SHE IS BEST known for teaching young women to ‘smize’ (smile with their eyes) on her hit show America’s Next Top Model, but Tyra Banks is a savvy businesswoman behind the scenes.
Not content with hosting her own daytime TV chat show, ANTM and other engagements, she has also enrolled herself in the prestigious Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Owner/President Management Program (OPM), CBS reports.
This attracts corporate presidents and CEOs from all over the world and costs $31,000 to sign up.
Miss Banks was named as the highest-paid woman in prime time television by Forbes magazine in 2009 and earns around $30million a year.
In an interview with CBS, she explained what happens when she tells people what she is studying.
I get mixed reactions. There are little facial expressions. … The chin goes back, like, ‘Really?’
When asked why she choose Harvard, she explained:
Most definitely there’s something to do with it being Harvard. Harvard Business School – the number one business school in the entire world. In order for my company to grow and be the best, and to reach these women, and to serve them, I needed the best. So I went to the best.
Tyra started modelling as a teenager, and before long she was walking the catwalks of Paris.
In 2005, she decided to branch out and try new things after realising the modelling career couldn’t last forever.
Now that her career is solid, she’s determined to ensure she knows everything about doing business.
I think I could’ve leaned on all of my advisers. I have accountants, and lawyers, and this and investment bankers. But I don’t want to be that girl when I’m meeting with them, where I’m like, ‘Uh-huh, great.’ I now can say what’s the net present value on that. What’s the discounted cash flows of that, and that’s because of Harvard.
