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By Adam Kluger | Photography by Benno Klandt

The international channel i24NEWS broadcasts in English, Arabic and French around the world, with its biggest bureau in Jaffa Port, Israel. From he international channel i24NEWS broadcasts in English, Arabic and French around the world, with its biggest bureau in Jaffa Port, Israel. From the New York anchor desk in their Times Square studio, Michelle Makori gets ready to report the news… after a cup of coffee.

I’m a good multi-tasker…but I’m useless before my cup of coffee in the morning.

A typical workday for Makori is anything but typical– and usually lasts at least 12 hours!

“I start scouring various news sites from the minute I wake up, sending suggestions to my team as I run my morning errands, which on a good day includes the gym. At 12 o’clock we have an editorial meeting for my show where we lay out the rundown—choosing our top stories and guest segments. I really like to work closely with our guest bookers to get a good range of experts and analysts…full spectrum of voices. Then it is typically a number of meetings about what the reporters are being assigned to…suggesting assignments… planning for future shows, planning for my other show.

I like to immerse myself in the interview research. I really enjoy that. And much like other journalists and TV people, I kick into high gear as the deadline nears and its crunch time. It’s a non-stop day basically from 8:30am until 8:30pm of multi-tasking and juggling a number of things and then after I wrap up the show I try to have what we call, “a life.”(laugh)

Makori is the Anchor and Editor in Chief of i24’s US flagship show ‘Clearcut with Michelle Makori’ airing every week day at 7pm EST. She’s also the Producer, Anchor and Editor-in-Chief of ‘Beyond The Story with Michelle Makori’, which is going to be launching in late March.

i24NEWS itself launched in the U.S. last February 13th. Makori has been there from the very beginning to help shape the network’s U.S. channel.

“I was the first hire in the US by the CEO Frank Melloul. I met him in Israel when I was there for my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary a couple of years ago and was very impressed. He reached out when he was ready to launch i24News in the US. In less than 3 months we made it happen. There were five of us, the pioneers or P5 as we call ourselves and we launched the U.S channel from scratch…going from meetings in coffee shops to assembling a whole news team and crew to then putting four hours live on TV. That was a fantastic experience. It’s remarkable that we are having our one year anniversary soon.”

Makori says that American television news viewers are eager for a channel like i24 NEWS that offers objective, straight forward news reporting.

“We’re trying to capitalize on the fact that viewers are disillusioned with the media… particularly the news industry, it is generally just punditry –you watch American cable at night and for four hours straight the broadcast will go on about just one story–which is probably some negative Trump-linked story, and it will be back to back coverage of one issue with people opining or arguing. You watch MSNBC and it’s an echo chamber of the same sentiment usually over just one topic from show to show –you don’t get to see the news of the day –you don’t get to learn about what’s going on outside the U.S., you don’t get fact-based reporting just punditry…but on i24 news we give you fact-based reporting, insight and analysis. If you’re watching my show you are going to get a global picture, beyond just one or two U.S. stories. On my show the emphasis is on the U.S. and the Middle East, and more importantly how they intersect. We like to say ‘what happens in the middle East doesn’t stay in the Middle east’ like it or not it impacts the world. The world is so interlinked that its vital to include news from China, Europe, Africa – I want to give the global perspective. I also place a strong emphasis on the economy and I have a dedicated business news segment every show because it all goes back to money anyway, money makes the world go round.”

At I24 NEWS, Makori combines her business journalism experience with Wall Street credibility. Being a FINRA licensed financial adviser (Series 7) and having worked with the Beryl Consulting Group, GFI and now Context Summits.

Michelle joined i24NEWS from CGTN (China Global Television Network) where she was a key member of the team that launched the U.S. based global English Channel. Makori was the New York-based Anchor and Producer of “Global Business America”, CGTN’s flagship global economic and business news show.

“Turns out I like start up TV News, I was part of the team that launched what is now CGTN in the US . I was one of the first ten hires in America. I guess I am TV news channel pioneer.” ( laughs).

Before joining CCTV now CGTN in December of 2011, Michelle was an anchor and reporter for Bloomberg TV for five years as well as a reporter with CNN Money.

“Bloomberg TV was my break that got me from South Africa to the US. When I was 7 years old I decided I wanted to move to New York and become an international News Anchor and Bloomberg made that happen for me. They sponsored my work visa and later my green card and my five plus years at Bloomberg were incredible and so educational”

On her nightly show Clearcut with Michelle Makori, the telegenic dynamo is particularly adept at explaining how world events can significantly impact the economy.

“Drawing on my business background I always include an economic focus in my show.

I like to keep my finger on the pulse of the financial world through my work with Context Summits … yes, seeing as I have so much spare time ( laughs), I also host summits for Context which is the leader in Alternative Investment conferences. There I get to interview some of the leading portfolio managers and some of the brightest minds in finance so that gives me an inside perspective and insight that I can use on my show.

If you watch my show you’re going to get a range of headlines and stories from around the world from business to technology to politics …. fact-based analysis and multiple perspectives, I like to cut to the chase and extract what you need to know, straight forward, no BS, its ClearCut ”

Before joining Bloomberg TV and moving to New York in 2005, Michelle was one of the main anchors and producers for SABC Africa Television, based in Johannesburg South Africa and broadcasting throughout the African Continent. Makori’s accolades include winning the Harambee African Reporter of the Year Award in 2004 for her work on micro-lending enterprises. One of her biggest moments was interviewing South African President Nelson Mandela.

“I interviewed Nelson Mandela …it was an extraordinary experience … speaking to Nelson Mandela, the man just exuded energy that was sublime in a way, healing almost, there was just a calmness about him that radiated , now it sounds ridiculous but I was first taken aback by how tall he was and his stature. He had tremendous presence and just exuded a very positive energy.”

As a long-time South African resident Makori says she loves watching animal programs on TV to relax after her 12 hour work days. Like the recent broadcast of Planet Earth 2 on BBC world.

“I like everything from trashy reality TV to serious documentaries and other news shows but I always have the TV on in the background and I love shows about animals and nature, I have that on most weekends. I find it very relaxing. It’s my African connection. I used to go on safaris all the time in Africa. I’ve seen the ‘big five’, as we call them, up close: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo. I have seen hippos, wildebeest, kudus all kinds of bucks, crocodiles you name it, I have been on countless game drives it’s what we do in Africa …I had a situation once when I was on safari with my father and some elephants started charging the car and we had to get out of there in reverse… that was quite eventful…hey, you’re in their territory.”

While in South African territory, Michelle really made her mark, she was voted as one of the ‘Top 30 Women’ by Cosmopolitan magazine (SA edition) and one of the ‘Sexiest Women in the World’ by FHM magazine’s SA readers.

To stay in amazing shape and maintain balance in her life, Makori hits the gym and enjoys an active social life.

“I play squash. I’m learning ballroom dancing .. and in theory I go to the gym three times a week. I have an insatiable intellectual curiosity and love to read and attend TED talks. I’m a social creature. You might even see me at parties in the Hamptons or hosting a charity event. I love to travel. My family is scattered around the globe. I’m always on a plane somewhere – anytime I have some free time.”

Whatever she does, she does well. Michelle’s even a model daughter who always calls her mom in South Africa every day to check in!

