Ellen DeGeneres

"For me, it's that I contributed, ... That I'm on this planet doing some good and making people happy. That's to me the most important thing, that my hour of television is positive and upbeat and an antidote for all the negative stuff going on in life."   --Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres has been a public figure leading change for over ten years now. She has been successful in encouraging people young and old across America to be themselves, live a happy life, and help make others happy. 


In 1997 DeGeneres publicly stated that she is gay. In 1997 this was a huge gamble. Not very many people were accepting. Regardless, Ellen took a stand and showed the rest of America that it was okay to be you.  She had also joined many other celebrities who are recently sending messages that 'it gets better' to teens and anyone else who feel like outcasts (especially those that are gay) after a string of many suicides that followed hazing and bashing. Along with these messages, Ellen encouraged the rest of America to be more accepting and kind to one another.

Ellen DeGeneres is also involved in a number of charities that help Americans. She launched "A Small Change Campaign" that helps feed Americans. She also is also very active in helping the Red Cross and the Susan G Komen for the Cure group (supporting breast cancer awareness and research for a cure).


Ellen's positive attitude mixed with sense of humor and great comic abilities really helps her in being a leader. She gains referent power by being a celebrity who many cannot help but like and look up to. She urges Americans to make a change. A great way she motivates people is by actually living the life style she preaches. She is a kind-hearted, accepting person, who is not afraid to be herself, and is involved with helping others. In chapter 2, we learned about a way of leadership called "Model the Way" in which a person is a leader by clarifying his or her own values and sets and example by aligning his or her actions with the values that person has. This is exactly what DeGeneres does. She also "Challenges the Options" by always searching for ways to enact a plan to bring about change. "Enabling others to act" is another way that she gives others the power to bring about change. Most of all, I believe she is a great leader because she "Encourages the Heart" by recognizing other's achievement, shows appreciation, and celebrates the values and victories by creating a spirit of community. She does this by giving back time, money, and appreciation to many people on her show that are trying to better themselves and the world.


What do you think of Ellen DeGeneres? Are the changes she is trying to make significant? Is there something more she should be doing? Do you think her personality is her biggest aide in leading change?


-Alivia Lindbeck