by Dawn Papandrea & Gina LaGuardia
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The Do-It-All Leader
Television personality with 30 million viewers. Magazine publisher with 2.7 million readers. Producer. Actress. Humanitarian. OPRAH WINFREY's worked her way up from the throes of poverty to become one of the most powerful women in the world. She's known for her generosity, likeability, genuine team spirit, and constant example, one that inspires creativity and encourages effort - what many say makes an ideal leader.
Case in point: When Oprah's O, The Oprah Magazine celebrated its five-year anniversary, Oprah threw her staff a party and gave each of them a $5,000 bonus. "The standard and correct answer for happy or satisfied employees is recognition," affirms Dr. Ruth Achterhof, an MBA online instructor with Jones International University and several other MBA programs. "It can be done with praise - a pat on the back, a mention in a newsletter or meeting - or with the bonuses and perks that an Oprah Winfrey is noted for."
That's why part of Achterhof's lessons include getting students to realize that people are a resource that should be tapped often. "Using and acknowledging that resource can have invaluable rewards," she says. For Winfrey, those rewards amount to over a billion dollars.
When it's your turn to be a leader, remember - a CEO is a walking celebrity. Think of it this way, explains Eric Yaverbaum, author of "Leadership Secrets of the World's Most Successful CEOs" (Dearborn, 2005): If the CEO walks around in a bad mood, the whole office's mood changes." But, the same can happen with pessimism, optimism, too.
"Some CEOs can say two sentences to an employee they never met that will affect that person for the rest of his/her life," Yaverbaum emphasizes. With leadership comes power, and that responsibility entails more than just commanding money, resources, and profit margins.
The Brains Behind the Empire
How about commanding the universe? That statement's not quite a stretch for GEORGE LUCAS, which is why he's the brains of our dream corporation. With an of out-of-this-world entrepreneurial spirit, Lucas took a little film everyone rejected, and turned it into six films that are estimated to gross over $2.3 billion. Add to that the enormous mass merchandising, cross-promotional power, and you've got the pop culture phenomenon known as "Star Wars."
How'd he do it? By taking what he learned in film school at the University of Southern California and cultivating new technologies through his own special effects company. The driving "force" behind Lucas' success has been education.
Now he's illustrating his commitment to learning as chairman of the board of the George Lucas Educational Foundation. With its mission to create an "Edutopia," students are motivated to learn and teachers are energized by the excitement of teaching.
In addition, Lucas is on the USC School of Cinema-Television Advisory Board and has contributed millions to his alma mater and other institutions. It takes brains to recognize the power of intellectual leadership, so who better to be the supreme knowledge facilitator and teach us the ways of the force?
The Risktaker
Of course, sometimes it takes more than an intellectual force to get a new project off the ground. But, what do you do when you have a business hunch that everyone shoots down? That was the dilemma facing MEL GIBSON when he decided to produce an epic film about Jesus Christ. With controversy comes risk, and that meant shelling out $30 million of his own money to resurrect his film project (and that doesn't include marketing costs). After seeing the results - over $370 million domestic gross - he's a shoe-in for our dream corporation's Risk Taker.
"Without risktaking, 'The Passion of the Christ' would never have been made," says Timothy R. Dahlstrom, from the U.S. Small Business Administration and faculty member for University of Phoenix, Phoenix campus. "With Gibson's expertise in the industry and the vision to carry out a bold project, he was able to reap great rewards, both creatively and financially."
Although much of risktaking is intuitive, Dahlstrom adds that it is a skill that can be acquired. "Business students can be taught to develop foresight and vision, and to assess and manage the risks of entrepreneurial activity," he says. In short, when considering a risky business move a la Gibson, the perceived benefit of gain must be greater than the perceived cost of loss. And don't forget about having and exerting some passion of your own.
