Reality star and acclaimed businesswoman Kim Kardashian spoke to students at Harvard Business School on Friday as part of the University’s guest lecture series.
Despite Kardashian’s success as an entrepreneur (her SKIMS shapewear company was recently valued at more than $3 billion), Kardashian was mocked by many online users. One online critic tweeted that Kardashian probably “couldn’t even spell Harvard” while another insisted, “Kim Kardashian destroyed Marilyn’s dress, Diana’s necklace, and Harvard’s reputation.”
Kim Kardashian destroyed Marilyn’s dress, Diana’s necklace, and Harvard’s reputation pic.twitter.com/awsSjbJS6L
— Will Watkins (@WilliamAWatkins) January 23, 2023
Another online user declared “Harvard should be ashamed”. The tweet received more than 25-thousand likes.
It is crazy. @Harvard should be ashamed of themselves.
— Sas (@SasSassasassa) January 21, 2023
Despite the online critics, Kardashian has proven to be a bankable social media star and, thanks to the massive valuation on her SKIMS venture, a successful businesswoman as well. Harvard Business School invited Kardashian to explain the direct-to-consumer marketing approach she has employed at SKIMS.
Kardashian reportedly spoke to the students for two hours, with the entire speaking event being filmed by her team.
I spoke At Harvard Business School yesterday for a class called HBS Moving Beyond DTC. The class’s assignment was to learn about @skims, so my partner Jens and I spoke about our marketing, our challenges and our greatest wins. pic.twitter.com/42FiWDlmaj
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) January 21, 2023
In addition to her direct-to-consumer marketing approach, Kardashian reportedly also spoke with Harvard students about SKKY Partners, the new Private Equity firm she recently established with former Carlyle Group partner, Jay Sammons. Sammons and Kardashian say they intend to assist budding entrepreneurs in both the consumer and media sectors. (Sammons himself, per his Linked In bio, is a graduate of Harvard Business School and spent over a decade at Carlyle where he ran the consumer and media group.)
Despite the many internet critics, some bystanders did jump to Kardashian’s defense. Kardashian, after all, has accomplished what Harvard Business School is trying to teach; Kardashian has created a multi-billion dollar company — and is growing her empire.
Harvard MBA grad salary: $175,000
Kim Kardashian salary: $80,000,000
I think everyone’s making fun of the wrong person here pic.twitter.com/KN9nvPlOEy
— Genevieve Roch-Decter, CFA (@GRDecter) January 23, 2023