“I’m a good Jewish daughter.” (laughs) and my mom is an even better Jewish mother , she watches the show every night.”

Michelle was born in Haifa and moved to Johannesburg, South Africa as a baby where she grew up until moving to New York in 2005.

“I am very proud to now be a US citizen. So I’m an African American Israeli as I like to say, I used to say I am an African American Israeli working for the Chinese. I have been lucky to have been exposed to various cultures and countries and I always maintain that global perspective when reporting the news or interviewing people.”

Michelle speaks 5 languages and holds a Post Graduate Honors Degree in Media Studies and Journalism (with distinction), and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Law and Psychology, both from South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand. She also graduated top of her class from South Africa’s Damelin Business School.

A native born Israeli, Makori sees a number of clear trends in the Middle East. “Probably the most significant thing that is happening right now is the shift in the Middle East in the sense of new alliances. Israel and the Saudis are developing a clandestine relationship. They are not public about the strengthening ties but all indications are there that they are cooperating on a number of fronts and I think that’s a huge game changer… The situation with Iran is one of the enemy of my enemy is my friend and that common threat of Iran has brought the Israelis and the Saudis together and that could be very significant in terms of checking Irani-an influence and potentially shaping how the Palestinian situation gets resolved… or doesn’t get resolved.”

“Also, the relationship between Israel and the U.S. has never been better… Netanyahu and Trump have a very close relationship. There is a clearly a chemistry between them….and shared interests.”

“Trump saying he will move the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, acknowledging that reality… has been very significant. He actually kept the same campaign promise made by Bush, Clinton and Obama. There is no doubt about it that’s it’s a far stronger relationship than under Obama. Some of the Obama administration’s positions could prove to be severely detrimental to Israeli safety and security – case in point the Iran Nuclear deal. That is a bad deal. Iran was in a compromised position, feeling the pinch of the sanctions and Obama had the leverage and made a deal which gave Iran billions of dollars up front , instead of ‘anytime/ anywhere’ inspections they got ‘sometimes / some places’ inspections , military sites aren’t accessible and of course the biggest issue is the sunset clause which allows Iran in 2025 to go ahead with its Uranium enrichment program ….I agree with Trump on that one – it’s a terrible deal.”

So, will President Trump become a huge Michelle Makori fan? “Well I think the President will find that I am certainly not the mainstream media. I am fair. Of course, he is welcome on the show. I am happy to give President Trump my opinions on a range of issues. I can even help him finesse his Twitter game (laughs)

Would President Trump like i24 NEWS? The attitudes and perspectives are very varied across our shows. He might or he might not. We are fact based and objective. We deliver both sides. We are not trying to create an echo chamber of similar opinions. We are aiming to give facts, analysis and perspective. Viewers are fed up with the bias on the news.”

i24NEWS is available on Altice ,Cablevision, Spectrum ,Optimum, Suddenlink, Charter, Mediacom and Roku and online at: https://www.i24news.tv/en/tv/live

Designers at New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2017 produced a range of very pretty silhouettes with cutouts, bold colors, neons and see-through material. Nods to patterns, florals and flowing gowns were also seen. Hair and beauty were effortless, and colors ranged from primary colors to monochromatic black and white, allowing the outfit to make the statement over the accessories.

What is your business vision/market/niche?

 Since the inception in 2004, The Campins Company has been a luxury real estate brokerage focused on residential real estate. A large portion of my clients are businessmen and their families. I also started the first ever Sports & Entertainment Real Estate Division  within The Campins Company then and have represented over 400 athletes, celebrities and entertainers.

What are current trends in Miami/Florida Real Estate? 

We are seeing an influx of buyers from the Northeast ie. NY, Connecticut, etc. and California relocating to South Florida as a result of the new tax implications. 

How has being DT’s Apprentice impacted your life and career? 

Being on the first ever season of The Apprentice changed my life. It served as priceless platform for my business. I learned the art of branding from now President Trump. I just wish we had social media then – with over 28 million viewers I would have been able to create an even larger social media platform in minutes. 

Thoughts of your boss as POTUS – does it blow your mind? 

I recall being on Fox News for a real estate segment and Neil Cavuto asked me if I truly believed my long time friend Donald Trump would run for President. I said “Yes!”  He has been stating he had a desire to run for some time. I knew this time it wasn’t a PR stunt. He was truly fed up with how this country was being run and he was ready to step up to fix it. 

Another big player in Miami Real Estate is Steve Ross, Owner of the Miami Dolphins. Any thoughts on him? 

Steve Ross is an icon in Miami. I was born and raised in Miami so it has been wonderful to witness all he has done to revamp the team.

What do you do for fun/personal life when you aren’t focused on your burgeoning Real Estate empire? 

I LOVE the ocean! It’s my sanctuary. I need to feel centered to be effective in business so the ocean and the gym are essential. Spending time with my family is the utmost important thing in my life. They are my WHY. 

We absolutely love your mom’s amazing jewelry line. How important is your family to your business success? 

My mother instilled a sense of self in me at a very young age. There is nothing she would not do for me. She sparked my fire and inspired me to follow my bliss. It is because of her that I believed I could do and be anything. Now is my moment to encourage her to fulfill her purpose. She has a deep desire to inspire and help others through her healing stones which she creates with her own hands. I collaborated with her to create Kat Wraps. 

Being a mother has been the most gratifying experience of my life. It is more than words could describe. Creating a balance with my work and my duties as a mom has been challenging but I wouldn’t change a thing. I am grateful that my profession, although demanding allows me the flexibility to be there for him. He and my family come first. 

By Adam Kluger  |  Photos by Zinno Park

When New York Night Owls in Times Square are winding up their nights, FOX Business Network Anchor Cheryl Casone is usually getting into work.

“Times Square is very entertaining…at 2:45AM.  You see it all you really see it. A lot of the times when I’m coming to work people are just leaving the bars so I see the tail end of the night before , put it that way. Also the streets are empty and that’s kind of cool because you don’t see that.”

The City That Never Sleeps also provides Casone with plenty of business news stories.

I really love hosting the first show of the day because it’s the first shot at the news.

Casone co-hosts FBN:AM beginning at 5AM/ET where she is first to report on the state of the US economy:

“Nationally, things have gotten a lot better, you’ve got less regulation, the tax package that just got passed has helped a lot of lower income workers in other states you with bonuses and better wages – so that’s a good thing…  you’ve got unemployment now at 3.8 per cent, incomes are rising – not as much as we would like to see but wages are better- retirement accounts are better-looking based on how the markets have done, the numbers are there to support that- whatever your politics are-that the economy is doing better because of things like less regulation and pro-business policies.  Seeing GDP consistently above 2 percent – means the economy is definitely a lot stronger.”

… on the current mood of Wall Street:

I think anything that is a fiscally conservative policy, Wall Street is going to like no matter if it is coming from the Governor, the Mayor or the President. So, if you are a fiscal conservative you believe in less regulation and pro-business policies so those are the two things they want from anyone.

…and important business trends to look out for:

“We talk about it every day on the show… honestly, technology.  that train is going down the track like a high speed locomotive and it’s not stopping whether it’s robotics, artificial intelligence, or transportation.  We’re talking about flying taxis by 2020! That can all be a reality and it will be.  Technology is just completely changing everything and how we live our lives. Do you go to a store anymore of just order on Amazon?”

