The Doneson Podcast

Welcome to episode nineteen of the Doneson podcast as we discover the details behind entertainment mogul Ms. Oprah Winfrey. With over 2.7 billion dollars of net worth, Oprah is the first female, African-American, billionaire the country has ever seen. Although she started early in her career with journalism, she took over the airwaves as a talk show host whose show eventually was syndicated. Oprah is also known as an actress, producer and philanthropist. Famous for giving away extravagant gifts to her viewers such as cars and other life changing gifts-Oprah has been loved by many. Her mass appeal and influence allowed her to create "no-names" into massive brand names. People such as Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz just to name a few, became household names due to their start on Oprah's show. She has had iconic interviews with celebrities and world leaders and turns any book in her book club into a bestseller. However, it hasn't always been easy street for Oprah. She struggled with her weight publicly for the majority of her life and was most notably criticized for her portrayal of black men in the media. Some think that she has favored white men and casts a continual shadow of doubt over African-American males. She was also blamed and sued after a young man killed himself after watching her show on autoerotic asphyxiation. These incidents raise particular questions about her leadership and the causes that she supports. How much is she responsible for?

Jump on in to episode eighteen of the Doneson podcast as we discuss one of the most well-known rappers, recorders, producers and fashion designer moguls of our time -Mr. Kanye West. With a net worth of 250 million and 21 Grammy awards, success has definitely been on his side. However, the majority of his fortune comes from his 2016 partnership between his brand Yeezy and with Adidas. Perhaps his choices and success are because he is a great leader or maybe they just are a result of a sensory condition that he was diagnosed called synesthesia-a condition where the senses mix signals in the brain and produce things such as colors when sound is heard. But despite these successes, there is also the other side of the coin. Kanye is a college dropout and has a history of being outspoken in a way that does not endear him to the public. He infamously interrupted and insulted Taylor Swift at the VMA awards and called out George Bush for "not caring about black people" during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. His public behaviour is often erratic and void of reason. Are these the signs of a true leader?

Join us for episode seventeen of the Doneson podcast! Today we discuss the 2.2-billion-dollar media mogul Mr. Ted Turner. As the proprietor, producer and founder of the very first 24-hour news network -CNN, Mr. Turner has been a leader in many ways. He also founded WTBS and is the second largest land owner in the world. He owns sports teams, restaurants and is a known philanthropist, environmentalist and conservative supporter who donates time and money to his preferred causes. Despite all this, he is also a known womanizer who was caught by his then-wife Jane Fonda, cheating only one month into their marriage. Ted Turner has also made some questionable public remarks about the Chinese culture, which is perhaps a reason to pause and consider his ethics? As well, since Time Warner merger disaster, the Turner brand has definitely taken a downturn. So, is Ted Turner still the leader he once was?

Welcome to episode sixteen of the Doneson Podcast. Today we dive into the story of the most successful mogul of them all-Mr. Warren Buffett! But before we learn about Mr. Buffett, we just want to thank our two guest hosts on today program. Starting with Nashville financial planner, Mr. Charles Glover. If you need assistance with your own financial planning, you can reach out to Mr. Glover for a free consultation. Most certified financial planners (CFP) do not charge services fees but typically earn a 1% commission on Assets Under Management (AUM). So again, consultations are free and you can email Charles Glover at [email protected]

Our second guest host is today is Mr. Mario Malone. He is based out of Nashville, Tennessee and is a realtor who can help you with any real estate questions you may have. He can be reached through his website www.mariomalonehomes.com

Warren Buffet is universally known as the most successful investor and because of that, he is the 4th wealthiest man in the world. The question is -how did he obtain that status? As the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway – a massive holding company that owns a multitude of private and public companies, Mr. Buffett has amassed a fortune by buying entire companies and controlling the dividends. Mr. Buffett has been a workaholic his entire life and still works to this day at 89 years of age. He credits much of his success with spending 80% of his day reading and keeping up with current events. But his commitment to work didn't come without consequences. Although he was married for 52 years, the last years were spent separated from his wife. He has been known to say that leaving his marriage for another woman was his biggest mistake. And then, there was the insider trading issue at Wells Fargo which prompted Buffett to sell many of his shares of the company. Despite his company Berkshire Hathaway owning Wells Fargo-Mr. Buffett did acknowledge that that when there's a problem, there's never just one. The only thing to decide on is this -is Warren Buffett's overall financial success the only thing that matters as a leader?

