Conversation with Carol B. Tomé, Chief Executive Officer of UPS

Carol Tomé, Chief Executive Officer of UPS and Buckhead Coalition Member

Q 1: Atlanta is headquarters for UPS, one of the largest companies in the world, with more than 500,000 employees and nearing $100 billion in annual revenue. Why did UPS choose Atlanta and Georgia as their home?

A: In 1907, an 18-year-old entrepreneur named Jim Casey started UPS in Seattle. Over time, the company’s headquarters moved to Connecticut. But in 1991 the company announced plans to move its headquarters to Atlanta. Why? Because Georgia was simply a great place to do business. As a global company, the proximity to one of the world’s busiest airports was an added plus. Fast forward to 2022, we still think Georgia is a great place to do business. Atlanta offers a high quality of life. The people are very welcoming. We have a competitive workforce and labor environment, and a very reasonable overall cost of doing business.

Q 2: How difficult was the pandemic for UPS and has your company recovered?

A: As I think about the past couple of years, I’m reminded of this quote by Charles Dickens, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” I’m proud of UPSers, who throughout the pandemic showed up….UPSers are essential workers, they are truly moving our world forward by delivering what matters, including vaccines. We’ve delivered more than 1 billion vaccine doses in more than 100 countries around the world. I’m also proud of our financial performance, last year reporting the highest
revenue and operating profit in our company history.

Q 3: You have a great deal of pressure as the CEO of UPS. Is there added pressure for you as a woman CEO?

A: I’ve learned a lot since I took the CEO role. It is an honor and a privilege to serve, but also a heavy responsibility. One of my key learnings is that CEOs are no longer CEOs of companies, we are CEOs of communities. Leading today requires grace, humility, empathy, and courage. As a woman, I’m not under any additional pressure than any of my male counterparts.