BHM Spotlight: Debra Lee

Photo: BET

February is the special month in which we honor and celebrate African-Americans, past and present, for all their accomplishments in a variety of fields: music, television, film, fashion, business and so much more. Here at Glambergirlblog we want to do things a little bit different. Everyday throughout this month we will spotlight some of the glamberous African-Americans in the entertainment industry.

They say it’s a man’s world but that can not be true for BET’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Debra Lee. During Lee’s tenure at BET Networks, the station received its highest ratings ever and continues to provide content that the viewers love.

Born on August 8 in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Lee always had the mindset of a boss. Upon graduating high school, Lee moved to the East Coast and attended the prestigious Brown University. She studied abroad in Southeast Asia her junior year and received her B.A. degree in political science with a focus of Asian politics in 1976. Debra Lee must lovveee school because she also earned a M.A. degree in public policy and J.D. degree from Harvard University Law School.

So I guess you’re wondering how Debra got linked up with BET? With all her business and legal background, she created the legal department at BET Networks. And if you think running a television network would slow this lady down think again. She also served on the corporate board of directors of major global businesses such as Marriott International, Revlon and Eastman Kodak Company.

Fun Fact About Debra Lee: Debra Lee was the first African-American female executive to earn the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, NCTA, Distinguished Vanguard Award for Leadership.