Reflections on Success Catherine L. Hughes

I have four honorary degrees, have taught at different universities, and attended Harvard, but I never received an undergraduate degree. This is because I was pregnant at age 16 and had a child at 17. That child, my son, Alfred Liggins, is now president and CEO of Radio One. Another reason I didn't get a degree is that I was always taking courses, and still am. I honestly think that if I had narrowed myself to one major and minor I wouldn't be where I am today.

What I say to students in commencement exercises is that most of us tend to concentrate too much on the degree, instead of the knowledge that you get from the classes. If you look at the majority of people in top management, very few obtained degrees. Additionally, only a handful of the superstars in entertainment have degrees. What you need to succeed is knowledge that goes far beyond the degree. Languages, literature, political science, economics, science, and even typing are all important.

You also need versatility and a willingness to do any job that is asked of you. That's what managers are looking for, people with diversified skills to meet any challenge. As Winston Churchill said, "It's not enough to do your best, you must do what is required of any situation." I'm a firm believer in the 24/7 rule. You have to work hard. Everyone who is truly successful has worked extremely hard.

I wish I could be optimistic and say that there are many job opportunities opening up in this field. It's always been a very competitive industry, with only 11,000 radio stations and far fewer TV stations. Compounding this, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which allowed for consolidation, eliminated literally thousands of jobs. This is all the more reason to educate yourself as broadly as possible and work as hard as you can. The key to succeeding, as an entrepreneur is to persevere - never give up!

Catherine Liggins Hughes is the founder and chairperson of the Washington, D.C. area-based Radio One, Inc., which owns 51 radio stations and one TV station, and is the largest African-American run broadcast company in the U.S., with annual revenues exceeding $2 billion.