Randall L. Stephenson Quotes

Powerful Randall L. Stephenson for Daily Growth

About Randall L. Stephenson

Randall L. Stephenson, born on March 16, 1957, is an American business executive, philanthropist, and occasional author, who served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AT&T Inc., one of the world's largest telecommunications companies, from 2007 to 2020. Stephenson was raised in a small town in Alabama, where he developed an early interest in electronics and engineering. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1980. Stephenson's career in telecommunications began at IBM, where he worked on mainframe computers, eventually leading him to SBC Communications (now AT&T) in 1993. Over the next two decades, Stephenson held various leadership positions within AT&T, including President and COO, before ascending to the role of CEO in 2007. During his tenure, he oversaw numerous significant acquisitions, including BellSouth, Pacific Bell, and WarnerMedia (previously Time Warner). Stephenson's influence extends beyond business. He is a member of several boards, such as The Business Roundtable and the Business Council, where he advocates for policy changes to support technological innovation and economic growth. In 2019, Stephenson co-authored "From Silicon Valley to Sunday School: How Faith Helps Me Build and Run a Better Business," a book that explores the intersection of business strategy and faith. Throughout his career, Randall L. Stephenson has demonstrated a keen ability to navigate the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry while staying grounded in his values and community roots. His contributions have made him one of the most influential figures in modern telecommunications.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The world is changing so fast that the people who say it can't be done are increasingly the ones who are left behind."

This quote underscores the importance of adaptability and open-mindedness in our rapidly evolving world. It suggests that those who cling to outdated beliefs or resist change may find themselves falling behind, while those willing to embrace new ideas and adapt to shifting circumstances are more likely to thrive. In essence, it's a call to action to stay curious, flexible, and innovative if we want to remain relevant in an ever-changing world.


"If you don't innovate, you die."

The quote by Randall L. Stephenson serves as a profound reminder that continuous innovation is crucial for survival and growth in any field or industry. It suggests that stagnation leads to obsolescence, and only those who adapt, evolve, and innovate will thrive in the ever-changing landscape of the modern world. This statement underscores the importance of embracing change, staying ahead of competition, and relentlessly pursuing progress in order to ensure long-term success.


"We have to constantly challenge ourselves to reinvent and think about what's next."

This quote emphasizes the importance of continuous self-improvement, innovation, and forward thinking in personal or professional life. It suggests that complacency is not an option and that one should always strive for growth and development by challenging the status quo, exploring new ideas, and anticipating future trends. Essentially, it encourages individuals to embrace change and remain adaptable in a rapidly evolving world.


"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

This quote by Randall L. Stephenson highlights the power of personal agency and self-determination. It suggests that instead of passively accepting what may come in the future, we should actively shape our own destiny through deliberate action and decision-making. Essentially, it emphasizes the idea that our future is not predestined but can be influenced significantly by the choices we make today.


"Success is about more than just winning. It's about making a difference in the world, leaving a lasting impact on those around you."

This quote by Randall L. Stephenson implies that true success encompasses not only personal achievements or victories, but also the positive influence one has on their surroundings and the world at large. It emphasizes that making a difference and leaving a lasting impact on others is an integral part of achieving success. In other words, it's about more than just reaching the finish line first; it's about creating something meaningful and valuable for those who share our journey.


This is probably going to surprise people, but if you were to do a scan around the globe on public policy concerning our industry, you would probably have to conclude that the United States has the policy that has been, I believe, the most pro competition.

- Randall L. Stephenson

United, Been, Scan, Public Policy

Get rid of the preferences and the special deductions and the loopholes... and invest in getting the tax rate to a competitive level so we stop seeing companies move off shore.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Level, Move, Preferences, Tax Rate

We launched DirecTV Now. Our 5G evolution plans and improved spectrum position are paving the way for the next generation of super-fast mobile and fixed networks.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Generation, Next, Mobile, Fixed

Over half of the traffic that flows over our networks is coming from video. As you think about a business that is going to be video centric and video focused, you want to have scale on the video programming side to be able to take advantage of this.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Scale, About, Half, Traffic

I'll never forget the first time... I got a Blackberry smartphone, and I'm playing with it and I'm going, 'This is really important because my email, my contacts, my calendar. Everything is here and it's synced up with that computer. It's synced up with my assistant's computer.'

- Randall L. Stephenson

Here, Computer, Got, Blackberry

I'm not asking you to be tolerant of each other. Tolerance is for cowards. Understand each other.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Asking, Other, Tolerant, Tolerance

Nobody should be too boastful or too proud about their security because there are people who have a major interest in cracking the security of networks, the security of companies.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Proud, Networks, About, Cracking

E-mail, when it became mobile - what happened? Utilization of email went through the roof. Just pure Internet access and data - what happens when you mobilize it? Multiples. People are dependent upon broadband and as you mobilize it, they become even more dependent on broadband.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Through, Access, Became, Utilization

CNN is an American symbol of independent journalism and First Amendment free speech. My board and I are clear: CNN will remain completely independent from an editorial perspective.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Amendment, Editorial, Symbol, Journalism

I'm carrying an iPhone 5. I like this device. It's been impressive. I have a Windows and an Android device... I carry an iPad. I carry a Kindle... Yeah, I have a lot of devices.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Like, Been, Devices, Device

Our communities are being destroyed by racial tension - and we're too polite to talk about it.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Destroyed, Tension, Polite, Communities

We shook up the industry with our landscape-changing deal to acquire Time Warner, the logical next step in our strategy to bring together world-class content with best-in-class distribution which will drive innovation and more choice for consumers.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Next, Deal, World-Class, Strategy

AT&T is interested in anything that drives more bandwidth requirements, and Apple TV drives significant bandwidth, and the iPhone drives significant bandwidth, and so I think it's a very logical fit.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Think, Very, Requirements, Bandwidth

Our intent is to operate Time Warner as it operates today, with autonomy in its divisions, including the world-class creative talent and journalists that make Time Warner a leader in entertainment and news.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Leader, News, Including, Intent

We hire military veterans because they make great employees. They bring proven technical and leadership skills. They understand teamwork, and they're adaptable. Bottom line, hiring veterans is good for business.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Veterans, Hire, Technical, Adaptable

When the iPhone came out, every CIO in America said, 'You're not bringing that into our corporate environment,' my CIO included.

- Randall L. Stephenson

iPhone, Out, Our, Included

Speed is the No. 1 thing. Our core competency has been doing exactly this: buying companies and integrating them quickly.

- Randall L. Stephenson

Doing, Been, Integrating, Core

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