Oprah Winfrey Theme Paper
CEM: IIE
Theme Paper
Topic: “Creative insights from the life of Oprah Winfrey”
Submitted By
Maninder Kaur
PGP/PGDM/0186/49
Section A
OPRAH WINFREY
“Follow your instincts, that is where true wisdom manifests itself” – Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most respected Black American women in the world. Most popular for her show “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which has been rated as the highest rated show in the history of television ever, she is probably the most powerful woman in the United States today and the first African American woman to join the billionaire club.
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most respected Black American women in the world. Most popular for her show “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which has been rated as the highest rated show in the history of television ever, she is probably the most powerful woman in the United States today and the first African American woman to join the …show more content…
billionaire club.
Early Life
Oprah started from very deprived conditions in her early life. Born in Mississippi to an unwed mother, she was abandoned by her mother and sent to her grandmother’s house as the couple broke up soon after her birth. Since her poor housemaid mother couldn’t afford paying for her education, Oprah started her education in the kitchen of her grandmother. Raised by her grandmother on a farm, Oprah learned to read and love books at an early age.
In 1957, when she was barely four, Oprah recited sermons from the Bible at the local church. She loved the attention and applaud she received after the recitals. She spent first six years of her life at her grandmother’s and the family was so poverty stricken that Oprah often wore dresses made of potato sack for which she was mocked by the local children. Then she moved to her mother’s house again who was too busy working to attend to her. It was then that Oprah was mentally and physically abused by close relatives. She suppressed the trauma which had a deep impact on her and made her a troubled teenager.
[Cite your source here.]
In 1957, when she was barely four, Oprah recited sermons from the Bible at the local church. She loved the attention and applaud she received after the recitals. She spent first six years of her life at her grandmother’s and the family was so poverty stricken that Oprah often wore dresses made of potato sack for which she was mocked by the local children. Then she moved to her mother’s house again who was too busy working to attend to her. It was then that Oprah was mentally and physically abused by close relatives. She suppressed the trauma which had a deep impact on her and made her a troubled teenager.
[Cite your source here.]
The Second Chance
At the age of 14, she found herself pregnant but the infant died shortly after birth. Her mother tried to send her to a home for troubled teens but she was turned back as the home was full. She was sent to the custody of her biological father who was a strict disciplinarian. This was the turning point in her life when she began to rebuild her life and concentrate on her high school education.
[Cite your source here.]
At the age of 14, she found herself pregnant but the infant died shortly after birth. Her mother tried to send her to a home for troubled teens but she was turned back as the home was full. She was sent to the custody of her biological father who was a strict disciplinarian. This was the turning point in her life when she began to rebuild her life and concentrate on her high school education.
[Cite your source here.]
Her father made her read books, write reviews and participate in competitions to increase her self-confidence. She became an honors student, was voted Most Popular Girl, and joined her high school speech team at East Nashville High School, and came second in the nation in dramatic interpretation. She also won an oratory contest, which secured her a full scholarship to Tennessee State University, where she studied communication.
The Most popular TV show ever
In 1970s, she won multiple pageants, including Miss Black Tennessee, but then she decided to pursue her education further and a career in television. In 1971, at the age of 17 Oprah got her first broadcasting job to work as a part time radio announcer for WVOL radio station which was mainly targeted at African Americans. After leaving college, she became the first black woman newscaster in Nashville. She was then offered a job as a television reporter in Baltimore. But soon her bosses discovered that there was a problem with her. She became involved in the stories and couldn’t distance herself from them. She would laugh during interviews and weep at sad events.
But she turned this weakness into a strength as a talk show host. She moved to a breakfast show which became very popular because of the new creativity Oprah added to it and then she soon graduated to national TV with the AM Chicago TV show. In 1983, due to Oprah’s undeniable ability to single handedly hold an audience, she moved from co-hosting to hosting the show very fast. This went on to become the best show in the history of American Television.
[Cite your source here.]