“I’ve been hosting FBN:AM at FOX Business Network for a year now. I really love hosting the first show of the day because it’s the first shot at the news. I love being first!  (laugh). So much news is happening right now you just never know what is happening overnight so I really love the fact that I’ve got that show and it’s going really well! We’ve really seen our audience grow and our ratings have moved up a lot, quite substantially, in just the past year so I’m really proud of that.”

A former flight attendant , right out of college, Casone parlayed that personal work experience to become one of Fox’s most knowledgeable reporters on the Airline Industry as a whole.

“I appreciate that my colleagues whether it is Tucker Carlson or Stuart Varney lean on me for aviation stories. I appreciate it because it’s another part of my past life I can bring here. I don’t love checked bag fees any more than anybody else or the delays and there are all kinds of bad things about travel but I do still have a fondness for the airline industry.”

As for working in New York City, Casone couldn’t be happier.

“It is a dream come true for me – I was a business reporter in San Francisco at Channel 4 KRON-TV – and I loved my time in San Francisco, but I would sit and watch Maria Bartiromo on TV and I really wanted to be in New York because this is the center of the world when it comes to business, finance, banking and Wall Street so when I finally got here in 2004- that was the ultimate goal. And I still love New York. I actually live on the Upper West Side of New York  now but I just love all of Manhattan.  I think this is going to be a permanent place for me to live now. I just love that you meet so many people from different cultures and there is so much to do here. Months can go by where I don’t even leave Manhattan. It’s crazy!”

Casone not only gets to work beside the talented Maria Bartiromo, she also gets to work with aforementioned elder statesman and much beloved FOX Business Network host, Stuart Varney. One of the true class acts in the Broadcast Business.

“I’ve known Stu for years…I adore him I call him Stu,  I love him.  He’s one of the first people I met when I came to the Fox News Channel in 2006 I joined the FNC a year before we launched the business network so he was the first person I met in the building that day. I call him my first friend!”  

One thing Casone doesn’t get to do with many of her friends is…enjoy late night dinners!

“I host a 5am show, I get up at 2am every day… all my friends are like “can you get off this schedule” and I’m say no I really like what I’m doing… I like a morning show and I do both of our morning shows. I go to bed at 6pm that ‘s really the only thing that gets tough – I don’t have a social life at night but it’s fine. It’s a funny conversation because people say “when do you go to bed” and I reply 6pm (laugh) so they want to go have dinner and I’m asking can you do that dinner at 3pm? 3:30pm?”

Being a hard worker committed  to her craft- no matter what the hour- is something Casone credits  to her parents and her home state of Texas.

“I was definitely raised with a strong work ethic my grandfather owned and operated a meat processing company – you know we worked hard our family, my father was the same way… you work hard- you commit- you are an upstanding citizen- I think a lot of my values as a person come from being a Texan and I still consider myself a Texan… now when I get off the plane in Dallas I keep thinking to myself why is everybody being so nice to me? (laugh) Because that’s the thing about Texas, you know? That southern charm is a true thing.”

FOX Business has even let Casone keep up with the Joneses of the NFL.

“FOX Business has allowed me to report on the business of sports and I’ve covered five Super bowls now.  I’m a Football junkie and a huge Dallas Cowboys fan (laugh) I’ve gotten to meet some of my football heroes …I met Roger Staubach, I was like wow hello wow….getting to know Jerry Jones…Charlotte Jones, his daughter who is now one of the most powerful women in the NFL ..that’s been a really fun piece of the journey for me… oh Joe Theisman…I was having coffee with him – Troy Aikman that was a fun one …and Dan Marino, Dan Marino is a hoot , love him.”

Sports Reporter Casone is actually quite an athlete herself.

“It’s been really fun for me because I also do triathlons and marathons so I really can kind of get that other part of my life fulfilled. We sponsor the 2XU New York City Triathlon every summer, FOX Business does, so what’s cool about that is that not only do I compete in the triathlon every year but my colleague and I, Liz Claman do some good.  She’s a big supporter and champion fundraiser for “Building Homes for Heroes”,a local charity that builds custom homes for veterans, so that’s another fun side of it. On a personal level I actually get to do the sport and then we do segments on the triathlon and Liz does segments about some of the veterans that have been helped by some of her work.”  

Like most New Yorkers Casone is in love with Central Park.

“I consider Central Park my savior because I didn’t grow up in NYC or the East Coast- to be out in the park, I’m out there probably 4-5 days a week, gives me sanity, just because I love the trees! And since I’m a runner and a tri-athlete, for me to have that park is a mental savior. I look at Central Park as the gift that just keeps on giving!”

An always busy reporter, Casone says that after a long day that there’s nothing better than curling up with Milo… her rescue cat! Yep. Casone, who is a major supporter of the ASPCA and North Shore Animal League, along with her famous pal Beth Stern, readily admits she is a cat person.

“Milo is a street cat from the Bronx. One of my friends was teaching up there and there were stray cats that were living on the roof of this building and one day she kept seeing this little tiny kitten just sitting there by himself. She finally just walked up and grabbed him and called me and said “I have a cat.” So, now I have a cat. (laugh) I’m definitely an animal person for sure. We had 25 cats at one point on my Grandfather’s farm in Texas when I was a kid. Guess I’m stuck with it!”

But more than anything, Casone is a people-person, dedicated as an anchor to helping her viewers understand business- and as an author of the critically acclaimed business book, “The Comeback: How Today’s Moms Reenter the Workplace Successfully” to helping people, women and baby boomers in particular, keep the American Economy going strong—by working!

“The book (The Comeback) actually came out of my work at FOX because I was doing weekly segments on FOX & Friends, when unemployment was at 10 percent. The Comeback is about how to help people find jobs—my whole brand for a while, at least with those segments on FOX & Friends, was to find people work…people were struggling to find anything and it was during the recession –which was caused by Wall Street as we all know and so the segment just really took off and people just started to ask me on the street or in the airports for advice. I would get emails from people who were saying: “hey, could you look at my resume and I’ve got this much experience” and so I sort of really started getting into helping people find work.”

By Adam Kluger  |  Photos by Benno Klandt

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The international channel i24NEWS broadcasts in English, Arabic and French around the world, with its biggest bureau in Jaffa Port, Israel. From the New York anchor desk in their Times Square studio, Michelle Makori gets ready to report the news… after a cup of coffee.

“I’m a good multi-tasker…but I’m useless before my cup of coffee in the morning.”

A typical workday for Makori is anything but typical– and usually lasts at least 12 hours!

Drawing on my business background I always include an economic focus in my show.

“I start scouring various news sites from the minute I wake up, sending suggestions to my team as I run my morning errands, which on a good day includes the gym. At 12 o’clock we have an editorial meeting for my show where we lay out the rundown—choosing our top stories and guest segments. I really like to work closely with our guest bookers to get a good range of experts and analysts…full spectrum of voices. Then it is typically a number of meetings about what the reporters are being assigned to…suggesting assignments…planning for future shows, planning for my other show.

