Description

A riveting memoir by the former CEO of Black Entertainment Television BET about the glamorous and ugly moments of being a highpowered Black woman executive in the entertainment industry

As an incredible glassceiling breaker and the woman who brought timeless television shows like The Game and Being Mary Jane to cable Debra Lee has been the visionary responsible for elevating Black images and storytelling for decades Now shes telling her own story in an intimate and eyeopening tale about the triumphant and tricky moments of a career in entertainment

I Am Debra Leeis a pageturner filled with deeply personal revelations juicy celebrity intel and electrifying behindthescenes stories that reveal how she went from a girl raised in the segregated South to leading the first Black company traded on the New York Stock Exchange and how she juggled social responsibility while managing a company targeted toward the Black community In a rousing narrative Lee writes I dont just love Black culturethe magic in our hair the swagger in our steps the particular way we can say alright now to fit our changing moodsBlack culture saved me In her exciting debut she answers all of our questions about building an unapologetically Black enterprise as a Black woman What to do when youre forced to attend a board meeting eight weeks after a Csection How to manage a team of men when youre the first female CEO at the company How she learned the hard way to say no to those in power when their vision didnt align with her purpose

I Am Debra Leetackles lessons that women CEOs rarely dare to She addresses her personal struggles with motherhood and having it all navigating reproductive choice fertility and MeToo while achieving great professional success Being Black and a woman in corporate life isnt easy for anyoneBut Lee shows how she evolved from a shy girl who dreaded public speaking to becoming a force to be reckoned with as she helped build the leading entertainment company for Black audiences and consumers of Black culture globally

I Am Debra Leeis a mustread for all strivers in any industry Lee is a truthteller about the critical choices that Black leaders face As she has done her whole career in this book she opens the door for others to come after her by sharing the truth behind her own inspiring story of power perseverance and success