From Business Leader to Servant Leader

by Candace J. Kuebker, Executive Editor
Fall 2010

If Harvey Najim had stuck with pre-med, San Antonio and St. Mary's may never have known one of America's top philanthropists. The chairman and CEO of Sirius Computer Solutions chuckles when he remembers why his career path changed direction. "I was in my sophomore year at Washington University," he says, "when I discovered I couldn't stand the sight of blood!"

Najim's parents were Lebanese immigrants who constantly stressed education and even picked professions for each of their four sons. Harvey, the oldest, was assigned doctor, but he took a different path.

After earning a degree in mathematics at the University of Wichita, the Army ROTC graduate was commissioned a second lieutenant and opted for a deferment to attend grad school. But working full-time and taking a heavy graduate load was just too much, so he went on active duty and headed for San Antonio. He fulfilled his two-year military obligation at Brooke Army Medical Center Headquarters as a data processing officer, then hired on with IBM where he worked for 13 years.

In 1980, Harvey started a one-man business, Star Data Systems, the forerunner to Sirius, and by 1997 he was ready to make a move. "By then I basically had two businesses: a distribution business and an end-user business," he says. "I realized the distribution business had value, but because I didn't want to take it public, I sold it."

He's grown the end-user business—he kept the Sirius name—to 80 locations, more than 700 employees and almost three-quarters of a billion dollars in business. His company will celebrate its 30-year anniversary this December.

A 2006 financial recapitalization of Sirius resulted in a lot of financial flexibility for Najim. That year he started the Najim Family Foundation, something he'd been thinking about for some time. With a mission of "making a difference in the lives of children," he started by putting $75 million into the foundation, adding $7 million on his 70th birthday this past July and pledging another $125 million.

Harvey doesn't just give money—he takes time to know more about the places that benefit from his foundation. He's visited nearly 100 charities that advance children's issues—education, medical treatment and research for illnesses and diseases, and other children's charitable purposes.

"Children having a safe haven is important to me," he says. That's why his foundation supports ChildSafe, the Children's Bereavement Center, Family Violence and Prevention Center and Seton Home, among many others. In its first three years, the Najim Foundation has awarded 140 grants to dozens of San Antonio-based nonprofits totaling some $24 million.

Nearly a third of the grants go to educational enterprises. As Najim stated when announcing his foundation in 2006, "I am fortunate to be in this position. (San Antonio) has provided so much for my company, my family, and me. I am excited about being able to give back…(and that) my foundation will help make a difference in the lives of children and increase the quality of life in our community…This foundation allows me to move from being a successful business leader to becoming a community leader focused on the needs of others."

Not surprisingly, Harvey has been the recipient of dozens of awards for his professional and personal achievements. His office is full of plaques, statues and other mementos.

He has been inducted into the San Antonio Business Hall of Fame and, in November, he'll go into the Texas Business Hall of Fame. On the service side, among his many honors are the Louis Zbinden Award from SAMMinistries, the O'Krent Award from Boy Scouts of America, and the Spirit of Community Award from the Mexican American Unity Council.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. This past June, this business leaderturned- servant leader joined St. Mary's Board of Trustees. "I'm excited about being on St. Mary's Board because I support education so much," he says. "I think it's an outstanding school and I'm honored and excited that I can play a small part in the continued success and growth of the University."