10. Debra Lee
By | November 1, 2013
Chairman/CEO
BET Networks
Lee has plenty of successes under her belt. There’s the network’s first original movie “Being Mary Jane,” which elicited an enthusiastic audience response. And mastering the formula for award shows among black audiences, including the BET Awards, the Soul Train Awards and the Hip Hop Awards, was no easy feat. Then there’s the success of “106 & Park,” “The Game” and the hilarious breakout hit “The Real Husbands of Hollywood.” The original programming route is clearly working—and it’s largely thanks to Lee’s vision and passion for quality entertainment that has persisted since she took the reigns in 2005. Her secret? “Success for me is defined by delivering high-quality programming that respects, reflects and elevates our audience.”
What’s been the biggest story in cable this year?
The biggest story has been the fight between Time Warner and CBS. The dispute continues to show the distance between programmers and cables operators. Hopefully, we can find ways to resolve these issues faster without affecting audiences, as they are always the big loser in these battles.
How do you define success in the workplace?
Success for me is defined by delivering high quality programming that respects, reflects and elevates our audience. We have developed some really captivating shows that we are really proud of. From our first original movie, Being Mary Jane starring Gabrielle Union, which will return to the network as a series in January, to our break out hit, “The Real Husbands of Hollywood,” we continue to challenge ourselves.
Best trick for maintaining the personal-professional life balance?
Make sure you have one cookie a day. By cookie, I mean to make sure to plan at least one thing each day that you love to do, evens if it’s just for 15 minutes.