The Phenomenal Oprah Winfrey

 

Who doesn’t know Oprah Winfrey? The host of a phenomenal talk-show, The Oprah Winfrey Show from 1986 to 2011. Born as Orpah Gail Winfrey on January 29 1954 in Mississippi, she was the illegitimate child from Vernon Winfrey and Vernita Lee. Until 6, Oprah lived with her grandmother in their farm. Later, after her mother got a job from being a maid, they lived together with her mother’s 2 other children. Living in poverty made Oprah’s mother work really hard from morning until night. Therefore, Oprah grew into an angry, promiscuous and completely out of control teen. Can’t keep her eyes 24 hours to her children, it brings misfortune to Oprah. Oprah was raped by her relatives who supposed to take care of her while mother is away for working. Until one day, Oprah was pregnant to a baby boy who died 2 weeks after his born. Since then, the baby changed her life and Oprah is decided to move to her father’s house, in Nashville.

Living with her father, Oprah became the focus of their home life. Oprah supposed to follow strict rules in the family, got the highest grade, attend church regularly and also, she should be able to set the example of a model student. Oprah attend East Nashville Highschool, she joined some of the clubs including drama club and forensic club. Beside Oprah active in the clubs’ activities, she also admitted to be the honor society, student council and became the representative at a White House conference. Later, Oprah received a scholarship to Tennessee State University, she accepted it but left before graduate.

Oprah started her career journey as she was hired by WVOL radio station to read the weekend news and sometimes for the weekday news. In 1976, the year she left college, she got job offer at station WJZ-TV in Baltimore. She works as the reporter and co-anchor of an evening news program. Two years later, Oprah taken off the evening program and joined People Are Talking as the co-host. After several years working at WJZ-TV, Oprah got an offer to work in Chicago as a host of AM Chicago. After moving to Chicago, Oprah met Quincy Jones who gave her a leading role in his movie, The Color Purple. Because of the movie, Oprah bringing home an Academy Award nomination which leads her path to national and international recognition. Due to that, Oprah’s television program was renamed into The Oprah Winfrey Show and being purchased by King Brothers Corporation and nationally syndicated, making Oprah as the first African American woman to have a nationally syndicated tv program. 

Oprah Winfrey is one of the transformational leaders in the world. She has the charisma and confidence to influence other people. She’s really open to new experience. Not only working as a host show, Oprah started her business by forming her own company, the Harpo Productions in 1986 located in West Hollywood, California. Oprah gained the ownership and control of Harpo, she became the first black woman who own both a studio and production company. The Harpo Productions co-owned Oprah Winfrey Network, Harpo Print and Harpo Radio. They develop their own show, various type of films, prime-time television special, children’s special and home videos. Oprah can be seen everywhere, but there we can see that she focuses on one thing that she is really mastered at; the media. In 1989, Oprah opened a restaurant, The Eccentric. Unfortunately, it fails and closes in 1995 although it has multiple chefs and menus.  In business world, she has the courage to open up a restaurant even though it is fail. Oprah also opened a monthly television book club. She would choose a book that she had read and enjoyed, then announce it on air. Because of Oprah’s powerful influence, every book that is being reviewed in the book club became a best-seller. Throughout the country, large or small bookstores would stock numerous copies of the chosen recommended book. In any bookstore or coffeeshop would provide a special display, shelf or bookcase named ‘An Oprah Selection’.

In leading her business, Oprah clearly communicates her vision with her team and then inspires them to help them see it through. Oprah also takes care of her employees; she knew that employees are the lifeblood of a company. She would praise them and give vacations. As well for the top staff members, she would handpick gifts to give them. As well as treating her employees, Oprah also managed to values her customers. Knowing that customer service is very important, she often show her appreciation to her audiences by giving them generous gifts on holiday occasions even when there is no particular event.

Oprah Winfrey came from nothing, she had dark childhood but able to bear herself and dream big. She managed to find a platform to build her self on and succeeded, by believing that she can turn her dreams into reality with confidence in her ability.