Tyra Banks built an empire after she had already made a name for herself on the runways of Paris, New York, and Milan, and now she’s teaching a class on how to do it. Well, not how to create an empire, but a personal brand, which is a vital part of creating an empire. Tyra will be teaching a two-week long course for M.B.A. students at Stanford University this upcoming May all about creating and protecting a personal brand.
From Washington Post:
Some 25 graduate students will receive instruction from Ms. Banks on how to harness all forms of old and new media to showcase their strengths. The former Victoria’s Secret model and chief executive of TYRA Beauty will also deliver tips on handling press exposure as a business leader. The first assignment for the class, “Project You: Building and Extending your Personal Brand,” asks students to create a short video introducing both themselves and the vision for a brand, according to the official course description.
Tyra Banks will be serving as a guest lecturer and will be co-teaching the class with Stanford management professor Allison Kluger. As anyone who saw Tyra’s temper when she cut Tiffany on America’s Next Top Model knows, Tyra isn’t going to go easy on these kids. She tells the Washinton Post that her teaching style will be engaging, fun, but also tough. “If I see somebody not paying attention, I’m gonna call on them.”
Tyra also says that she’s not going to allow the use of cell phones during her class unless it is to “tweet something I’ve said.” I respect that move, Tyra.
Professor Kluger first came up with the idea of having Tyra teach a class when she saw her give a talk at a recent Stanford event, during which Tyra admitted she cold-called CEO Tony Hsieh of online shoe and clothing company Zappos for guidance about how to start her own company. “I was mesmerized,” said Ms. Kluger. “She’s a natural.”
Tyra Banks: Supermodel/Entrepreneur/Television Executive/Business CEO and now Professor. The woman does it all AND she looks good doing it. What an inspiration, am I right?
As much as I fully understand that this is a serious course for serious masters students at the prestigious Stanford University, how cool would it be if she walked in on the first day of class to the intro song from America’s Next Top Model: “You wanna be on top?”.
[via Washington Post]
Image via Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com
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Cristina Montemayor
Cristina is a Grandex Writer and Content Manager. She was an intern for over two years before she graduated a semester early to write about college full time, which makes absolutely no sense. She regretfully considers herself a Carrie, but is first and foremost a Rory. She tends to draw strong reactions from people. They are occasionally positive. You can find her in a bar as you're bending down to tie your shoes, drinking Dos XX and drunk crying to Elton John. Email her: [email protected] (not .com).
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