DeShay Delivers HBS OPM Graduation Address Read The Full Story In Orbit
DeShay Delivers HBS OPM Graduation Address Read The Full Story In Orbit
Ron DeShay, CEO of World of Dreams Entertainment Group and a distinguished Harvard Business School alum, recently delivered a memorable address at the OPM Cohort 61 Graduation. The event marked a return to the campus after his own graduation five years ago, evoking a sense of homecoming for DeShay.
The address, titled "Life In Pictures…A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words," was meticulously crafted to engage and inspire the graduating cohort. DeShay's preparation involved collaborating with HBS OPM support staff to create an immersive experience that resonated with the audience.
Using his expertise in storytelling and audience engagement, DeShay wove together anecdotes from his own journey with insights into the power of narratives and imagery. Drawing on research and personal experiences, he explored the impact of social media on mental health and emphasized the importance of framing life's challenges with resilience and positivity.
Faculty Chair, Professor Ananth Raman, praised DeShay's address, stating, "Ron’s address was of course superb. In addition to being a terrific orator, he also performed a song that he had written and composed." The emotional impact of DeShay's message was evident, as many attendees expressed their appreciation on social media. One graduate posted, “He Was Exceptional!” Another echoed the sentiment, stating, “I really needed to hear this today.”
Throughout his address, DeShay underscored the significance of choosing the right narratives for life's pictures, highlighting their role in shaping perceptions and building connections. His message resonated deeply with the graduating cohort, as evidenced by the emotional response and positive feedback from attendees.
As DeShay concluded his address to a standing ovation, he emphasized the timeliness of his message in an era where discerning reality from media narratives is increasingly challenging. With the proliferation of misinformation and polarizing viewpoints, he stressed the importance of leaders gaining diverse perspectives before speaking out on contentious issues.
In a world inundated with conflicting narratives, DeShay's insights into the power of framing life's challenges take on added significance. By encouraging the graduating cohort to carefully choose the narratives for life's pictures, he highlighted their role as leaders in shaping perceptions and fostering understanding.
As DeShay reaffirmed his commitment to continue his contributions to the Harvard Business School community, he left attendees with a profound reminder: in a time when truth is often obscured by noise, it is essential for leaders to approach issues with empathy, humility, and a willingness to seek out multiple viewpoints.
By Lisa Drexel
Orbit Staff Writer
Ron DeShay media entrepreneur, executive producer, artist, and advocate for social justice will be the speaker for Harvard Business School’s OPM closing ceremony for cohort 61 on April 19th.
Ron’s entire career in the entertainment industry has been centered around making a difference in the world. He has dedicated himself to helping others realize their dreams. After all, he set the example when he left Texas, for California in 1999 in pursuit of fulfilling his dreams. Today, he is a Multi Emmy-nominated, 20-plus-year veteran television producer and businessman. Ron is best known for developing and producing the FOX runaway hit, American Idol, as well as its dance variety equivalent, So You Think You Can Dance. American Idol was the most-watched TV series and the only program to hold the Number One rating by the coveted 18 – 49-year-old demographic for six consecutive seasons.
Ron is the CEO and Founder of World of Dreams, a company that develops technology that helps bridge the gap between content creators and viewers—starting with Millennials / GenZ.
Throughout his career, DeShay has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. An artist himself, he is the founder of A Better World Project, an organization that focuses on using the arts to mend the broken bridges of society.
In his address, DeShay we'll take an in-depth look at the visual science of the pictures we take in from all forms of media, as well as, the pictures we take from life itself. He will examine how the mind processes imagery intake to set perspectives, filter perceptions, and influence the psychology around ideas, ideologies, and beliefs. In a world where daily, people are bombarded with a barrage of information, DeShay believes it’s more important than ever for leaders to understand how their narratives become the frame that sets the perspectives of those whom they are leading. DeShay is a cum laude graduate of Clark Atlanta University 1996 BA with degrees in Religion & Philosophy, Minor in Communications, and Havard Business School 2019 OPM. He also has certificates in Leading Professional Services Firms from HBS.
By Josh Cohen
Orbit Staff Writer
Media Entrepreneur, Producer, and Artist, Ron DeShay has helped thousands realize their greatest dreams. He has now furthered his reach into dream actualization through his talk series, “Dream Fundamentals.”
In this series, DeShay asks the question, “What would you dream of doing if you knew you couldn’t fail? “Helping audiences understand how to access the right perspectives and perceptions on their journey is one of the keys,”, he says. Drawing from his own life experience of producing some of the most successful shows in television to now having raised billions towards the launch of his own studio and streaming platform, he is ready to inspire your team or group toward dream actualization.
Already a recording artist, founder Ron DeShay left his hometown in rural, Texas with little more than his dream to work in Hollywood. The 9/11 attacks interrupted his fledgling acting career and ultimately forced him to refocus on the production side of the business. Through a series of events he found himself at the right place at the right time, on the creative production team that launched American Idol, also known as the show 'that broke television'. During his twelve-year stint, he witnessed first-hand the way emerging technology intersected with TV programming to shape a new generation of TV viewers.
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