I like to immerse myself in the interview research. I really enjoy that. And much like other journalists and TV people, I kick into high gear as the deadline nears and its crunch time. It’s a non-stop day basically from 8:30am until 8:30pm of multi-tasking and juggling a number of things and then after I wrap up the show I try to have what we call, “a life.”(laugh)

Makori is the Anchor and Editor in Chief of i24’s US flagship show ‘Clearcut with Michelle Makori’ airing every week day at 7pm EST. She’s also the Producer, Anchor and Editor-in-Chief of ‘Beyond The Story with Michelle Makori’, which is going to be launching in late March.

i24NEWS itself launched in the U.S. last February 13th. Makori has been there from the very beginning to help shape the network’s U.S. channel.

“I was the first hire in the US by the CEO Frank Melloul. I met him in Israel when I was there for my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary a couple of years ago and was very impressed. He reached out when he was ready to launch i24News in the US. In less than 3 months we made it happen. There were five of us, the pioneers or P5 as we call ourselves and we launched the U.S channel from scratch…going from meetings in coffee shops to assembling a whole news team and crew to then putting four hours live on TV.  That was a fantastic experience. It’s remarkable that we are having our one year anniversary soon.”

Makori says that American television news viewers are eager for a channel like i24 NEWS that offers objective, straight forward news reporting.

“We’re trying to capitalize on the fact that viewers are disillusioned with the media… particularly the news industry, it is generally just punditry –you watch American cable at night and for four hours straight the broadcast will go on about just one story–which is probably some negative Trump-linked story, and it will be back to back coverage of one issue with people opining or arguing. You watch MSNBC and it’s an echo chamber of the same sentiment usually over just one topic from show to show –you don’t get to see the news of the day –you don’t get to learn about what’s going on outside the U.S., you don’t get fact-based reporting just punditry…but on  i24 news we give you fact-based reporting, insight and analysis. If you’re watching my show you are going to get a global picture, beyond just one or two U.S. stories. On my show the emphasis is on the U.S. and the Middle East, and more importantly how they intersect.  We like to say ‘what happens in the middle East doesn’t stay in the Middle east’ like it or not it impacts the world.  The world is so interlinked that its vital to include news from China, Europe, Africa – I want to give the global perspective. I also place a strong emphasis on the economy and I have a dedicated business news segment every show because it all goes back to money anyway, money makes the world go round.”

At I24 NEWS, Makori combines her business journalism experience with Wall Street credibility. Being a FINRA licensed financial adviser (Series 7) and having worked with the Beryl Consulting Group, GFI and now Context Summits.

Michelle  joined i24NEWS from CGTN (China Global Television Network) where she was a key member of the team that launched the  U.S. based global English Channel. Makori was the New York-based Anchor and Producer of “Global Business America”, CGTN’s flagship global economic and business news show.

“Turns out I like start up TV News, I was part of the team that launched what is now CGTN in the US .I was one of the first ten hires in America. I guess I am TV news channel pioneer.” ( laughs).

Before joining CCTV now CGTN in December of 2011, Michelle was an anchor and reporter for Bloomberg TV for five years as well as a reporter with CNN Money.

“Bloomberg TV was my break that got me from South Africa to the US. When I was 7 years old I decided I wanted to move to New York and become an international News Anchor and Bloomberg made that happen for me. They sponsored my work visa and later my green card and my five plus years at Bloomberg were incredible and so educational”

On her nightly show Clearcut with Michelle Makori, the telegenic dynamo is particularly adept at explaining how world events can significantly impact the economy.

“Drawing on my business background I always include an economic focus in my show.

I like to keep my finger on the pulse of the financial world through my work with Context Summits … yes, seeing as I have so much spare time ( laughs), I also host summits for Context which is the leader in Alternative Investment conferences. There I get to interview some of the leading portfolio managers and some of the brightest minds in finance so that gives me an inside perspective and insight that I can use on my show.

If you watch my show you’re going to get a range of headlines and stories from around the world from business to technology to politics ….  fact-based analysis and multiple perspectives, I like to cut to the chase and extract what you need to know, straight forward, no BS, its ClearCut “

Before joining Bloomberg TV and moving to New York in 2005, Michelle was one of the main anchors and producers for SABC Africa Television, based in Johannesburg South Africa and broadcasting throughout the African Continent.  Makori’s accolades include winning the Harambee African Reporter of the Year Award in 2004 for her work on micro-lending enterprises.  One of her biggest moments was interviewing South African President Nelson Mandela.

“I interviewed Nelson Mandela …it was an extraordinary experience … speaking to Nelson Mandela, the man just exuded energy that was sublime in a way, healing almost,  there was just a calmness about him that radiated , now it sounds ridiculous but I was first taken aback by how tall he was and his  stature. He had tremendous presence and just exuded a very positive energy.”

As a long-time South African resident Makori says she loves watching animal programs on TV to relax after her 12 hour work days. Like the recent broadcast of Planet Earth 2 on BBC world.

“I like everything from trashy reality TV to serious documentaries and other news shows but I always have the TV on in the background and I love shows about animals and nature, I have that on most weekends. I find it very relaxing.  It’s my African connection. I used to go on safaris all the time in Africa. I’ve seen the ‘big five’, as we call them, up close:  lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo. I have seen hippos, wildebeest, kudus all kinds of bucks, crocodiles you name it, I have been on countless game drives it’s what we do in Africa …I had a situation once when I was on safari with my father and some elephants started charging the car and we had to get out of there in reverse…that was quite eventful…hey, you’re in their territory.”

While in South African territory, Michelle really made her mark, she was voted as one of the ‘Top 30 Women’ by Cosmopolitan magazine (SA edition) and one of the ‘Sexiest Women in the World’ by FHM magazine’s SA readers.

To stay in amazing shape and maintain balance in her life, Makori hits the gym and enjoys an active social life. 

“I play squash. I’m learning ballroom dancing .. and in theory I go to the gym three times a week. I have an insatiable intellectual curiosity and love to read and attend TED talks.  I’m a social creature. You might even see me at parties in the Hamptons or hosting a charity event. I love to travel.  My family is scattered around the globe. I’m always on a plane somewhere – anytime I have some free time.”

Whatever she does, she does well. Michelle’s even a model daughter who always calls her mom in South Africa every day to check in!

“I’m a good Jewish daughter.” (laughs) and my mom is an even better Jewish mother , she watches the show every night.”

Michelle was born in Haifa and moved to Johannesburg, South Africa as a baby where she grew up until moving to New York in 2005.

“I am very proud to now be a US citizen. So I’m an African American Israeli as I like to say, I used to say I am an African American Israeli working for the Chinese. I have been lucky to have been exposed to various cultures and countries and I always maintain that global perspective when reporting the news or interviewing people.”

Michelle speaks 5 languages and holds a Post Graduate Honors Degree in Media Studies and Journalism (with distinction), and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Law and Psychology, both from South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand. She also graduated top of her class from South Africa’s Damelin Business School.

A native born Israeli, Makori sees a number of clear trends in the Middle East.

“Probably the most significant thing that is happening right now is the shift in the Middle East in the sense of new alliances. Israel and the Saudis are developing a clandestine relationship. They are not public about the strengthening ties but all indications are there that they are cooperating on a number of fronts and I think that’s a huge game changer… The situation with Iran is one of the enemy of my enemy is my friend and that common threat of Iran  has brought the Israelis and the Saudis together and that could be very  significant in terms of checking Iranian influence and potentially shaping how the Palestinian situation gets resolved…or doesn’t get resolved.”

“Also, the relationship between Israel and the U.S. has never been better… Netanyahu and Trump have a very close relationship. There is a clearly a chemistry between them….and shared interests.”

“Trump saying he will move the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, acknowledging that reality… has been very significant. He actually kept the same campaign promise made by Bush, Clinton and Obama. There is no doubt about it that’s it’s a far stronger relationship than under Obama. Some of the Obama administration’s positions could prove to be severely detrimental to Israeli safety and security – case in point the Iran Nuclear deal. That is a bad deal. Iran was in a compromised position, feeling the pinch of the sanctions and Obama had the leverage and made a deal which gave Iran billions of dollars up front , instead of ‘anytime/ anywhere’ inspections they got ‘sometimes / some places’ inspections , military sites aren’t accessible and of course the biggest issue is the sunset clause which allows Iran in 2025 to go ahead with its Uranium enrichment program ….I agree with Trump on that one  – it’s a terrible deal.”

So, will President Trump become a huge Michelle Makori fan?

“Well I think the President will find that I am certainly not the mainstream media. I am fair. Of course, he is welcome on the show. I am happy to give President Trump my opinions on a range of issues. I can even help him finesse his Twitter game (laughs)

Would President Trump like i24 NEWS?

The attitudes and perspectives are very varied across our shows. He might or he might not. We are fact based and objective. We deliver both sides. We are not trying to create an echo chamber of similar opinions.   We are aiming to give facts, analysis and perspective. Viewers are fed up with the bias on the news.”

i24NEWS is available on Altice ,Cablevision, Spectrum ,Optimum, Suddenlink, Charter,  Mediacom and  Roku and online at:

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By Rachel Vancelette

Roberto Polo, Cuban American collector, philanthropist and art historian has been busily planning the huge debut of two new museums in 2019. They will reside in Spain and become home to his in-depth art collection and shown for the first time to an international public. The process to launch the venture has been complex and engaging to accomplish transformation of two important buildings into museums hoping to fascinate and educate spectators for generations to come. Audiences will get a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the most colorful and ambitious art collectors of our time.

The flamboyant collector, known for his noteworthy life collecting artworks from around the world, will loan more than seven thousand works of modern and contemporary art to Spanish institutions for the duration of fifteen years. The charismatic Polo has long had ambitions to leave an important legacy and has worked to position himself as an important patron of the arts since the early age of nineteen. His collection consists of works from the nineteenth century to present day, and while Polo continues to work closely among some of the top experts in the field to organize, write and archive the great collection, he has also taken on most of the work himself. Polo’s discerning eyes for beauty and rarity is a gift requiring devoted investigation and research to pursue and acquire only top international artists.

Traditional notions of patronage of the arts and connoisseurship during a time where international Art Fairs and the art market have dominated the conversation definitely make this a unique venture. The holdings consist of over three-hundred masterpieces which will make their home in Spain for the duration. The book titled Roberto Polo: The Eye, authored by top museums curators and professionals provides readers a small glimpse into the passion and knowledge of this collecting eye. This quintessential gift for any art lover is a concentrated passion and extremely keen foresight during the process of securing high value enduring art work. Polo plans to build a cultural bridge connecting new and historical artists which will deepen critical dialogue mostly missing today.

The collection consists of four centuries of artwork mostly focusing on regions of central, eastern, and northern Europe and the United States. The MRP collection can now be studied by the public, local and international universities and institutions. Many of the works that will be on view for the first time will make this a must-see tourist destination. Included artists are Max Ernst, Juan Garaizabal, Kurt Schwitters, László Moholy-Nagy, Larry Poons, Martin Kline, Maria Roosen and Karen Gunderson and many more which will be on display. Selected artists have been assigned special commissions for parts of the museum including unique vaulted rooms, historical pathways and garden areas open to visitors. The curatorial program organized for Toledo, together with artistic director Rafael Sierra, will present two contemporary exhibitions per year. A few rare private viewings of the museums have been presented to insiders by invitation only by Polo and the Spanish government. An army of experts to work alongside the famous Spanish architect Pablo Rodríguez Frade, is to complete the museums in time for opening this coming 2019.

The refurbishing of Toledo’s thirteenth-century Convento de Santa Fe which stands at the central gates of the city opens an important cultural gateway to visitors to Toledo who will find a straight path to it just off the train. It is one of the first things visitors see coming into the city gates. Toledo is an important destination which already enjoys nearly over 800,000 visitors a year to the multiple museums residing within the city walls and continues to be a very important European cultural destination. The Convento de Santa Fe amazingly also houses some of the most famous Diego Velázquez artworks in the world right around the corner entry way – and is certainly worth the ticket. Mr. Polo can be sometimes spotted on the grounds with his architect bringing artists, art collectors and friends to appreciate the beauty of the city and the new museum. If you are lucky and get a quick glimpse of the refined collector, he may carry you onward for some great manchego cheese, a great expresso, marzipan (well known in the region) and a glass of the finest wine. With a hello from Mr. Polo and the locals who have embraced this newfound home for Polo’s art collection you will be quickly inducted into this magical kingdom which hopes to entertain and enlighten generations to come.

The former public-records building in Cuenca, which was once a headquarters of the dreaded Spanish Inquisition, is to house the work from the early modern works. It will also include earlier works from the collection, some on permanent installation and some on rotation. Polo who had announced plans to gift Spain part of his famous library has been generous enough to invite local universities and institutions to participate in the study and care of the library. The library encompasses tens of thousands of art-history books, including many rare and valuable first editions. This surprising and complicated collector and philanthropist who is gracing the public with rare views of his impressive collections for the first time is cementing his valuable legacy for generations of art enthusiasts and international aficionados of great art.

Q. Can you speak to what you hope the general public will discover while visiting both museums MPR in Toledo and Cuenca?

Most museums of modern and contemporary art opened in recent decades follow a formula. We can predict what we will see before even entering them. Those museums exhibit art products from a limited, socially and commercially approved list of branded artists, which are sold by equally branded galleries that operate like chain boutiques of branded fashion throughout the world. Oscar Wilde’s following quotation from ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ (1890) is more relevant today than ever before: “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” Within that context, the state Roberto Polo Museum. Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art of Castile-La Mancha in Toledo and Cuenca (Spain) (both cities are World Heritage Sites) will sing a new song. Most people seem to ignore or forget that when The Phillips Collection in Washington DC and The Museum of Modern Art in New York opened in 1921 and 1929 respectively, the artists whose work was represented in the permanent collections were virtually or totally unknown and unbranded. We could add the Folkwang Museum founded in 1922, originally in Hagen and now in Essen, described in 1932 by Paul J. Sachs, American art historian and co-founder of The Museum of Modern Art as “The most beautiful museum in the world”, as well as the Sztuki Museum founded in 1930 in Łod by the painter and art theoretician Władysław Strzemiski, actively supported by his wife Katarzyna Kobro—it was the first museum of abstract art in history—whose mission was to show art that no other museum would. A museum’s mission is pedagogical. For decades now, the wealthy members of many museums’ boards of trustees place undue pressures on curators to buy art products that will therefore value those in their own commercially speculative collections. Those circumstances are deplorable.

The permanent collection of the Roberto Polo Museum. Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art of Castile-La Mancha and its temporary exhibitions will reflect my vision in art, which is tantamount to saying that I have always acquired art with knowledge more than money. My approach has been scientific, not speculative. I have acquired art, not signatures, except when I was able to discover, identify, works of art by famous artists to which others were blind. My acquisitions have sprung not only from passion, but also from a profound knowledge of art history and theory. Having been formed as a visual artist, art historian and philosopher helped greatly. That is not to say that the museum’s permanent collection will not feature extraordinary and unique masterpieces by celebrated nineteenth and twentieth century masters, such as Henri Edmond Cross, Honoré Daumier, Eugène Delacroix, Max Ernst, Wassily Kandinsky, László Moholy-Nagy, Hermann Max Pechstein, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Oskar Schlemmer, Gustave Miklos and many others, but also by those who are equally important, but had fallen into oblivion until I came along, identified their relevance in the history of art and began acquiring their work. Among the latter category are masterpieces by the Belgian artists Marthe Donas, Marc Eemans, Pierre-Louis Flouquet, Paul Joostens, Karel Maes, Xavier Mellery, Victor Servranckx, Léon Spilliaert and Georges Vantongerloo.

RV: With your architect Pablo Rodríguez Frade, how much influence do you have in the finalized design of both museums?

The Founding and Artistic Director of the Roberto Polo Museum. Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art of Castile-La Mancha, Rafael Sierra, and I, are privileged to collaborate with the excellent Spanish architect, Juan Pablo Rodríguez Frade, not only on the design of the museum’s permanent collection installation, but also on decisions pertaining to the temporary exhibition spaces and the buildings’ exteriors.

RV: Are there any special architectural elements you wish to discuss pre-opening that you can share with us?

Given that the Roberto Polo Museum. Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art of Castile- La Mancha in both Toledo and Cuenca will be contained in buildings that are sublime works of ancient art, the installation of the permanent collection and the temporary exhibitions is a challenge. The museum’s buildings are in Flemish and Mozarabic styles dating from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. They house important architectural ruins, elements and frescos that date even earlier, must be respected and put in dialogue with modern and contemporary art mostly from northern, central and Eastern Europe, as well as the USA. The Roberto Polo Museum. Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art of Castile-La Mancha will be one of the most beautiful and original museums in the world.

RV: What is your benchmark for acquiring a work of art?

I only acquire art that was revolutionary in its time or embodies an original artistic expression. Each acquisition must be a lesson. Whenever I have not been able to continue acquiring masterpieces by a certain artist or artistic movement, I have evolved towards others. I am a curious and impatient man who bores easily. However, given my age of 67, I have now decided that the collection must remain as it is and continue evolving in the same direction. Of course, that does not mean that I will cease making discoveries, identifying works of art that others did not see.

RV: You have stated this cultural work is very important to you. What would you say to the younger generations about collecting art? What advice would you give?

Hermann Max Pechstein, Portrait of Charlotte Kaprolat, circa 1909, oil on linen, 99.5 x 91 cm.

I advise forthcoming generations of collectors that art and the art market are two very different matters that rarely coincide. New collectors must learn art history and theory to enable them to read a work of art. Visual art is a language like any other. Great art that deserves to remain in museums for centuries is one that demands a long and extended look. It is “slow art”, an art that incessantly speaks to us, not a “fast art” product made for immediate commercial consumption.

RV: Could you speak to your relationships with living artists that are part of your collection?

Because I was formed as a visual artist, my relationship with other artists is often that of a colleague and a sounding board. However, it is a well known fact that great artists are not necessarily great persons. Although I value many artists as persons and artists, and thus I am motivated to support them and their work, others are dishonest, disloyal and ungrateful. Unfortunately, I sometimes learn what kind of a person an artist is after he or she betrays or cheats me. That has been part of the obscure and bitter life stories of many art collectors and dealers, including Paul Durand-Ruel, Gertrude Stein, Helwarth Walden (Georg Lewin), Hélène de Mandrot, Katherine Dreier, Leo Castelli, Ernst Bayeler and many others.

RV: Do you have, and/or have you had particular close relationships with some of the artists in your collection?

In my opinion, one of the greatest living painters is the Belgian Werner Mannaers. I am not alone in opining that. Werner Mannaers is the first painter who has successfully reconciled two opposing concepts of space that characterise the first half of the twentieth century: Miró’s cosmic space and Picasso’s concrete. However, Werner Mannaers’ paintings reach far beyond that achievement. That is one of the reasons why I proposed him for the first temporary exhibition of the Roberto Polo Museum. Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art of Castile-La Mancha. The solo exhibition, ‘Werner Mannaers. Convulsive Beauty’—tittle derived from an eponymous 2009 painting by Werner Mannaers—will be curated by the Berlin-based British art critic, Martin Herbert.

Painting was really born in Spain as a result of its occupation of Flanders and The Low Countries. The first paintings from those Northern European regions arrived in Toledo, the Imperial Capital of the Spanish Empire, the vastest empire in history. Toledo and Jerusalem are the only cities where Christians, Jews and Muslims lived in peace for centuries thus creating a rich and fertile culture. Spain imported a huge number of Old Master paintings from Flanders and The Low Countries, as well as Italy. However, Spain is virtually devoid of twentieth and twenty-first century masterpieces from those same regions. The Roberto Polo Museum. Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art of Castile-La Mancha will fill that gap. Being Flemish, Werner Mannaers’ exhibition at the Roberto Polo Museum. Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art of Castile-La Mancha will close a circle in Spanish museography.

RV: Where do you get your inspiration, drive and continued ambition to build a both modern and contemporary fine art collection over all of these many years?

I was born an artist, a collector and scholar. I cannot help creating, collecting and learning. Unlike Peggy Guggenheim, I do not auto-baptise myself an “art addict”, because I reject the connotations of that nomenclature. I am simply fortunate enough to have been born with a vocation in art.

RV: What do you envision for the future of Museo Roberto Polo Centro de Arte Moderno y Contemporáneo de Castilla-La Mancha?

I envision that visitors to the Roberto Polo Museum. Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art of Castile-La Mancha will be surprised by what they shall discover. It is my mission and vocation to open others’ eyes to what I know and see. For example, they shall discover the revolutionary work of Paul Joostens, which contrary to what we have been taught in school, is the first Dada artist in history. Whereas Kurt Schwitters’ earliest Dada collages date to 1919, Joostens’ date to 1916. I do not wish to diminish the importance of Kurt Schwitters’ work, which I love and own, but for me it is nevertheless important that Paul Joostens did it first and that the world must know that. Another example is the work of the great Belgian Avant-Guard painter Marthe Donas, who as of 1917, created the first shaped paintings in the history of western art.

RV: Can you or your curator speak to the curatorial programming, projects or planning?

The Roberto Polo Museum Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art of Castile-La Mancha is governed by the state Roberto Polo Collection Foundation. All proposed exhibitions must be approved by the foundation’s Board of Trustees, which is—by Spanish law—formed by a majority of members appointed by the government, which in our case is 6, and myself as Vice-President, with four members appointed by me, thus totalling 11 members. Neither the museum’s Founding and Artistic Director (Rafael Sierra) nor its Administrative Director (Óscar Carrascosa) are members of the Board of Trustees. However, both of the aforementioned Directors can sit at the meetings of the Board of Trustees.

RV: Can you speak about some of the upcoming exhibitions for 2019?

Aside from the inaugural temporary exhibition ‘Werner Mannaers. Convulsive Beauty’, other exhibitions will soon be proposed to the museum’s Board of Trustees.

RV: Will there be any outdoor public artworks on site of the museums? If so, can you speak to the artists selected?

Yes. The Italian artists, Roberto Pietrosanti and Roberto Caracciolo, will both create permanent installations for one of the monumental patios of the museum, whose main building in Toledo is the Convent of Santa Fe, constructed from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century. Monumental sculptures by the Spanish artist, Miquel Navarro, and the Italian artist, Gianni Dessì, are also on the program.

RV: Will the museum rotate the permanent collection?

The museum will rotate only part of the permanent collection, given that we do not want to disappoint visitors who wish to see many key artworks. However, the museum will have an active and regular program of temporary exhibitions.

RV: You are also donating a vast amount of art books for a library, some first editions. How does the museum plan to activate the library for use and education? Is there a name selected for the library and focus? Will universities and scholars be able to use the library?

I have also promised to cede my extensive and rare library to the Roberto Polo Collection Foundation. The library will be situated in one of the museum’s three buildings usually denominated as ‘El Miradero’, which is slated to inaugurate by the end of 2023. Of course, the library will be accessible to scholars and students. In the meantime, the library will be housed at the foundation’s seat, which is ‘El Armiño’ in Toledo, former property of El Greco and his family. That property shall contain the foundation’s offices, residences for artists and scholars, studios for artists and my residence. We plan a center for advanced studies in art history in affiliation with the University of Castile-La Mancha in Toledo.

Toledo skyline

RV: Do you want to speak on Toledo or Cuenca and the history?

The historic city of Cuenca—around 200 kilometres from Valencia and Toledo, the capital of Castile-La Mancha—is known for abstract art, rock climbing and fast water rafting on its stunning Huecar River. Its jewel of a Museum of Spanish Abstract Art was founded in 1966 and was the first of its kind in the kingdom. Cuenca’s dramatic landscape of cliffs, canyons, gorges and hanging houses make it one of the most magical places that I have ever seen.

The permanent building of the Roberto Polo Museum Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art in Cuenca will be housed in an impressive tenth century castle, which became the tribunal and prison of the Inquisition from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, and the Historical Provincial Archives in the twentieth century. That building will inaugurated by the year 2023.

In the meantime, the Roberto Polo Museum. Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art in Cuenca will be housed in the Casa Zavala, formerly the Antonio Saura Foundation.

The museum’s inauguration in both Toledo and Cuenca is scheduled for February 2019.

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Photo by Matthew Jordan Smith

Tyra Banks is the Supermodel turned content creator, turned entrepreneur, and now educator of our time. And that’s not really covering all that she does. In her reign as one of the most visible and prolific talents, Tyra never stops challenging herself. Just this past year she has hosted America’s Got Talent, delivered her 24th cycle of the longest-running fashion reality show she created, America’s Next Top Model, wrote a best-selling book with her mom, Perfect is Boring, and completed her second year teaching at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

Tyra, two years ago you embarked on a new chapter in your career. You teach Project You: Building and Creating Your Personal Brand at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB). How did this come about? And have you always wanted to teach?

In May 2016, I was invited to speak at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business about my career in modeling and media & business. When I was finished, it was one of those gotta leave, head down, don’t talk to anyone situations, or else I would miss my flight! As I’m packing up, hurrying to exit the auditorium, I was approached by this energetic woman, with a big smile “Tyra, Tyra, do you have a moment to speak… I’m a lecturer here at Stanford…” This was my first encounter with Allison Kluger, Stanford lecturer and former television producer from New York. She said, “what you just did on stage… that was not a keynote… that was a class. Have you ever thought about teaching?” Intuitively, I knew there had always been elements of teaching on my talk show, The Tyra Show, and in mentoring my contestants on America’s Next Top Model, I’ve always wanted to teach, but thought I would save it for retirement. But this opportunity presented itself and Allison said something that really stuck in my head: “Tyra, you taught me more about personal branding in that hour than I have ever known. You are a born educator.” And the rest is history. Together Allison and I created “Project You.”

Tyra standing in front of a classroom at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business

Photo by Kiefer Hickman

There is always an element of “teaching” in your show, America’s Next Top Model, as you mentor young women to be top models. However, what surprised you the most about being an educator at a top graduate school?

I was nervous… that first-day-of-school-nervous, literally! At first, it was a bit intimidating to think I’d be teaching at THE Stanford University—the school with graduates like Phil Night of NIKE and Charles Schwab! But what surprised me the most was how open and willing they were to go out of their comfort zone to expose who they thought they were and who they wanted to be. Let me tell you, we were not easy on them! Allison and I introduced some unconventional and innovative elements to our class. I actually just finished teaching it for the second Spring session in May 2018 and the course continues to receive wonderful evaluations and reviews. I still receive updates from many of my former students who tell me how the tools we taught in the class have helped them extend their brand, allowed them to pitch themselves successfully, and have enabled them to understand what their superpowers are in terms of what they have to offer and leverage in the business world.

Intuitively, I knew there had always been elements of teaching on my talk show, The Tyra Show, and in mentoring my contestants on America’s Next Top Model, I’ve always wanted to teach, but thought I would save it for retirement.

Tell us, what were your students like? Do you think some took the course just to meet you?

There is so much diversity at Stanford. There was a mix of students who were brilliant, funny, vulnerable and socially aware. There were a few students who initially wanted to take this course just to meet me, or try something that sounded cool and different. But they ended up saying that this course was more valuable than any other course they had taken at the GSB. I was also surprised and encouraged by how open and curious they were about my areas of expertise related to the business world. In their final papers they turned in, it was so evident that they’d retained much more information from my curriculum than I could have ever anticipated. Stanford’s credo is Change Lives, Change Organizations, Change the World. And, after spending time with these students I have full confidence they are going to do just that.

Allison Kluger and Tyra Banks, Co-Instructors of Project You. 

Photo by Kiefer Hickman

You teach with Allison Kluger, a lecturer at the GSB. What is it like teaching together and how do you both decide on the content and how to deliver it?

Allison and I had as much fun teaching the course as we did making it. It worked out that we have very complimentary styles in how we work and teach. To prepare and create our course, she flew to LA a few times, I flew to Palo Alto a few times, and SKYPE came in very handy. Between the two of us, we have a lot of experience in the media and business world, yet we each have our own stories that are unique and relevant.

Photo by Matthew Jordan Smith

Can you share one or two beliefs you have about the importance of Personal Branding?

I have always believed that different is being better than better. Meaning, you need to figure out what makes you special, unique–that x-factor that makes you stand out from the pack. In my new book, Perfect is Boring, I talk about this a lot. Brands, products, shows and companies that excel and succeed are usually ones that tap into a new market or spark something fresh. Second, you need to know what you stand for and what you don’t stand for when creating your personal brand. Be bold, be firm, don’t waver. This creates integrity and credibility.

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — Season: 13 — Pictured: (l-r) Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks  (Photo by: Andrew Eccles/NBC)

What do you think makes your course unique or different from other courses offered at the GSB?

