Oprah Winfrey is a talk show legend who ran her eponymous “Oprah Winfrey Show” from 1986 to 2011. Her goal with her show was to address issues that affect people on a massive scale.
Oprah co-founded Oxygen, Harpo Productions, a film and video companyand OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network).
When Accumulated value of over $3.5 billionit takes a lot of organization and foresight to keep her venture running smoothly.
Here are 10 strict rules Oprah staffers must follow to be part of the team.
1. Sign a confidentiality agreement.
Oprah likes to keep her private life private. The people who work for her are well versed in the details of the life of a huge mogul that the general public never gets to know.
To keep her closest secret a secret, Oprah Best publicity and legal team in business. Naturally, most NDAs are time-limited, her staff must sign a lifetime contract.
In 2000, Oprah defended restrictive hush orders for employees, saying, “You have to work in an environment where you feel you can trust them.”
2. Security is our top priority. Only the best needs apply.
Oprah takes studio security seriously. She knows all too well that she can become a victim of malicious criminals. Her security should be top notch.
Therefore, the media king Maintain a strong security team at her disposal.But you can’t be someone off the street. Michael Jai White to her security team before becoming the first black actor to play a superhero in the movie Spawn.
White is trained in Taekwondo, Kyokushin Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and many other martial arts. He’s qualified enough to beat anyone coming to Oprah on the brakes.
3. Leave the gum at home.
In 2018, Reese Witherspoon revealed that he chewed gum in front of Oprah on the set of “A Wrinkle in Time,” leaving her furious.
Oprah later confirmed In an interview with Stephen Colbert, he says he can’t stand being around people who chew gum.
4. Don’t behave badly.
Oprah is keen to take responsibility when things go wrong. when she found out that Allegations of abuse at girls’ school in Africashe apologized to the parents of the abused children and begged for forgiveness.
Not only did Oprah take the blame, but little Virginia Makoppo, the principal, was accused of trying to kiss or caress a girl at school. Oprah supported a young woman throughout her trial of her former employees.
Ultimately, the woman was acquitted and Oprah released a statement.
After the ex-employee was acquitted, the school’s former principal, Nomvuyo Mzamane, filed a defamation lawsuit against Winfrey, alleging he failed to take action against Makopo. The case was later settled out of court.
5. Get ready to share.
Oprah remembers her staff by name and is known for taking a genuine interest in their lives. many people share She is top notch when it comes to listening when people speak.
She likes knowing what’s going on in the lives of the people she works for and doing what she can to help them with their personal lives.
6. You cannot accept gifts from Oprah fans.
Like any influential figure, fans show up at Oprah’s studio with gifts and cards in hand, hoping to give them to her.
However, Oprah has a strict policy against accepting gifts from her audience. An internal list of her show’s rulesshe made it clear that it was out of the question for her to accept anything on her behalf.
7. You must be able to handle disputes.
Oprah is no stranger to scandals. The MeToo movement has unearthed several women who were victims of famed producer Harvey Weinstein. Oprah was accused “Buddy up” with a disgraced filmmaker and ignite a firestorm.
despite her decision give him no platform To protect yourself from defenseless Oprah was unfairly accused To help Weinstein abuse women. As an employee, you must be able to endure scandal here and there and remain loyal.
8. Be prepared to participate in litigation.
When you’re a public figure as big as Oprah, you can expect people to sue you for good reason or take a piece of your sizable fortune.
Oprah is no stranger to litigation.from trademark infringement The fight over her infamous NDAwas there Tons of legal issues to deal withAs an employee, chances are good that you will be asked to testify.
9. Think outside the box.
We’ve no doubt talked a lot about Oprah’s philanthropic efforts, but her giving mindset doesn’t stop there. Oprah asks employees to set aside any prejudices they may have and build a holistic worldview.
In 2013, Oprah Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack ObamaPart of the reason was her dedication to diversity and inclusion. She encourages her employees to engage and interact with people from different backgrounds.
10. Work must take priority over motherhood.
When Oprah launched the OWN network, the first show she premiered was “Season 25: Behind the Scenes with Oprah.” in that episodeshe asked the women who worked for her to speak openly about their experiences.
In an audience made up of Oprah’s staff, most of the women with children spoke about the sacrifices they made for the show’s success.
They talked about the challenges they faced as working mothers, and one of them was reported to have said: We hope to instill that passion in our children. ”
Oprah thanked them for working long hours and sacrificing their personal lives, but made it clear that it was necessary and appropriate for the course. You may need a strong support system if you decide to
Niley Osler Writer from Seattle, Washington, author of seven books. We cover lifestyle, entertainment, news, navigating the workplace, social issues and more.