Debra Lee
Lee’s vision and leadership drive BET Networks’ continued dominance as the No. 1 entertainment brand for African American viewers. In March, BET reached more African American adults 18-49 than any network in cable, cementing the BET’s position as a top 20 cable network for all adults 18-49. Her programming vision for 2014-15 includes bringing more original content to the network through new shows, feature films, strong talk show acquisitions and an exclusive co-production deal with Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment to produce new content for Centric. Regarded as one of the nation’s top executives as well as a pioneer among women, Lee applies her expertise in law, business management, media relations and the arts to broaden BET Networks’ viewership while expanding its cultural influence, leading to consistent increases in ratings and revenue.