From what I understand, Project You was the first course to stream live from Facebook before and after class with students’ feedback and thoughts. We wanted to make sure our students had ample opportunity to broadcast their personal brands across multiple media platforms, social media, and live television. We also covered all aspects of branding from their origin story, to visual branding, and how they spoke on camera. Gary Vaynerchuk, Social Media Guru, was our guest and helped each student figure out what was the best platform for them to promote their brand at present and in the future. Julie Cottineau, a branding expert, also helped our students to differentiate their brands even more.

Finally, we had activities and assignments throughout the course leading to the final project which was to pitch their personal brand in 90 seconds on live television as we critiqued them. Our goal was to make sure our students really had a sense of who they are, what they stand for, what their differentiating factor is, how their visual branding can support their message and how to feel confident approaching people with their vision. We packed a lot into the course. Project You made a lasting and indelible impact on students and has become one of the most in-demand, oversubscribed and respected classes in the two years it was offered.

Tyra, personally, what has this experience of teaching meant to you?

It’s been a humbling experience. I’ve always tried to use my career and life lessons to help teach aspiring models, those trying to break into the entertainment industry, and self-esteem to young girls – these are my passions. Being asked to teach in a classroom, at a top graduate school, as a formal educator in personal branding to our future business leaders, is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in my entire life, and I see teaching fulltime as an eventual career evolution.

As this is THE Fashion Edition, we can’t let you go without asking you some tips on how you look as young and stunning as you did in your 20’s! Do you have any secrets you can share with our readers about wardrobe, fashion or beauty maintenance?

My golden rule is always ALWAYS remove your makeup before going to sleep. It’s when we are asleep that our skin, hair, nails, go through a regeneration. So it’s really important that the skin is clear of any dirt and grime from the day. I’ll be honest though, I try as much as I can to follow my own rule… but sometimes Ty Ty is TYRED and my head hits the pillow without second guessing.

Photo by Matthew Jordan Smith

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By Christopher A. Pape

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When Danielle Savre enters the room, all heads turn. She is a beacon of brightness in this grey world. Her energy, enthusiasm and vivaciousness shine through. The hottest actress today is humble enough to think her recent string of successes is merely good luck. I, however, think her talent and hard work have made her what she is today. This humility also shone through as she gave us an abundance of time to speak on a wide range of issues.

What follows is an enthralling interview, which showcases this actress at her fullest. I hope you love the interview as much as I loved meeting Danielle!

Christopher Pape (CP): Tell us a little bit about yourself? From the beginning, please.

Danielle Savre (DS): I was born and raised in Simi Valley, California. It’s on the outskirts of Los Angeles. I got, or I should say fell, into acting at 7 years old. Even though it sounds hard to believe, the mom of my best friend in second grade was an agent at one of the leading child acting/modeling agencies in California. She knew I would be perfect, because she thought I was a little adult. She said I was 7 going on 30. My mother was very apprehensive at the time, but she finally relented after I kept bugging her. I met with my friend’s mother and her boss, without my mother in the room, and they brought me on as a client.

My first audition was with Mattel, and I ended up signing a two-year deal with them. I was on the boxes of Barbie, Cabbage Patch and Plooy Pocket. I modeled for Mattel and American Girl in Florida and Wisconsin. I did K-Mart and JCPenney. At 12, I started auditioning for acting parts and was hired on my third try. Gavin O’Connor, the director of the project (who has gone on to do wonderful things), hired me on the spot. I couldn’t believe it. I kept asking him if he was serious. I was so happy!

I really got into acting and hired an acting coach, whom I’m still with today, and I dedicated myself to the craft. My parents insisted I maintain a 3.5 GPA, and having done so, I was able to accelerate my classes and graduate high school at the age of 15. Almost immediately after that, I landed my first television series part on a show called Summerland on the WB. The rest is history!

CP: The main reason we are featuring you is for the new spinoff of Grey’s Anatomy, Station 1, you are starring in. Can you give us some background on it?

DS: Our first episode airs on March 22. There is only one character who is a crossover from Grey’s Anatomy: Jaina Lee Ortiz. Otherwise, we are all new characters with a new environment from the mind of the wonderful Shonda Rhimes.

CP: What is the premise of the story?

DS: The premise of the story revolves around a group of seven firefighters and three women, which is badass, and four men. It is narrated from the perspective of Jaina Lee Ortiz. It portrays the everyday occurrences and lives of these men and women who risk their lives for the greater good. On top of all that, it delves into the relationships of the characters and the dynamics between one another.

My character, Maya Bishop, can best be related to Cristina of Grey’s Anatomy, played by Sandra Oh, because I am Andy Herrera’s (Jaina Lee Ortiz) best friend. They would do anything for each other. Maya is Andy’s number one support and there to cheer her on. My character is there to give the best advice as possible and keep Andy levelheaded. Of course, there is a love triangle, and Andy’s father is the captain of the station, so much drama ensues.

You get to hear and see from each character every episode, which is super exciting. The show also delves into the backstory of each character, and as the plot develops, we learn more and more about each of them.

CP: Tell us more about Maya Bishop.

DS: Maya is an ex-Olympian. She won Olympic gold for running the 10k at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She has an amazing background. She decided to retire from running and become a firefighter. As the story unfolds, we learn why she decided to switch careers. Obviously, to be an Olympian, she has an unbridled drive and passion for what she did and currently does. She loves fighting fires, she loves saving people’s lives, but she also loves life. She is a girl of her times, as I like to say, because she is open to everything and anything that is thrown at her.

CP: The first season is 10 episodes?

DS: Yes. We air after Grey’s Anatomy and before How to Get Away with Murder, so we fill the spot of the recently-ended Scandal. What’s great about our premiere night is that it is a two-hour episode. We will continue to air past the finale of Grey’s Anatomy. And hopefully, if all goes well, we start filming again in the fall!

CP: Is there a lot of diversity in the cast? I would assume so since this is a Shonda production.

DS: Yes! We have a Latina lead, which I think is amazing. We have a biracial member of the cast, Barrett Doss, who plays Victoria Hughes and a biracial Asian/white character and of course, Okieriete “Oak” Onaodowan (of Hamilton fame), a Nigerian-American.

CP: A little bird told me that your sister is a real-life firefighter?

DS: Yes, she is!

CP: Have you drawn inspiration from her?

DS: Absolutely. I feel like I’ve been preparing for this role for the last four years. For me, this role was meant to be because of who my sister is. I look up to her so much. And the most exciting thing is, she gets to come to set to double for me while driving the firetruck, because obviously, I have no idea how to do that. She’ll come to set and put the hat on; that way they don’t have to hide my character when there’s a driving scene.

CP: Your family must have been super excited when you got this role.

DS: It was surreal how this happened. In fact, my sister and I were just talking about all this. When we did the training for this role, the production company took us out to San Pedro, so we could learn about being a firefighter. It was the actual drill tower where my sister trained. The same captain was there too. Talk about full circle!

CP: On a personal note, what do you do for fun?

DS: I’m very happy to say that a lot of times, the cast gets together on the weekends, and we really love getting to know each other. Otherwise, my time off these days is either getting a massage or going to the movies.

CP: Last question, tell me about the charities you’re involved with.

DS: I just finished a race (5 miles in length) for My Friend’s Place, a great organization that provides housing and services for homeless youth. The homeless rate in LA is horribly high, and I’m proud to be involved with that. In addition, the entire cast was on Celebrity Family Feud, and we donated all the money to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. I’m very proud to be involved with both.