But she turned this weakness into a strength as a talk show host. She moved to a breakfast show which became very popular because of the new creativity Oprah added to it and then she soon graduated to national TV with the AM Chicago TV show. In 1983, due to Oprah’s undeniable ability to single handedly hold an audience, she moved from co-hosting to hosting the show very fast. This went on to become the best show in the history of American Television.
[Cite your source here.]
The biggest reason for Oprah’s success and that of the show was the way she converted it from a regular talk show format ( called report talk) to a new format (referred to as rapport talk), which engaged audience in a free flowing conversation. The show became an instant hit with the women, particularly in the 30-50 age bracket. The conversational mode of the show formed a basis for female bonding. She made the talk show more personal and confessional. It was a very female conversation and Oprah showed just how powerful tapping into that market could be.
To back it up, Oprah has been unafraid of exposing her own troubles and shortcomings. She has been open about her history of abuse and that she once smoked cocaine. Her weight problems are something she very candidly talks about. For each confession from Oprah, the audience loved her even more, relating to her and drawing solace while fighting their own problems.
By the mid-1990s she had reinvented the show with a focus on literature, self-improvement, and spirituality. It began to take a more socially conscious tone set by a liberal Black woman broadcasting in American heartland, which is undoubtedly the hardest voice to hear in white male dominated media. The “Oprah Winfrey Show” stayed on the number one slot for talk shows for 24 consecutive seasons. Produced by Oprah’s own production company, it reached more than 40 million viewers a week in the United States and was licensed to 150 countries internationally.
Other achievements
In 1988, she started Harpo Studios, being only the third woman in the entire American entertainment industry (after Mary Pickford and Lucille Ball) to have a studio of her own. Through Harpo films division, she has produced many quality movies based on classic and contemporary literature that have been widely acclaimed and won international honors for quality acting and production.
In 1988, she started Harpo Studios, being only the third woman in the entire American entertainment industry (after Mary Pickford and Lucille Ball) to have a studio of her own. Through Harpo films division, she has produced many quality movies based on classic and contemporary literature that have been widely acclaimed and won international honors for quality acting and production.
In the late 1990s, she also became a big player in the literary industry with her “Oprah’s Book Club.” Such had her fan following developed by then that whichever books she chose and recommended became overnight best sellers.
In April 2000, “O, The Oprah Magazine” was introduced by Oprah and Hearst Magazines. It features stories similar to the ones in the show having the same inspirational, go get them kind of tales and down deep celebrity interviews sharing their lives’ stories. It is a monthly magazine and has become one of the leading women's lifestyle publications today. It has been credited as the most successful magazine launch in recent times.
In 2008, in partnership with Discovery communications, Oprah announced plans to create OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, a multi-platform media venture designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN stands for using one’s creativity and desires to accomplish one’s goals.
She has been known as a generous employer and has taken her employees and their families on all expenses paid vacations to Hawaii and other holiday destinations, making sure that they love working for her.
At around the same time she was doing the breakfast talk show, she landed up a major role in “The color purple” a movie by Steven Spielberg based on a novel by the same name. Oprah had read the novel and was very influenced by it and when she heard that a movie was being produced on it, she had only one desire: to star in it. After several fateful turn of events, she was able to get the role and made her acting debut in 1985 as "Sofia" in The Color Purple, for which she received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. She says she was able to do justice to the character because of how heavily she was influenced by the novel and felt like it was her own story.
Philanthropy
Although “The Oprah Winfrey Show” is well known for raising money for charity, but Oprah herself donates more money towards charity than any other show-business celebrity in America. She was named one of America’s top 50 most generous philanthropists in 2005, the first black person to be listed for this by Business Week. She was at the 32nd slot. She has been repeatedly ranked as the most philanthropic celebrity. During one 1997 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, she encouraged her viewers to utilize their lives to make a positive difference in the lives of the underprivileged. This led to the establishment of the public charity “Oprah's Angel Network” in 1998.
[Cite your source here.]
