How do you carry on that legacy of mentoring in your work? He created his own opportunities instead of being concerned about whether someone was going to hire him or not.Įvery day I ask myself: ‘Am I living my life worthy of the sacrifices they made on my behalf to be in the position I am today?’” You talk about your dad as your first mentor. The first mentor I really had was my dad, doing everything he possibly could to support his children. “Growing up, I saw my parents struggle every day to provide for us.

What parts of your upbringing inspired you to start your own company? We sat down with Steward to get his thoughts on what inspires him, his passion for philanthropy and advice for those starting their careers. It’s Steward’s way of giving back in gratitude for the mentors who helped him along the way, and it’s paid off: The company recently landed a spot on Great Place to Work’s 2018 list of 100 Best Workplaces for Diversity. That year, he founded World Wide Technology (WWT), a small product reseller that he has grown into an $11.2 billion global technology solution provider and leader in the industry.įrom the beginning, Steward focused on fostering a welcoming culture where employees are motivated and engaged in the community. He had already made a name for himself by developing a system to make the auditing process quicker for railroads, and he wanted to continue using technology in new and innovative ways. Some may have been nervous or scared to start something new, but Steward wasn’t. In 1990, Dave Steward was looking for a new adventure.

Dave steward wwt