Building the Future of Technology Through Equity, and Transformative Leadership.
“True innovation starts with faith, service, and the belief that every community deserves a seat at the table.”
IMPACT & INSPIRATION — AfroNouveau David L. Steward
AfroNouveau David L. Steward embodies AfroNouveau leadership through innovation, faith, and a commitment to equity. He transformed WWT into a global technology powerhouse while championing pathways for Black engineers, tech founders, and underrepresented communities. His philanthropy strengthens education, combats systemic inequality, and bridges opportunity gaps. Thereby, proving that tech leadership can and must carry moral weight, advancing both progress and purpose.
Visionary AfroNouveau Leadership
Steward co-founded WWT in 1990, and over three decades grew it from a modest reseller into a global tech solutions leader with over 12,000 employees and roughly US$20 billion in annual revenue. Under his leadership, WWT expanded into cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics and AI, serving Fortune 500 companies and major governments worldwide.
Trailblazer in Tech & Equity
His rise was not without hardship. Steward grew up in a racially segregated and economically challenged environment. However, after earning a business degree from Central Missouri State University, he worked in sales before launching WWT. In the early years, the company weathered financial strain — Steward once endured missed paychecks and even repossession of his car — before WWT secured its first large government contracts through its minority-owned status.
Builder
Beyond profit, Steward built institutional structures for inclusion. WWT’s Small Business and Supplier Enablement Program supports minority-owned and disadvantaged firms to compete in the IT industry. Through his philanthropic foundation, he channels resources into education, job training, and community development — helping bridge racial and economic divides.
Achiever Reshaping AfroNouveau Influence
Steward’s success makes history for the AfroNouveau. In 2024, he was named the wealthiest Black person in America, with net worth estimated at US$11.4 billion. WWT under his stewardship ranks among the largest privately-held technology companies in the US, repeatedly earning recognition as one of the best workplaces, and being named by Fortune and Fast Company for workplace excellence and innovation.
As an AfroNouveau David L. Steward icon, his journey continues to inspire global conversations around tech inclusion and leadership.
Connector
Though based in the United States, Steward’s journey speaks to AfroNouveau communities worldwide: his model shows how tech entrepreneurship, guided by values and inclusion, can create global impact. His commitment to giving underserved communities a seat at the table resonates with diaspora ambitions to build tech-anchored growth and opportunity — bridging race, geography, and economy.
Credentials & Achievements
- Founder & Chairman of World-Wide Technology, a $20+ billion global tech solutions leader.
- One of the wealthiest Black business leaders in American history.
- Philanthropist supporting education, racial equity, and faith-based community development.
- Author of bestselling leadership books grounded in service, integrity, and purpose.
- Adviser to global companies, nonprofits, and civic partners working to close the digital divide.
Dear AfroNouveau,
David L. Steward stands as an AfroNouveau blueprint. He is proving that visionary tech leadership rooted in faith, equity, and service can power not just profit, but meaningful change and opportunity. Join us as we honor the AfroNouveau 100 shaping culture, community, and global change.
AfroNouveau David L. Steward stands as a blueprint for purpose-driven innovation and social impact.
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