EBONY x Recording Academy Black Music Collective Podcast: A Conversation With Debra Lee

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In the inaugural episode of the EBONY x Recording Academy Black Music Collective podcast, MC Lyte talks with Debra Lee, one of the most influential female voices in the entertainment industry with a trailblazing career spanning over three decades.

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00:00Welcome to the first episode of the Black Music Collective Podcast.
00:18The Recording Academy and Ebony have joined forces to celebrate Black music with a new
00:24dynamic six-episode podcast series entitled Black Music Collective.
00:30The podcast will bring to you some of the top creators and business leaders in Black
00:35music.
00:36I am your host, MC Lyte, and joining us today is Debra Lee.
00:41Debra Lee has had a trailblazing career spanning over three decades.
00:46Debra Lee is one of the most influential female voices in the entertainment industry.
00:53Up until May 2018, Lee served as the chairman and CEO of BET Networks, the leading provider
01:00of entertainment for the African-American audience and consumers of Black culture globally.
01:07During her tenure, Lee helmed BET's reinvigorated approach to corporate philanthropy and authentic
01:13programming that led to hits such as The New Edition Story, Being Mary Jane, the BET Awards,
01:21Black Girls Rock!, BET Honors, and many, many more.
01:26Debra is considered one of the most powerful women in media and entertainment.
01:31Debra, it is so nice to see you today.
01:34How are you doing?
01:35I'm doing great, Lyte, and it's so good to see you always.
01:40It is wonderful to see you, and of course, we get to see one another on one of our many
01:45calls with the Recording Academy.
01:48It's wonderful to see you at home, relaxed, because for many, many years, I've just seen
01:54you on the go, on the go.
01:59Thank you for joining us today, your illustrious career that you have effortlessly moved through.
02:06Can you tell us how you got your start in the industry?
02:11Well, that's a good question.
02:13It seems so long ago, but I'll give you the short version.
02:19I started at BET in 1986 as the company's general counsel.
02:27I was five years out of law school and trying to get out of a big corporate law firm, which
02:33I didn't enjoy that much.
02:36BET was a small client of mine, and they were at the point where they needed in-house legal
02:43advice.
02:45So I went over and started the legal department at BET, and over the years, I started doing
02:50more business things.
02:52I oversaw the construction of our first production studio in Washington, D.C.
02:58I ran our magazine divisions for a while, and I started doing business development.
03:05Then in 1995, I became COO of BET, which was a big step up or over, or however you want
03:17to call it.
03:19All of a sudden, I was in charge of all the other executives.
03:23So that was a big learning curve for me.
03:25I had to learn a lot about programming and advertising sales and finance and things that
03:32I didn't know a lot about.
03:35And I had to put the right team together to help take BET to the next level.
03:41And then when the founder, Bob Johnson, left in 2005, I became chairman and CEO.
03:49So it was a long ride.
03:52I think I was COO for 10 years, which is a long time.
03:57And then when I became CEO, people started asking me what my vision was.
04:02They don't ask you that when you're COO.
04:04They know you're working.
04:07And I started focusing on changing our programming to more of an original programming format.
04:15We had historically been a music video channel.
04:19And as they say, the rest is history.
04:22I had a good run as CEO for 13 years.
04:26Yeah, that's quite a run right there.
04:30I just think of being catapulted, as you said, up, down, around, to the side, wherever.
04:37It's just a new position.
04:38So it's just having to have a different perspective.
04:42In addition to setting up a whole new team of people, and it's a different type of leadership.
04:49So we definitely commend you for being able to switch gears and move over.
04:54So BET, undoubtedly, is a household name and viewed globally.
05:01And you played a major role in many positions, as you just said.
05:07The global initiatives for the brand and how it is that you prepped that and moved it into
05:15another scenario.
05:17How would you say you were able to do that?
05:20Well, over time, it became very clear that we needed to be a global brand, that that
05:27was going to be where our growth was.
05:30I know I remember when we hit 100 million subscribers in the U.S., that was pretty close
05:39to cable's penetration in the U.S.
05:43And you may not remember, but BET was one of the earliest programming networks.
05:49So we had a head start on a lot of other networks.
05:51And we were the only targeted network to African-Americans for a long time, for a really long time.
05:58We had a head start on other channels.
06:02But just like the U.S. had a black community, we discovered and knew that other countries
06:09had a black population.
06:12Every country from the U.K. to France to Brazil.
06:17I mean, there are black people all over the world and they may have different issues,
06:23but they also have similar issues.
06:25And so our first international channel was Bet on Jazz.
06:30And we started with that because we owned all the programming for the jazz channel.
06:36And on BET, we had a lot of syndicated products, sitcoms and things like that.
06:41And we weren't sure the music labels were going to give us rights to take the videos
06:47globally.
06:50We received videos from music labels for free, for promotional consideration for many, many
06:57years.
06:58And that allowed us to grow the revenue of BET and keep our programming costs low.
07:06But then when we launched BET on Jazz, we started getting feedback from people who travel.
07:12And this was before social media was all that popular.
07:15But their question was, well, why aren't we getting the same programming that they're
07:20getting in the U.S.?
07:21You know, we like hip-hop, we like dramas, we like all the things we hear about on BET.
07:29And so we had to renegotiate with the cable operator, especially in Africa.
07:36I think our first international country was the U.K. on BSkyB.
07:41But in Africa especially, they were like, this is not what we want.
07:45I mean, we like jazz, but we don't need a 24-hour jazz network.
07:49So we had to get creative and create a schedule out of music programming that we owned.
07:59And then some of the labels gave us permission to use the music videos across the globe.
08:08So that really grew our subscriber base.
08:12The interesting story, the cable network in South Africa had kicked us off because they
08:21didn't like the jazz programming.
08:23And it took us years to get back on.
08:25They were like, well, we don't want your programming unless you look like other networks we have
08:30in Africa and not just jazz.
08:33So it was a long slog, you know, because when you first launch in a foreign country, you
08:43don't have a lot to invest in the programming.
08:46So what you try to do, what cable networks try to do, was take the programming they already
08:51had and use it in different countries.
08:55But you have to get that programming translated.
08:58You know, you get complaints if the programming doesn't address local issues.
09:03I'll never forget, we had a press conference when we launched in the UK.
09:08And we brought Alicia Keys over and, you know, we were making a big deal.
09:11We were being launched on BSkyB.
09:14And one of the reporters asked me, he said, what are you going to do about the crime rate
09:20among Black youth in London?
09:25And I was like thrown for a loop.
09:28It's like, well, we don't know a lot about that yet, but, you know, we hope to have local
09:33programming and we hope to deal with whatever issues the Black community is dealing with.
09:40But that was always a key to me as to how much pressure people put on BET.
09:46Right.
09:46It's like, OK, we want to be entertained.
09:49But you have to be more than an entertainment network.
09:52You also have to address our issues.
09:55Yeah, you know, that's interesting.
09:57I can imagine being totally off guard with that type of question because, yeah, you're
10:03the rule of thumb is to keep folks entertained.
10:06And then you never know what market needs what.
10:10And they just always expect, you know, the formats of Black anything to address all of
10:18everything. And I think it's I think it's unfair.
10:23But I used to think it was unfair.
10:26And then when we started doing original programming, we always tried to do news, you know,
10:31not 24 hours a day.
10:32But when something happened, you know, like I learned that it was a passion also that the
10:38people cared so much about BET and what we represented that it was a burden in some sense.
10:47But if we got it right, people would show up in huge numbers.
10:52And that was always so rewarding.
10:55Yeah.
10:55Whether it was doing a telethon for, you know, the victims of Hurricane Katrina, we raised
11:02$14 million or, you know, recognizing people who give back to the community on BET awards or
11:09having a show like Being Mary Jane that was entertaining, but also dealt with issues.
11:15She had two brothers who were involved in drugs.
11:17She had a family that, you know, that she had to support because she was the most successful
11:23one in her family.
11:25So, you know, people showed up.
11:27So I started, you know, saying we had a leg up.
11:30And the interesting thing, our competitors didn't do the same thing.
11:36You know, some of them focus more on entertaining or a slice of Black life.
11:41But, you know, we tried to do it all.
11:44And sometimes I'm going to say we didn't get it right all the time.
11:47Well, you know, the thing is you tried.
11:50Right.
11:50And two, I mean, we can't forget BET honors.
11:54Yeah.
11:54That right there was worth making the trip, you know, to the East Coast to participate in,
12:01just to see our people, our contributors, our influencers, our philanthropists.
12:08Right.
