A Transformational Leader - Lee

“I don’t just love Black culture – the magic in our hair, the swagger in our steps, the particular way we can say ‘alright now’ to fit our changing moods—Black culture saved me.”

Debra Lee, an attorney who began her career working for “Big Law”,? left her prestigious firm to work as in-house counsel at BET (Black Entertainment Television) at a 26% pay cut. She wanted to support, serve and transform her Black culture.

Debra felt she was supposed to be there: it was where she belonged. Her commitment to supporting and transforming the Black culture expanded as her duties expanded. Taking on more and more responsibility, she was at one point running three magazines: YSB, (Young Sisters and Brothers), Emerge, and BET Weekend.

“This is what BET can do. We can provide opportunities for young creatives that wouldn’t exist otherwise. We can tell stories no one tells.”

Reflect:

Have you ever taken a lower position because you felt you belonged there?

Would you?

BET is a Black company success story, and Debra was there every step of the way, going from in-house counsel to COO (Chief Operating Officer) to CEO (Chief Executive Officer).

Founded by Bob Johnson, a charismatic lobbyist for the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, the office motto was “Paint it Black” – a bold statement in 1979. In 1991, it was the first Black IPO filed with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) – going public to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

When Debra became CEO, BET wasn’t the only Black network, and competition became key. To keep the loyal viewers, Debra knew she had to stand for something. “Being Black was no longer a brand.”

She spent eighteen months clarifying BET values and direction. She hired a branding consultant whose firm spent months interviewing critics and stakeholders. The results were heartbreaking for her: Read More...