Leadership Qualities

Oprah’s leadership qualities are exemplified in the way that she communicates and relates to people from all walks of life, empathizes with those in need, and the ability to look at issues from various perspectives.  Oprah’s gift to communicate has fans viewing her show in 140 countries which includes 46 million viewers in the U.S. (Conlon, 2008).  She has a relaxed demeanor with guests that makes the audience feel they are part of the conversation.  Her ability to empathize with people has brought out confessions from her own past that many people would not admit to close friends.  Oprah is self-reflective and has openly admitted her short-comings to millions.  She has the ability to find the best in others and leads through example as can be seen through her philanthropic work, encouraging others to contribute to charitable organizations.  Oprah surrounds herself with others that have the competencies she lacks and trusts in them to do what she cannot. 

At a very young age while living in poverty, Oprah vowed that her life would never be that way when she was older.  She had a very troubled childhood living with a mother that spent little time with her leaving her to be molested and raped by male relatives.  Her life appears to have turned around when she was fourteen and went to live with her father who was a strict disciplinarian and believed strongly in education.  Shortly after going to live with him, she became an honors student and was awarded a full scholarship to college.  Oprah has never forgotten where she came from and the strife that she lived through as a child.  This appears to be the heart of her communication and leadership skills.

Oprah was hired in television in 1973 after the racial riots of ’71 and ’72 and some claimed that she was a token for the station.  She was determined to be successful.  She has few failures that are notable because she has the ability to persevere.   Her failures include box-office flops, lawsuits, and weight-loss; every one of her failures made her stronger.   She is aware of how influential she is in the world and views it as a responsibility and an opportunity to help others grow intellectually and spiritually.  She has inspired me to live my life to the fullest and never stop believing in myself.  It is Oprah’s ability to make people believe in themselves that truly makes her a leader.

Conlon, M.  (2008).  Oprah throws party for U.S. Olympic medalists.  Reuters.  Retrieved from

                http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0329753620080903

Overview

Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 in Mississippi to unwed mother who left her to live in poverty with her grandmother who taught her how to read by the age of three.  At six years old, Oprah moved to Milwaukee to live with her mother.  Her mother worked long hours as a housemaid leaving Oprah to spend many hours alone or with male relatives which she has openly admitted to being molested and raped by them.  At 14, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to live with her father who was a strict disciplinarian and valued education.  Oprah soon became an honors student and won a full scholarship to Tennessee State University. 

Oprah began her career in broadcasting at a radio station in Nashville while she was still in high school.  She soon moved to television as a news anchor and worked in Nashville and then Baltimore where she co-hosted her first talk show.  Oprah moved to Chicago in 1983 where she revolutionized day-time talk shows and was recognized with Emmy Awards and named “Broadcaster of the Year.”  She was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe Award for her role as Sophia in The Color Purple.  Over the years Oprah has expanded her career to include owning a production company, Harpo Productions, magazine publishing, radio broadcasting, and a television channel called OWN:  The Oprah Winfrey Network.

Oprah Winfrey has been listed as a billionaire on international rich lists since 2004 and as the first black woman billionaire in world history.  She has been named as one of America's 50 most generous philanthropists, having given an estimated $303 million for education, women, children and families.  In January 2007, Oprah invested $40 million to build and open a school for girls in Johannesburg, South Africa.  She has been named the most influential woman by Life and USA Today.  Her influence reaches from audiences looking for spiritual and personal growth, to book recommendations that can sell millions of copies, to the political endorsement of Barak Obama in the 2008 presidential election.  Oprah Winfrey is a leader today because of how she engages and relates to people, her persistence and drive that brought her from poverty to one of the wealthiest women in the world, her energy and enthusiasm for philanthropic endeavors, and her ability to influence millions of people worldwide.

American Academy of Achievement.  (2010).  Retrieved from http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/win0bio-1

Fletcher, Dan (2009).  The rich get richer. Time.com. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1939458_1939454_1939448,00.html

The 50 most generous philanthropists.   (n.d.).   Bloomberg Businessweek.  Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/philanthropy_individual.html

Oprah Winfrey.  (n.d.).  Wikipedia.  Retrieved from

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey