Debra Lee on Stepping Into Her Power

9 to 5ish with theSkimm

theSkimm

Entrepreneurship, Careers, Business

4.7 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 15 March 2023

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Debra Lee was the chairman and CEO of BET, where she worked for over three decades. But even though she was a leader in the entertainment world, Debra said her biggest career weakness was being “too nice”. This week, we sat down to talk about Debra’s new memoir, I Am Debra Lee, and how she stepped into her power as a leader – from taking back control of her senior staff meetings, to literally finding her voice. In this episode, Debra shares… How she dealt with getting denied a raise Why men are promoted based on potential, and women are promoted based on experience How she took her power back as an executive The celeb who left her the most starstruck And PS: There’s so much Debra shares in her new memoir – including some things we weren’t able to get to in our interview. You can find her book here.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Glassdoor.
0:02.7	They can give you the inside scoop on a company from real employees before you apply for the job.
0:08.4	We'll explain more in a bit, but first, let's get into the episode.
0:12.5	You know, I used to hate to go to my own senior staff meetings because I knew the guys are going to fight
0:17.8	among themselves and going to fight with me and they work and do what I ask them to do.
0:21.6	And I just had to learn, okay, this is my decision. I got to tell them what to do.
0:26.5	And that took a while.
0:29.4	I'm Carly Zaken and I'm Danielle Weisberg. Welcome to 9-5-ish with the skin.
0:35.1	We've run into so many questions over the years and had so many moments where we needed advice
0:41.3	and we got it from women who'd been there.
0:44.8	And that's what we're bringing you with this show.
0:46.8	Each week we're helping you get what you want out of your career by talking to the smartest
0:51.4	leaders we know. Because we know your work life is a lot more than 9-5.
0:57.1	All right, let's get into it.
1:01.2	Today, our guest is Deborah Lee.
1:04.2	Debbie is the former chairman and CEO of Black Entertainment Television or BET.
1:11.2	She was CEO for 13 years and was at the media and entertainment giant for over 30 years.
1:17.3	Debbie is also the founder of Leading Women Defined and the co-founder of the Monarchs Collective.
1:23.8	Both our organization's dedicated to mentoring, supporting and empowering women
1:28.1	and people of color. And now, Debbie is sharing how she climbed to the top of the entertainment
1:33.1	industry. In her new memoir, I am Deborah Lee. Debbie, thank you so much for joining us.
1:39.2	Welcome to 9-5-ish.
	...

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