Although “The Oprah Winfrey Show” is well known for raising money for charity, but Oprah herself donates more money towards charity than any other show-business celebrity in America. She was named one of America’s top 50 most generous philanthropists in 2005, the first black person to be listed for this by Business Week. She was at the 32nd slot. She has been repeatedly ranked as the most philanthropic celebrity. During one 1997 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, she encouraged her viewers to utilize their lives to make a positive difference in the lives of the underprivileged. This led to the establishment of the public charity “Oprah's Angel Network” in 1998.
[Cite your source here.]
Through Oprah’s Angel Network, more than $80 million has been raised in charity, and 100 percent of the donations re used for funding charitable projects and grants across the world.
It has helped establish 60 schools in 13 countries, provide scholarships, create women's shelters, and build youth centers and homes. This is a great example where we can see how she has creatively used her positive influence on fans to make a positive difference to the world, and not merely triggered materialistic fads and trends.
Another example of Oprah’s creativity is seen in her somewhat similar philanthropic initiatives. During the aftermath of the hurricane Katrina, she asked her viewers to open their hearts, and help the victims. She utilized her fame and fan following for a great cause. As a result of this initiative, $ 11million had been raised which was used for rebuilding houses. Oprah herself donated $10 million and matched her viewers’ donations for the
cause.
Oprah has been a firm believer in the importance of education. She believes that education is the door to freedom which offers an individual a chance at a brighter future. Through the Oprah Winfrey foundation, she has donated millions in grants to organizations that support education and women and children empowerment in United States as well as all over the world. For the students with merit but no means, she has also created “The Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program” which awards scholarships to those students who are determined to use their education to make a positive difference to their communities in United States and abroad.
Partly due to her own life’s trauma as a child, and partly due to her love and commitment to children, she initiated the “National Child Protection Act” in 1991. She testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee and urged to establish a national database of convicted child abusers. In 1993, President Clinton signed the national “Oprah Bill” into a law.
.
Passionate about women education and empowerment, she also created the “Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls” in South Africa. The school teaches girls to be the best human beings they can be, trains them to become good decision makers and leaders, encourages them to explore the changing world through advanced education techniques and advanced technology. Through an advanced telecommunications system, Oprah is able to teach these girls from Chicago itself. Teachers and administrators for the school have been selected from among the best and brightest in South Africa
[Cite your source here.]
Passionate about women education and empowerment, she also created the “Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls” in South Africa. The school teaches girls to be the best human beings they can be, trains them to become good decision makers and leaders, encourages them to explore the changing world through advanced education techniques and advanced technology. Through an advanced telecommunications system, Oprah is able to teach these girls from Chicago itself. Teachers and administrators for the school have been selected from among the best and brightest in South Africa
[Cite your source here.]
Oprah so firmly believes in education that, in 1999, she also served as an adjunct professor at the Kellogg School of Management and co-taught "Dynamics of Leadership."
Oprah’s creative genius
Being creative is one thing and applying creativity is another. The world of television and entertainment has seen many great and creative hosts, but no-one has been able to garner such a huge and loyal following and more importantly, used it to such a great effect. The most seemingly difficult challenge for Oprah was the “Oprah Effect”, asking the viewers to help improve the lives of the underprivileged. But it was the most motivational one for her too. Many hosts and anchors have done this before, trying to raise charities through their shows, but because of the way Oprah interacts and mingles with her audience and becomes one with them has enabled her to have a much larger impact than the attempts of all others.
She is definitely a creative thinker. She has graduated from one level to the next in her career, recognizing her strengths and perfectly making her next moves falling in line with what she stands for and what she aims to achieve. And she used these stepping stones to create more value for the mankind through making her followers follow her vision of having a better world.
She is definitely a creative thinker. She has graduated from one level to the next in her career, recognizing her strengths and perfectly making her next moves falling in line with what she stands for and what she aims to achieve. And she used these stepping stones to create more value for the mankind through making her followers follow her vision of having a better world.
In 2003 according to the Forbes magazine, Oprah became the first African-American woman to reach billionaire status. She has broken through geographical, racial and gender barriers, making the world realize and believe that it is not your circumstances, but your heart that determines how far you can go in this world.
