Photo from American Academy of Achievement

Photo from American Academy of Achievement

Oprah quote

"Luck is preparation meeting opportunity." ~ Oprah

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Leadership Capacities

Oprah Winfrey exemplifies leadership capacity first and foremost in the area of moral purpose. Through her television show, television network, website, and publishing, she inspires millions of people worldwide to live life to its fullest, help others in need, and always strive to be their best.  Her moral purpose is to help others to achieve their maximum potential regardless of the adversity they face.  The American Academy of Achievement (2010) quotes Oprah as saying “It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you come from.  The ability to triumph begins with you.   Always.”   She exemplifies moral purpose by helping others through her various philanthropic endeavors to which she is estimated to have given over $300 million.  She has further demonstrated moral purpose by founding The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls which offers full scholarships to academically talented girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa.   

Oprah has survived in media by embracing the change process and helping others to embrace it along with her.  She has personally undergone change in front of millions of viewers through her shows on spirituality, health, and weight loss, and encourages others to welcome change for the better.  She has built her empire in an industry that is constantly changing.  Oprah is known to bring on board experts that can implement the change needed within her businesses while maintaining close relationships with loyal employees and friends that work for her.  Through the change process Oprah has become one of the world’s wealthiest women and uses this wealth to help others.
Oprah has become known for her ability to build relationships, knowledge building and sharing, and coherence making.  Often her shows are on these very topics.  She has built close relationships with many of her guests that have grown into business relationships (Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz) influencing and gaining even more followers.  Many of her shows are dedicated to knowledge building and sharing to help the average viewer.  Oprah has a way making difficult or emotional topics into “ah-ha” moments.  She can take a complicated situation and break it down to simplified segments that are easily comprehensible.   Oprah epitomizes these leadership capacities and that is why she influences millions of people worldwide.

American Academy of Achievement.  (2010).  Retrieved from   http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/win0bio-1
Oprah Winfrey.  (n.d.).  Wikipedia.  Retrieved from
                http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey
The 50 most generous philanthropists.   (n.d.).   Bloomberg Businessweek.  Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/philanthropy_individual.html
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation.  (2010).  Retrieved from