12:09You know, all of the many people that BET saw fit to acknowledge.
12:17The thing I like the most about BET honors, and the same with Black Girls Rock,
12:22is we honored artists and athletes and, you know, the kind of people that get honored all the time.
12:29But we also honored, you know, like Dr. Keith Black, who's a brain surgeon in
12:35L.A., or Ruth Simmons, who was the president of Brown University.
12:39You know, we really tried to show there are a lot of different professions.
12:44Yeah.
12:44And you could be Whitney Houston, and that's great.
12:47Or you could be Diddy, and that's great.
12:51But, you know, you also needed to recognize and admire other people who had a different route.
12:59Right.
13:00Absolutely.
13:00And I think that helped the audience to see that there are many different versions
13:05of what it means to be successful, but then also to be in service.
13:11So, yeah, those two shows are some of my favorites.
13:14I know you have to have some favorite moments.
13:17I was also blessed to be given, you know, the greatest opportunities to join you for your dinner,
13:24you know, that happened prior to the BET awards.
13:28And so some of my favorite moments with being involved with BET was at those dinners.
13:34Right.
13:34What would you say are some of your memorable moments working with BET over the years?
13:39Oh, there's so many.
13:41And, you know, I had the luxury of seeing it from the corporate side and the entertainment side.
13:47So I have favorite moments on both.
13:50And then I want to hear your favorite moments.
13:52That would really be great.
13:54On the corporate side, I have to say it was the day we went public.
13:58And BET was the first Black-owned company to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
14:05And to have all those Black people on the floor of the Stock Exchange high-fiving us
14:12because they had never seen a Black company or Black executives on the floor,
14:16taking a company public.
14:18And we showed that not only were we a successful Black company,
14:22but we were a successful American company.
14:25Our stock rose that day from $17 to, I think, $29.
14:31So that was historic and it gave me chills.
14:35I think I was still general counsel at that point.
14:37Another moment was when Viacom acquired us and paid $3 billion for BET.
14:48That was never happened before.
14:50And, you know, that was happiness and a little bit of controversy
14:56because people weren't sure what was going to happen to BET.
14:59But the good news is Viacom kept the management team together
15:04and, you know, didn't want to change the programming,
15:07promised not to change the programming.
15:10So that was important.
15:11On the entertainment side, I have to say,
15:17do you remember when Michael Jackson came out and gave the robe to James Brown?
15:23Oh, my goodness.
15:25At the BET Awards?
15:26Yes.
15:27He was a surprise guest.
15:29And I'll never forget it.
15:31He was sitting and crying.
15:32I should call him Bluff.
15:34He changed his name to Love.
15:35Love was sitting across the aisle from me.
15:37And when that happened, that moment happened,
15:40he jumped up and ran over to me and he said,
15:44you all are kicking MTV's butt right now.
15:50I just thought that was so classic.
15:53I'll never forget that.
15:54And then another moment was when we honored Charlie Wilson.
16:00And he was on stage with Justin Timberland, Pharrell, and Snoop.
16:07And the four of them were dancing.
16:09And I just felt like that was a drop the mic moment.
16:13I was like, this is what BET should represent.
16:16You know, it represents our culture,
16:18but it also represents people not in our culture, loving our culture.
16:23And to have Justin on the show was, you know, pretty amazing.
16:27And I just loved whatever song they were singing.
16:31I just felt like I could leave the room at that point.
16:33I was like, okay, I can drop the mic.
16:35You did it, right.
16:36And then I'll mention one more.
16:39The last time Beyonce opened the BET Awards with Kendrick Lamar.
16:47I had worked personally so hard to convince her and her team,
16:53including our friend, Steve Pamin,
16:56that she needed to be at the BET Awards that year.
17:00And her problem was she needed to be in Glass of Glory, I think,
17:05yeah, two days later.
17:06And it was going to make her tired.
17:08And I said, but she just had an album called Freedom.
17:13And she's, you know, it's the blackest album ever.
17:16You have to, she has to.
17:17And so finally they agreed.
17:19And then we got Kendrick Lamar to come back for him.
17:22I think he was on vacation in Jamaica.
17:25And interesting story.
17:27Her team had told us that if word leaked out about her coming,
17:32that she would not come.
17:35You know, that's so crazy.
17:35It happened with the Super Bowl.
17:38I think it leaked out or something.
