s leading mining companies. Carroll, who also received a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University, was on campus at the University Friday to meet with students in the business school and speak about the role a corporation like hers plays in the world market.

Carroll’s status among women in business has risen from No. 7 last year to No. 5 in 2008. Despite her success, she said she remains focused on her duties as CEO of a multi-national corporation as well as a mother of four.

“I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about these things,” Carroll said. “I never set out a game plan. I never said I wanted to be at such and such a level. I just try to do the best I can at any given time.”

Anglo American operates in 45 countries around the globe. It is the world’s leading producer of both platinum and, through its 45 percent share of De Beers, diamonds. Although Carroll runs many aspects of De Beers, she said the position within Anglo American and title of fifth most powerful woman in the world didn’t come with any diamond-studded perks.

“I don’t own a lot of that kind of jewelry,” Carroll said. “When I go to De Beers events with my husband, the De Beers marketing person is always running over to us asking, ‘Where are the diamonds?’ I own a little, but not a lot.”

Carroll spoke to a nearly-full auditorium in the Spencer Museum of Art Friday afternoon. Her presentation, “The Role and Responsibility of the Multi-National Corporation,” detailed many of her company’s efforts to stay ahead of the curve when dealing with energy and environmental issues. The presentation spurred discussion on the impact of the economy on Carroll’s company. Jason Hering, Hutchinson senior and president of Ecojustice, said Carroll presented herself in a manner fitting of the CEO of a world-leading company.

“Being a leader doesn’t mean all that much,” Hering said. “It means you’re better than the rest, but in the industry the rest aren’t that good.”

Carroll said she realized she could be viewed as a role model for younger women. Her advice to students was to keep an open mind to career possibilities and try different subjects as she did.

In the latest edition of Forbes Magazine, Carroll was described as a force to be reckoned with within the realm of world governments. Chancellor Robert Hemenway agreed.

“Of course she is,” Hemenway said. “She’s a Jayhawk.”

— — Edited by Ramsey Cox

Comments

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Advertisement