Theme Paper
Topic: “Creative insights from the life of Oprah Winfrey”
Submitted By
Maninder Kaur
PGP/PGDM/0186/49
Section A
OPRAH WINFREY
“Follow your instincts, that is where true wisdom manifests itself” – Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most respected Black American women in the world. Most popular for her show “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which has been rated as the highest rated show in the history of television ever, she is probably the most powerful woman in the United States today and the first African American woman to join the billionaire club.
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most respected Black American women in the world. Most popular for her show “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which has been rated as the highest rated show in the history of television ever, she is probably the most powerful woman in the United States today and the first African American woman to join the …show more content…
billionaire club.
Early Life
Oprah started from very deprived conditions in her early life. Born in Mississippi to an unwed mother, she was abandoned by her mother and sent to her grandmother’s house as the couple broke up soon after her birth. Since her poor housemaid mother couldn’t afford paying for her education, Oprah started her education in the kitchen of her grandmother. Raised by her grandmother on a farm, Oprah learned to read and love books at an early age.
In 1957, when she was barely four, Oprah recited sermons from the Bible at the local church. She loved the attention and applaud she received after the recitals. She spent first six years of her life at her grandmother’s and the family was so poverty stricken that Oprah often wore dresses made of potato sack for which she was mocked by the local children. Then she moved to her mother’s house again who was too busy working to attend to her. It was then that Oprah was mentally and physically abused by close relatives. She suppressed the trauma which had a deep impact on her and made her a troubled teenager.
[Cite your source here.]
In 1957, when she was barely four, Oprah recited sermons from the Bible at the local church. She loved the attention and applaud she received after the recitals. She spent first six years of her life at her grandmother’s and the family was so poverty stricken that Oprah often wore dresses made of potato sack for which she was mocked by the local children. Then she moved to her mother’s house again who was too busy working to attend to her. It was then that Oprah was mentally and physically abused by close relatives. She suppressed the trauma which had a deep impact on her and made her a troubled teenager.
[Cite your source here.]
The Second Chance
At the age of 14, she found herself pregnant but the infant died shortly after birth. Her mother tried to send her to a home for troubled teens but she was turned back as the home was full. She was sent to the custody of her biological father who was a strict disciplinarian. This was the turning point in her life when she began to rebuild her life and concentrate on her high school education.
[Cite your source here.]
At the age of 14, she found herself pregnant but the infant died shortly after birth. Her mother tried to send her to a home for troubled teens but she was turned back as the home was full. She was sent to the custody of her biological father who was a strict disciplinarian. This was the turning point in her life when she began to rebuild her life and concentrate on her high school education.
[Cite your source here.]
Her father made her read books, write reviews and participate in competitions to increase her self-confidence. She became an honors student, was voted Most Popular Girl, and joined her high school speech team at East Nashville High School, and came second in the nation in dramatic interpretation. She also won an oratory contest, which secured her a full scholarship to Tennessee State University, where she studied communication.
The Most popular TV show ever
In 1970s, she won multiple pageants, including Miss Black Tennessee, but then she decided to pursue her education further and a career in television. In 1971, at the age of 17 Oprah got her first broadcasting job to work as a part time radio announcer for WVOL radio station which was mainly targeted at African Americans. After leaving college, she became the first black woman newscaster in Nashville. She was then offered a job as a television reporter in Baltimore. But soon her bosses discovered that there was a problem with her. She became involved in the stories and couldn’t distance herself from them. She would laugh during interviews and weep at sad events.
But she turned this weakness into a strength as a talk show host. She moved to a breakfast show which became very popular because of the new creativity Oprah added to it and then she soon graduated to national TV with the AM Chicago TV show. In 1983, due to Oprah’s undeniable ability to single handedly hold an audience, she moved from co-hosting to hosting the show very fast. This went on to become the best show in the history of American Television.
[Cite your source here.]
