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Case
| HBS Case Collection
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2007
(Revised from original 2005 version)
Oprah!
by
William W. George and Andrew N. McLean
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Abstract
Oprah Winfrey believed in sharing the experiences that shaped her development and enabled her to become the wealthiest women in the entertainment industry and first African American billionaire. Traces her childhood and entertainment career, drawing connections in Winfrey's own words between passages in her turbulent childhood, both beneficial and traumatic, that became keynote lessons for her talk-shop audience and later guided her business and philanthropic activities. Raises questions about the motivations behind a business career, the value of authenticity in leadership, and the origins of unique abilities.
Keywords: Gender Characteristics;
Giving and Philanthropy;
Biography;
Leadership;
Personal Development and Career;
Motivation and Incentives;
Wealth;
Entertainment and Recreation Industry;
Citation:
George, William W., and Andrew N. McLean. "Oprah!" Harvard Business School Case 405-087, April 2007. (Revised from original March 2005 version.)