Stedman Graham and Oprah Winfrey

Stedman Graham is beyond what might be labeled as a typical fan of Oprah Winfrey’s. What surely includes Graham in the army of fans that Oprah has gained over the years is the influence that she has made on his life.  That influence is best described as a comfort that he developed in becoming his own man, partially due in fact to his relationship with Winfrey.  Graham was born and raised in Whitesboro, New Jersey, so during his early years he many times heard the saying that nothing good comes from Whitesboro.  He was a basketball star in college and played pro ball in Europe.  Coming back to Chicago was to prove a step in the right direction for Graham.  

Today, Graham owns a sports-oriented marketing firm in Chicago and is the author of a number of self-help and leadership development books.  It is his belief that the talents and skills that a person possesses truly shape his or her belief system.  Graham stresses that once a person comes to know and believe in whom they are, the possibilities are endless.  He saw in Oprah Winfrey a woman who embodies those same talents and knowledge of who she really is, along with the success that has come as a direct result.

Even though Graham and Winfrey have experienced a personally involved relationship, including a child, both admit that they would not be the person that they are had it not been for their shared experiences.