But she turned this weakness into a strength as a talk show host. She moved to a breakfast show which became very popular because of the new creativity Oprah added to it and then she soon graduated to national TV with the AM Chicago TV show. In 1983, due to Oprah’s undeniable ability to single handedly hold an audience, she moved from co-hosting to hosting the show very fast. This went on to become the best show in the history of American Television.
[Cite your source here.]
The biggest reason for Oprah’s success and that of the show was the way she converted it from a regular talk show format ( called report talk) to a new format (referred to as rapport talk), which engaged audience in a free flowing conversation. The show became an instant hit with the women, particularly in the 30-50 age bracket. The conversational mode of the show formed a basis for female bonding. She made the talk show more personal and confessional. It was a very female conversation and Oprah showed just how powerful tapping into that market could be.
To back it up, Oprah has been unafraid of exposing her own troubles and shortcomings. She has been open about her history of abuse and that she once smoked cocaine. Her weight problems are something she very candidly talks about. For each confession from Oprah, the audience loved her even more, relating to her and drawing solace while fighting their own problems.
By the mid-1990s she had reinvented the show with a focus on literature, self-improvement, and spirituality. It began to take a more socially conscious tone set by a liberal Black woman broadcasting in American heartland, which is undoubtedly the hardest voice to hear in white male dominated media. The “Oprah Winfrey Show” stayed on the number one slot for talk shows for 24 consecutive seasons. Produced by Oprah’s own production company, it reached more than 40 million viewers a week in the United States and was licensed to 150 countries internationally.
Other achievements
In 1988, she started Harpo Studios, being only the third woman in the entire American entertainment industry (after Mary Pickford and Lucille Ball) to have a studio of her own. Through Harpo films division, she has produced many quality movies based on classic and contemporary literature that have been widely acclaimed and won international honors for quality acting and production.
In 1988, she started Harpo Studios, being only the third woman in the entire American entertainment industry (after Mary Pickford and Lucille Ball) to have a studio of her own. Through Harpo films division, she has produced many quality movies based on classic and contemporary literature that have been widely acclaimed and won international honors for quality acting and production.
In the late 1990s, she also became a big player in the literary industry with her “Oprah’s Book Club.” Such had her fan following developed by then that whichever books she chose and recommended became overnight best sellers.
In April 2000, “O, The Oprah Magazine” was introduced by Oprah and Hearst Magazines. It features stories similar to the ones in the show having the same inspirational, go get them kind of tales and down deep celebrity interviews sharing their lives’ stories. It is a monthly magazine and has become one of the leading women's lifestyle publications today. It has been credited as the most successful magazine launch in recent times.
In 2008, in partnership with Discovery communications, Oprah announced plans to create OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, a multi-platform media venture designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN stands for using one’s creativity and desires to accomplish one’s goals.
She has been known as a generous employer and has taken her employees and their families on all expenses paid vacations to Hawaii and other holiday destinations, making sure that they love working for her.
At around the same time she was doing the breakfast talk show, she landed up a major role in “The color purple” a movie by Steven Spielberg based on a novel by the same name. Oprah had read the novel and was very influenced by it and when she heard that a movie was being produced on it, she had only one desire: to star in it. After several fateful turn of events, she was able to get the role and made her acting debut in 1985 as "Sofia" in The Color Purple, for which she received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. She says she was able to do justice to the character because of how heavily she was influenced by the novel and felt like it was her own story.
Philanthropy
Although “The Oprah Winfrey Show” is well known for raising money for charity, but Oprah herself donates more money towards charity than any other show-business celebrity in America. She was named one of America’s top 50 most generous philanthropists in 2005, the first black person to be listed for this by Business Week. She was at the 32nd slot. She has been repeatedly ranked as the most philanthropic celebrity. During one 1997 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, she encouraged her viewers to utilize their lives to make a positive difference in the lives of the underprivileged. This led to the establishment of the public charity “Oprah's Angel Network” in 1998.
[Cite your source here.]
