by Dawn Papandrea We admit it: Reality TV has finally gotten the best of us. So much so that we've been trying to put together the ultimate celebrity dream corporation. Part Surreal Life (Rachel Ray and Simon Cowell in the same boardroom?), part The Apprentice (only we do the hiring!), part Dancing With the Stars (let's face it, you have to master the right steps to succeed). See if you agree with our picks, then learn a few things about how to boost your own star power at work and avoid being The Biggest Loser. The do-it-all leader Television star with 30 million viewers. Magazine publisher with 2.7 million readers. Producer. Actress. Humanitarian. Oprah Winfrey has 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, and genuine team spirit. She inspires creativity and encourages effort--which is why many say she's an example of an ideal leader. Case in point: When Winfrey's O, The Oprah Magazine celebrated its five-year anniversary, Oprah threw her staff a party and gave each staff member a $5,000 bonus. "The standard and correct answer for happy or satisfied employees is recognition," affirms Dr. Ruth Achterhof, a business school instructor at Jones International University. "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 Achterhof's lessons include getting students to realize that a corporation's people are its most important assets. "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. Eric Yaverbaum, author of Leadership Secrets of the World's Most Successful CEOs, puts it like this: "If the CEO walks around in a bad mood, the whole office's mood changes." But the same can happen with optimism, too. "Some CEOs can say two sentences to an employee they never met [before] that will affect that person for the rest of his or 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 a stretch for George Lucas, which is why he's the brains of our dream corporation. With an out-of-this-world entrepreneurial spirit, Lucas took a little film everyone rejected, and turned it into a six-part film empire expected to gross over $2.3 billion. Add to that the enormous mass merchandising and 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 (ahem) behind Lucas's success has been education. Now he's illustrating his commitment to learning as chairman of the board of the George Lucas Educational Foundation, also referred to as "Edutopia." The nonprofit's mission is to celebrate and encourage innovation in schools. 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. Such a visionary leader can be the driving "force" behind the company. The risk taker Katie Couric, first solo female evening news anchor in the history of U.S. TV, left her comfort zone at The Today Show to take her on-air seat every night. Such risk-taking is key if you want to be successful, say experts. "Katie Couric has been a risk taker from day one in her career," says Dr. Nancy O’Reilly, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and founder of WomenSpeak, a Web site based on more than 10 years of research about women aging in a youth-driven society. "She knew when she jumped ship to take on the evening news it was going to be either the best or the worst thing she had ever done--leaders expect the best outcomes." Although much of risk taking is intuitive, it is a skill that can be acquired, says Timothy R. Dahlstrom, a member of the U.S. Small Business Administration and faculty member at the University of Phoenix. "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, the projected benefit of gain must be greater than the expected cost of loss. And don't forget about having some passion of your own. And, as Dr. O'Reilly points out, not being fearful of success is a very important characteristic of good leaders. The innovator If it seems like TV producer J.J. Abrams has his hand in many top-rated and critically acclaimed programs, it's because he does. With a TV resume that lists LOST, Alias, and Felicity, not to mention screenwriting credits on films like Mission: Impossible III, he's developed a loyal fan following. His show LOST has also strengthened the relationship between TV entertainment and online interactivity, as product placements, advertisements, and fan sites urge viewers to head to the Web to "experience" the show online. We may not all be brilliant enough to create intricate Rimbaldi code mysteries or strange island inhabitants called "Others," as J.J. did with Alias and LOST, respectively, but it is possible to climb higher than you even imagined--if you keep good company. Abrams' success stems from initiating an idea and then surrounding himself with a team of writers and other professionals who can follow through on his conceptualizations. It's just that type of advice that Dr. Lisa Haddock, professor of marketing at Ellis College of NYIT passes along to her online MBA students: "They should know their own strengths, weaknesses, and biases, then hire what they don't have." The moneymaker The king of hiring and firing, Donald Trump, has our vote for Moneymaker. By 2006 Fortune accounts, he was reportedly worth $2.9 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 who 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. But while he hasn't always been successful, his resilience is as great as his fortune. Such resilience is an asset as you ride 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." And 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 turn failures into successes. Who better to do that than Jennifer Hudson, sixth place contestant on Season 3 of "American Idol"? At the time, her surprising early ouster stirred media speculation of racism to a power outage in Hudson's hometown of Chicago that may have cost her votes. No matter the reason, what's significant is that Hudson was able to learn from the experience and forge ahead. "Jennifer Hudson is a shining example of what can happen if you keep plugging away and not let the masses bring you down," says Dr. O'Reilly. "By re-defining the event in positive terms--as a valued learning opportunity--the failure can be reframed as 'practice.'" For Hudson, that practice has paid off since she beat out nearly 800 professional singers to win the role of Effie White in the film Dreamgirls. "She's already won the Golden Globe award and is favored to win the Academy Award. Up next, she is recording an album for Clive Davis' record label. "Jennifer survived and used each failure to build a successful mental platform that has helped her to envision her success," says Dr. O'Reilly, "and it has become her reality." The brand manager Love her or hate her, Rachel Ray has taken her "30 Minute Meals" Food Network show and launched a brand explosion. In addition to her shows on the Food Network, she's a daytime talk show host (endorsed by our dream CEO, Oprah); she has a full line of cookware and EVOO--that's Rachel-speak for extra virgin olive oil; her own magazine, Everyday with Rachel Ray; and numerous cookbooks. If there's any lesson to take from Ray's lead, it's this, adds Haddock: "Even if you think you've hit the top, you can still go higher." No matter your reach, 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 perky Rachel way. Additional reporting by Gina LaGuardia
by Dawn Papandrea