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I have been a huge fan of Cher for as long as I can remember. Images of her always seem to pop up in the most random places. Over spring break, I found a novelty cookie shop and bought a Cher cookie with her iconic “I am a rich man” quote. On the first day of the Entrepreneurial Leadership course, I was greeted with her cardboard cutout figure in the side of the room, and she’s been a consistent figure in my class experience.
I find it fascinating because a consistent theme in this course has been self-discovery and evolution. Almost all of our guest speakers have careers unrelated to their undergraduate degrees. In my eyes, Cher embodies this theme perfectly.
Cher started her career under the wing of her husband, Sonny Bono, performing folk music and promoting a cookie-cutter image of a husband and wife. However, she has crafted a larger-than-life persona over her career that embodies the fully realized, independent, and successful woman. Cher has never been afraid to take leaps and change her image. In addition to singing, she pursued an acting career and gained several awards. She is always looking for ways to use her potential and talent.
Despite her ever-changing image over her 60-year career, Cher has always stayed true to herself and her core values. She started as a young hippie girl in the 70s, sporting bell bottoms and boosting flower power. Later in the 80s, she adopted the disco and rock genres, and her appearance reflected that. However, Cher never put herself in a box or restricted her creative expression. I believe her ever-changing appearance truly represents her value of experimentation and evolution and is something we should all aspire to do throughout our lives.
About The Author:
Kaylani Addison '25
Business Honors
Entrepreneurial LeadHERship Course Student - Spring 2022
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