17:39You know, we get those types of, we're charged with that as,
17:44you know, as part of the, all of the Recording Academy rooms.
17:47And it's like, this can't leak out or this person isn't going to do it.
17:51But I'm like, how can you help that?
17:53And isn't it such a bad thing?
17:55Like if people know that that's what's about to happen,
17:58I guess it's so beyond me.
18:01I don't even comprehend.
18:03Yeah.
18:03And you want that for promotion.
18:06We wanted people to know Beyonce was opening new show.
18:09Right.
18:10We want them to show up at the beginning of the show.
18:12We don't want them to come 15 minutes late.
18:15Absolutely.
18:15But her team said if she, if it leaked out, she wouldn't come.
18:18And that makes you really nervous.
18:21Because like you say, it's hard to control.
18:24You can keep it quiet, but you never know what other people are going to do.
18:28Yeah.
18:28There's so many other entities, you know, loose lips sink ships.
18:32Right.
18:33I was going to say that my, one of my favorite moments,
18:37because it was totally a surprise, was Maxwell.
18:41Oh, yeah.
18:43Yeah.
18:43When he came back?
18:45Yes, when he came back and the look of the suit, I was just like,
18:50oh my God, they got him out of wherever he was.
18:56And now he is back.
18:58That was a really great moment just to see the, you know,
19:03the level of energy between BET and Maxwell, specifically you.
19:12Because I felt like there was a lot of care in having him come and participate.
19:17And he felt safe.
19:19And you were the reason why.
19:20Yeah.
19:21And then another moment for me was at one of your dinners
19:26where you had said company cars come out and get us.
19:29You know, I think you guys did a situation with a sponsor.
19:33And so driven in this really nice SUV kind of situation.
19:39And then we get there and the performance from Jasmine Sullivan.
19:45It was very on in her career.
19:48And to see her blow that stage away.
19:51Right.
19:51It was amazing.
19:52And then aside from that, the dinner, you know, it was always like a family reunion.
19:56Yeah.
19:57I counted on seeing people there that I didn't see the entire year
20:01until that, you know, that summer night in June.
20:05It was always so much fun.
20:07How about the year?
20:08We could do this forever.
20:09So anytime you want to stop, let me know.
20:11But how about the year Prince came to the dinner?
20:15Oh, my God.
20:17My team didn't tell me he was coming.
20:20They probably didn't know.
20:22Yeah, I guess not.
20:22You let her know I'm not coming.
20:25Right.
20:26And when they walked him in and he was seated next to me,
20:30I was like, oh, my God, I'm sitting next to Prince.
20:33And what do I talk to him about for two hours?
20:37But we had a great time.
20:39The hardest part was he didn't want any photos with anybody else.
20:43And so all night long, I was shooing people away.
20:47But the other highlight is when Janelle Monáe performed that dinner for him.
20:53And he as soon as she started, he jumped up and ran on the dance floor.
20:58You remember that?
20:59He was such a Janelle Monáe fan.
21:02Just the fact that he agreed to come to the show,
21:05because for so many years he said Lifetime Achievement Awards are for old people.
21:12And I'm not old, so I'm not coming.
21:15And then that particular year, he changed his mind and came.
21:19And I'm glad he did.
21:22I am too.
21:23So happy.
21:25So give me one second.
21:27Well, this is a P&G sponsored this series, and they did so
21:32because of the importance to them on focusing on Black creatives.
21:35They have recently started a new program
21:38that aims to broaden the way Black people are portrayed in advertising and entertainment
21:43through an increased investment in Black directors, actors, crews, and media.
21:49Let's take a look at this clip.
22:32If you think you know what happens next,
22:40ask yourself why.
22:43These are the Black stories we've been shown.
22:47A narrow view that limits our understanding.
22:55But there's so much more to see.
23:01The full picture of Black life.
23:31Let's widen the screen so we can widen our view.
23:53Thank you, P&G.
23:55So that's so powerful, isn't it?
23:58Isn't it?
23:59So it is clear that your career and your commitment to Black culture
24:03has provided so many artists an opportunity that they may not have had or received elsewhere.
24:11So we are considering the widening of the screen.
24:15When you look back at your career, did you ever imagine
24:18the impact that you would have on Black culture as a whole?
24:22No, I never imagined it.
24:25So many times during my career, and even now,
24:29I have to pinch myself that I had this opportunity.