The Innovator
If it seems like executive producer MARK BURNETT has his hand in all of reality, it's because he does. With a resume that lists "The Survivor," "The Apprentice," and "The Contender" to his credit, many claim the English gent spirited the reality entertainment movement with his passion. He also changed the face of marketing forever, virtually creating a new emphasis on the relationship between entertainment and advertising, product placements, and synergistic offerings between his top-rated TV shows and the Internet.
First off, says Dr. Lisa Haddock, professor of marketing at Ellis College, in order to be a top innovator like Burnett, whether it's in marketing, business, or any profession, one must "take risks and cut through the clutter."
We may not all be genius enough to create something like a new genre of TV, but it is possible to climb higher than you even imagined, she says - if you keep good company. Read any article about Burnett's success - he's the first to confess that he surrounds himself with people better than he. It's just that type of advice that Haddock passes along to her online MBA in marketing students: "They should know their own strengths, weaknesses, and biases, then hire what they don't have."
The Money Maker
The king of hiring and firing, DONALD TRUMP, has our vote for "money maker." By 2004 Fortune accounts, he was reportedly worth $2.5 billion. And though the boss of all egos seems to thrive on life in a media fishbowl, it's no surprise that much of what we see on "The Apprentice" is made-for-TV management. Then again, his off-screen persona is just as large as it's portrayed in the media, says Yaverbaum.
"At the end of the day, he's the guy in charge; there's no doubt about who the room revolves around when he's in it." That's just the type of persona that transforms a detail-oriented, overseeing chief financial officer into one that also commands authority at make-or-break merger and acquisition meetings.
When it comes to "the art of the deal," many say Trump can be trumped. Of course, his name and reputation precedes him in even the toughest capital-raising executions. And though he hasn't always been successful, his resilience is as unmatched as his bank accounts.
"Trump has used negative situations to jettison his efforts," says Yaverbaum. Such an ability is an asset as you tread through the ups and downs of your own career. After all, there is a chance for rebirth in any career, even if you've been - yes, "fired." For many professionals, the second act is often better than the first.
The Queen of Reinvention
That's why every dream corporation needs someone who can work damage control to the fullest extent, just in case things go wrong. Who better to do that than MARTHA STEWART?
After all, she's survived a giant scandal, jail time, and a not-so-fashionable ankle bracelet, only to gear up for a new fall TV show, "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," and become more likeable than her pre-prison self.
"Martha, in jail, had her audience, her TV cameras, and her opportunity to build and rebuild her brand," says Judith E. Glaser, author of "Creating We: Change I-Thinking to We-Thinking & Build a Healthy, Thriving Organization" (Platinum Press, an imprint of Adams Media, April, 2005). "She found a new way to redeem herself within the context of her brand identity. She, in fact, softened her hard exterior adding a new dimension to Martha."
What break out lesson does Martha's homecoming offer? "Under the right conditions, even the worst divas can be reformed," says Glaser. "What people forgive is truth telling. What people do not forgive is lying. Acknowledging your mistakes and paying for them brings support."
The Overeager Intern
Love her or hate her, PARIS HILTON's many dimensions seem to always get her what she wants. Part connections, part beauty and charm? Depends on who you ask. (The verdict's still out on a "part intelligence" component.) Nevertheless, we think she fits the role of "overeager intern" perfectly. Daddy's last name and company helped her in the media's door, now she's knocking it down and taking over with a sense of entitlement, style, and - let's face it - sassiness.
Paris keeps creating new situations for herself, be it repping her pet Chihuahua to Gund to create replica plush 'Tinkerbells'; using her "serious businesswoman attitude" to develop a perfume line and collection of doggie jewelry; or starring in a racy. Carl Jr.'s burger commercial?! "Paris keeps everyone so fascinated by her. I'm curious to see what else she can think of," says Haddock. "Anything goes."
If there's any lesson to take from Paris' lead, it's this, adds Haddock: "Even if you think you've hit the top, you can still go higher." Intern or not, it's imperative that you constantly push the envelope, so long as you stay within ethical boundaries. Think of your own corporate persona as a brand. Figure out your weaknesses, improve your skills, then flaunt your accomplishments in a big Paris way.
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