I am sure you have all heard about the current scandal at Oprah’s Leadership Academy in South Africa.  It is tragic that the situation occurred and that young girls were harmed.  The value of the story, while being unfortunate, is what we can learn from her handling of the situation. 

Winfrey said. “I am prepared to do whatever is necessary to make sure that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls becomes a safe and nurturing and enriched setting that I have envisioned a place capable of fostering a full measure of these girls’ productivity, creativity and of their humanity.”

What were her actions?  American talk show host Oprah Winfrey promised to do everything in her power to restore dignity at her leadership academy. Importantly, she took responsibility to resolving the matter . Since first hearing of the allegations in early October, she has flown to South Africa twice. She put the school’s headmistress on administrative leave and has since said that she will not renew the woman’s contract — the first step in what she described at her news conference yesterday as “cleaning house from top to bottom.” She apologized personally to angry parents, telling them, “I’ve disappointed you. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” She has hired her own investigative team to assist South African authorities. “Knowing what I know now the screening process was inadequate even though I was not directly responsible for recruiting dorm parents,” she told a room packed with journalists listening to the video conference.“ No, I don’t think as a school we have failed the girls. I feel there are systems within the school that failed the girls. I don’t feel that it has harmed my personal reputation because I have done nothing wrong.” 

What is her solution? Training the academy management, teacher’s, staff and students.