Executive profiles in golf - four Black business people who enjoy the games of golf and tennis - Black Enterprise Golf and Tennis Challenge: 4th Annual Tournament Journal

Black Enterprise, Sept, 1997

Since graduating from college, Cox has had no trouble finding challenges or taking risks. She hooked up with IBM in 1978 as a tax law clerk in the Corporate Tax Department and became a tax attorney the following year. Her steady and impressive climb through the company led to her to being named Director of U.S. Tax Operations for IBM Credit Corporation in 1995 and Director of International Taxes last year.

Her growth and development in tennis has been just as rewarding. She is a 12-year veteran of the USTA team tennis circuit and a regular at the Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge.

Until recently, her forte in tennis was singles, but in keeping with her fondness for a good challenge, she now enjoys doubles, too. "I like the mental part of doubles. It's mostly about placement," she says, "and you really do have to go with how do you confuse the other side."

In singles, her strategy is much simpler: Hit it where your opponent isn't. Cox is also a firm believer in focusing on one point at a time and staying under control mentally. "I don't lose the perspective that it is a game," she says. "I try to keep in mind that I'm doing this for fun, for exercise, and mentally as a stress-reliever." After a very, very difficult day at the office, there's nothing like going out to hit some balls to release the tension. And I try not to get so serious that I walk off the court upset with my partner or someone I played against."

That's not to say Cox is shy about expressing her feelings. If she feels she's being wronged, she deals with it diplomatically. "Trouble is, tennis players tend to be some of the most competitive people you run into," she says. Truer words were never spoken.