Oprah is not a Business Leader
update: Canadian Headhunter has responded to this post here
I’ve just come accross Harvard Business School’s database of great american business leaders (although I did notice there are some Canadians included) – and I was immediately drawn to the banner on the page.
Oprah
At the end of the banner, Oprah Winfrey is pictured – and it is her picture in particular that was of notice. I was suprised that they would include Oprah, because I don’t consider her a business leader – I consider her a Brand. This opinion was formed a couple years ago, when I read a Fortune magazine article where Patricia Sellers wrote:
She (Oprah) happily admits that she cannot read a balance sheet.
Is it justified to dismiss her as a business leader because she cannot read a balance sheet? To acheive what she has acheived takes many skills, she definately has ambition, knows how to relate to people, how to sell, and how to manage – she is clearly a remarkable person. How can I logcially dismiss her a business leader?
Martha
The thing that I can’t stand is that she is happy to admit her lack of ability. She runs a billion dollar organization, and is happy that she cannot understand the heart (at least in my opinion) of the business. By not knowing the financials, she is unaware, and vulnurable. The worst part, however is that she lacks any motivation to better herself as a business leader, by becoming aware of the financials, and expanding her knowledge of her own organziation. I think a key trait of business leaders is that they are progressive, and want to expand their abilities.
I think that Oprah commands respect for many things (especially getting millions of people to read), but being a business leader is not one of them.
On the other hand, Martha Stewart, despite all the ruckus going on lately, is someone I do respect as a business leader. She has many of the same traits as Oprah, but also has a deep knowledge of how business is run – I think she is paying far too great a price for mistakes, but that is another story. Martha and Oprah might be comparible in terms of the media empires they have built, but as business leaders, they are on a different level.
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I dunno but I don’t really like Oprah. But everybody just likes her ?
Good rant. I’m going to link to it but I don’t know if Oprah is of the happy-to-be-dumb school. She just recognizes where her strengths are and hires people (wisely, I assume) to take care of her business. I believe that there are certain skills everyone needs and I include basic business skills among them. But all of the business writers say pursue your strengths and delegate the rest and that’s what Opey is doin’.
On the personal front, Okra does have Suzy Ormand (?) the quasi-new age financial planner on her show a lot – or did for a while. So she is not against people getting to understand and control of their finances.
Good point my canadian friend (on the delegation) – but don’t you also agree that to be considered a leader, there are also several skills that are required. To be considered an outstanding leader, you need to have an outstanding skillset, no?
It’s the attitude more than anything- the article i read have the happy-to-be-dumb impression. I also can’t stand the idea of someone I lookup to as a business person not being able to understand something so core to business.
I’ve got no problem with Opey, She does have great guests sometimes, and she does have a positive influence on people who watch her show. It’s just that she doesn’t belong on the list – i think it takes more than delegation skills to get there.
And Mona, most everybody here likes her – she’s got a cult!
I don’t agree with you guys, i think Oprah is a wonderful person & i think she’s doing a great job. Many people that have gone through what she has passed through in life, shy away from the public. I think she is an EPITOME of womanhood.
Get a life and stop “hating”!
By the way, since you are such of a leader…how do you spell “across”?