Join us for episode fifteen of the Doneson podcast as we take a deep dive into the luxury brand Hermes! From modest beginnings in 1837 as a saddle manufacturer to a world class leader in the luxury fashion industry, Hermes has held its ground for well over a century. No other brand has ever held a world record for their products sold in auction like Hermes has. And that product, you may ask? Just a simple $203k Birkin bag!

Popular with collectors but really only available to the ultra-rich, Hermes has no need for marketing as their products have a two year or more wait list. But what does this say exactly about their appeal? Is the Hermes brand really worth the high price range? Or are they simply selling a level of exclusivity that most people will never even reach? Is being a Hermes fan even a possibility or have they priced themselves out of range?

Welcome to episode fourteen of the Doneson podcast! Taking you right to the heart of luxury brands with Louis Vuitton. From its beginnings as the official box maker for Napoleon's wife to the current number three most searched brand on the Internet, Louis Vuitton is a brand that has clearly stood the test of time.

Louis Vuitton has kept its exclusive mark by making the world's only waterproof and fireproof handbags, suspending production once they hit their sales marks, limiting product series and by destroying their own unsold products. Extreme measures but necessary ones in order to keep status quo. But not everything is as pristine as a pretty handbag…never changing the design makes for an easy knock-off target, fake ads and collaborations with the Nazis all send a definite message to consumers. With this in mind, does the vision of Louis Vuitton still hold true?

Jump on in to episode thirteen of the Doneson podcast. Today we will be taking a behind the scenes look at the maven of the wedding dress industry, Ms. Vera Wang! From unassuming beginnings when she designed her own wedding dress, Vera Wang has pushed forward with a strong work ethic, thus taking her brand to the heights it rests at today. From celebrity clients to fashionistas, to the average bride-to-be -all potential customers are required to put a hefty deposit down before even seeing a dress, which could have a price tag well over $25k. Add to that, customer's inability to take photos or videos in any gown that they try on, could be seen as elitist by many. These rules however, are said to protect the originality and integrity of the designer and the brand as a whole. But does all this make it worth it in the end? Who has the most to gain? The client or the brand?

Join us for episode twelve of the Doneson Podcast. Taking the leap today into the high fashion world of Guccio Gucci; iconic luxury design house and household name that has spanned the decades. With a brand value of 18.6 billion, there has been a major shift from Gucci's original target market of upper-class society and celebrities to the current majority of their popularity being centered around millennials from Asia. Known for their vibrant handbags worth thousands, Gucci is no stranger to headlines. From the gunning down of Mauricio Gucci -grandson of the Gucci brand, to the racist blackface sweater that caused a social media uproar, Gucci's brand image has taken several hits. The only questions that remains, is can they continue to recover for the long haul?

Welcome to episode eleven of the Doneson Podcast. Today we dive into one of the most unique leaders in the fashion industry-Dapper Dan! But before we learn about Dan, we just want to thank Nashville entrepreneur, Mr. Jurry Smith, the owner of Genesys Apparel. At Genesys they are dedicated to the traditional art of custom-made tailoring. Offering unique, tailored menswear for today's versatile man. Thanks to an interview with Mr. Smith, we were given a better understanding of the fabrics used in custom-made clothing and now have a stronger appreciation for Dapper Dan. You can learn more about Genesys Apparel here: https://genesysapparel.com/ Dapper Dan is a both a cultural leader and fashion icon and has been, since he began outfitting Harlem locals in the 1980's. Ever the ultimate hustler, when Dan was unable to break into the existing world of fashion, he figured out how to made his own place in it. Although his roots were in counterfeit and illegal knock offs, he eventually gained respect from those high-end luxury brands, in particular Gucci. Never one to shy away from the spotlight, he found ways to turn everything into an opportunity. But does the shady side of his dealings cast a shadow over his accomplishments? Tune in to find out!

Welcome to episode ten of the Doneson podcast! On today's show, all the details of British film director, Alfred Hitchcock's rise to fame. He was and still is known today as a master of suspense. Many modern-day directors and film writers still use his techniques such as the MacGuffin, to ensure a swift moving suspenseful plot. With films like Rear Window, The Birds and Psycho under his belt, Hitchcock made a name for himself in suspense and ultimately thrilling terror. He also was the reason that theatres switched from showing films on a loop to official start times. For Hitchcock this was done for artistic reasons but it proved to be a sound business choice all around. He did however battle with Hollywood censors and often had to distract them with controversial shots in order to keep others that were more important to him. He did what needed to be done in order to have his vision completed. Despite his accomplishments and innovations in film, Hitchcock never won an Oscar. What does this say about him as a leader?