Oprah Winfrey, a public figure known among Americans and around the world, rose to success from a poor girl to one of the richest and most popular daytime talk show hosts of her time. His entrepreneurial success was contributed to his ability to overcome barriers as a minority. As an African American woman, she faced discrimination and entrepreneurial obstacles that should have discouraged her from pursuing her dream. Through her passion, perseverance and hard work, Oprah successfully started her own production company, Harpo Productions, Inc., which has now grown into an empire. As a minority entrepreneur, he inspires others to pursue their dreams, no matter how unachievable it may seem. Oprah Winfrey's Rise to Success Oprah was born on January 29, 1954, to Vernita Lee, an unmarried teenager at the time (NNDB, n.d.). He first lived with his grandmother in Kosciusko, Mississippi, while his mother looked for work elsewhere. Despite growing up in poverty as a minority, Oprah was proficient in her academics. At the age of six he moved to Milwaukee to live with his mother who found work as a housekeeper. As a teenager, Oprah was repeatedly sexually abused. (Academy of Success, 2013). This abuse had an emotional effect on her. He later forced her to support “The Oprah Bill,” which established a national database of convicted child abusers (NNDB, n.d.). At the age of 14, Oprah moved to Nashville, Tennessee to live with her father, Vernon Winfrey. With her strict disciplinary rules, Oprah thrived by becoming an honor student and winning awards in speaking and drama performances (Academy of Achievement, 2013). At age 19, she was offered a job at WVOL, a radio station aimed primarily at African Americans... middle of paper......d hard times as an African American woman venturing into positions no other African American the woman reached. She gained much of her fame thanks to her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, but her success didn't stop there. As the founder, president and CEO of Harpo Entertainment Group, Oprah Winfrey has become one of the most powerful women in the entertainment production industry. Not only is she a powerful businesswoman, but also a charismatic interviewer who has captured the hearts of many Americans. He had the courage to follow his intuitions and perseverance to complete the project. Oprah has influenced others through her genuine focus on giving back to various charities. Oprah continues to take on more projects to expand her growing company. Oprah Winfrey is a powerful figure in society who will continue to be an inspiration to people of all backgrounds around the world.