Although “The Oprah Winfrey Show” is well known for raising money for charity, but Oprah herself donates more money towards charity than any other show-business celebrity in America. She was named one of America’s top 50 most generous philanthropists in 2005, the first black person to be listed for this by Business Week. She was at the 32nd slot. She has been repeatedly ranked as the most philanthropic celebrity. During one 1997 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, she encouraged her viewers to utilize their lives to make a positive difference in the lives of the underprivileged. This led to the establishment of the public charity “Oprah's Angel Network” in 1998.
[Cite your source here.]
Through Oprah’s Angel Network, more than $80 million has been raised in charity, and 100 percent of the donations re used for funding charitable projects and grants across the world.
It has helped establish 60 schools in 13 countries, provide scholarships, create women's shelters, and build youth centers and homes. This is a great example where we can see how she has creatively used her positive influence on fans to make a positive difference to the world, and not merely triggered materialistic fads and trends.
Another example of Oprah’s creativity is seen in her somewhat similar philanthropic initiatives. During the aftermath of the hurricane Katrina, she asked her viewers to open their hearts, and help the victims. She utilized her fame and fan following for a great cause. As a result of this initiative, $ 11million had been raised which was used for rebuilding houses. Oprah herself donated $10 million and matched her viewers’ donations for the
cause.
Oprah has been a firm believer in the importance of education. She believes that education is the door to freedom which offers an individual a chance at a brighter future. Through the Oprah Winfrey foundation, she has donated millions in grants to organizations that support education and women and children empowerment in United States as well as all over the world. For the students with merit but no means, she has also created “The Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program” which awards scholarships to those students who are determined to use their education to make a positive difference to their communities in United States and abroad.
Partly due to her own life’s trauma as a child, and partly due to her love and commitment to children, she initiated the “National Child Protection Act” in 1991. She testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee and urged to establish a national database of convicted child abusers. In 1993, President Clinton signed the national “Oprah Bill” into a law.
.
Passionate about women education and empowerment, she also created the “Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls” in South Africa. The school teaches girls to be the best human beings they can be, trains them to become good decision makers and leaders, encourages them to explore the changing world through advanced education techniques and advanced technology. Through an advanced telecommunications system, Oprah is able to teach these girls from Chicago itself. Teachers and administrators for the school have been selected from among the best and brightest in South Africa
[Cite your source here.]
Passionate about women education and empowerment, she also created the “Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls” in South Africa. The school teaches girls to be the best human beings they can be, trains them to become good decision makers and leaders, encourages them to explore the changing world through advanced education techniques and advanced technology. Through an advanced telecommunications system, Oprah is able to teach these girls from Chicago itself. Teachers and administrators for the school have been selected from among the best and brightest in South Africa
[Cite your source here.]
Oprah so firmly believes in education that, in 1999, she also served as an adjunct professor at the Kellogg School of Management and co-taught "Dynamics of Leadership."
Oprah’s creative genius
Being creative is one thing and applying creativity is another. The world of television and entertainment has seen many great and creative hosts, but no-one has been able to garner such a huge and loyal following and more importantly, used it to such a great effect. The most seemingly difficult challenge for Oprah was the “Oprah Effect”, asking the viewers to help improve the lives of the underprivileged. But it was the most motivational one for her too. Many hosts and anchors have done this before, trying to raise charities through their shows, but because of the way Oprah interacts and mingles with her audience and becomes one with them has enabled her to have a much larger impact than the attempts of all others.
She is definitely a creative thinker. She has graduated from one level to the next in her career, recognizing her strengths and perfectly making her next moves falling in line with what she stands for and what she aims to achieve. And she used these stepping stones to create more value for the mankind through making her followers follow her vision of having a better world.
She is definitely a creative thinker. She has graduated from one level to the next in her career, recognizing her strengths and perfectly making her next moves falling in line with what she stands for and what she aims to achieve. And she used these stepping stones to create more value for the mankind through making her followers follow her vision of having a better world.
In 2003 according to the Forbes magazine, Oprah became the first African-American woman to reach billionaire status. She has broken through geographical, racial and gender barriers, making the world realize and believe that it is not your circumstances, but your heart that determines how far you can go in this world.