24:33I grew up in a segregated town in North Carolina
24:37and went to all-Black high school and junior high school.
24:42I just remember how important music especially was to my life.
24:46Admiring the Supremes and the Temptations.
24:52Admiring Aretha Franklin.
24:54I mean, those were the images that we had.
24:57And we didn't have a lot of images back then.
25:00We had Soul Train, which I waited for every Saturday
25:05so I could see the latest dance.
25:07This was all before social media.
25:10So to be able to grow up and work for a company
25:13where I was able to give awards and honors
25:18to those people I admired from afar was just incredible.
25:24To give Diana Ross an award or Luther Vandross.
25:30And to be able to provide that kind of programming,
25:35authentic programming that I didn't see as a child.
25:39We didn't have that many shows.
25:41So to be able to deliver that kind of programming
25:44has really been just so heartwarming to me.
25:50And to see advertisers like P&G,
25:53who we had a great relationship, still do with BET.
25:59And what they're doing to address the racial inequalities
26:04that have been so pronounced since George Floyd's murder
26:08is really great.
26:09I mean, they really get it at P&G.
26:13And we had quite a few advertisers
26:15that wanted to work with BET
26:18to really address issues as they arose.
26:20That's awesome.
26:22Well, I mean, you're definitely a ceiling breaker.
26:26And, excuse me, including being recognized
26:29by the Grammy organization in February, 2017.
26:34You salute to industry icon awards
26:38on behalf of her major contributions, yours,
26:41to American music and culture.
26:43What were some of the biggest challenges
26:45that you faced as a woman in the industry?
26:51You know, for a long time,
26:54I just had my head down working.
26:56And I was glad I didn't have to deal with the racial issues
27:00because I was at a black company.
27:03But I think as I got further along,
27:06it became clearer that there weren't a lot of women
27:10in positions like mine.
27:12I remember the day I was named COO,
27:15walking through the hallways of BET,
27:18all the women were giving me high fives
27:20and saying, oh, we never thought this would happen.
27:23It's amazing that he appointed a woman.
27:26And I think that was when I first started realizing
27:30how different it is for women in business.
27:32And I'm sorry to say, 30 some years later,
27:37it hasn't changed that much.
27:39It hasn't changed.
27:40And, you know, we just have to keep working on it.
27:45And, you know, women are different
27:47and there's nothing wrong with that.
27:48We manage differently.
27:50We, you know, have different responsibilities
27:53with our families and we choose to have families.
27:57And, you know, we just have to figure out
27:59how to make it work in the corporate world.
28:02And that's what I'm focusing, you know,
28:04in answer to your question, what I'm focusing on.
28:07And, you know, we just had two Black women
28:10who were named to Fortune 500 companies
28:14as CEO, Ros Brewer at Walgreens
28:19and the Sunda Duckett at TIAA.
28:24So, you know, there's still a lot of women out there
28:28doing great things, but we just need more of them.
28:31We need more of them.
28:32Yeah, I'm in complete agreement.
28:35And, you know, what's so crazy is
28:37there are all of these, you know,
28:39women's empowerment councils and not resorts.
28:46What am I thinking of?
28:47Re-conferences.
28:50I was thinking of another word, but conferences.
28:52And there's one that I go to all of these retreats.
28:58It's all of these, you know, women,
29:01African-American women who work at Fortune 500 companies
29:05who are like the executive under the executive.
29:09However, they are the ones moving the entire ship.
29:13Right.
29:14They're doing all of the work.
29:17And I used to think, okay, you don't,
29:19I was taught a long time ago,
29:20you don't have a female manager
29:23because they're going to be too emotional.
29:25And of course I got that from a man, right?
29:27Right, of course.
29:28And so, but as I looked, all of the men that I worked with
29:31in terms of management had women
29:33that were doing all of the work behind the scenes.
29:35Right.
29:36And so finally, you know, I met Lynn Richardson.
29:39She's now head and COO of Everything MC Light
29:42and the management firm.
29:43And really she gets things done, you know?
29:49So kudos to all of the women out there,
29:51given their best to everything it is that they do,
29:55their skillset, their knowledge, education and so forth.
29:59What I did hear is recently you announced
30:02that you are starting a firm
30:05to boost diversity in corporate boardrooms.
30:09So why was that so important to you?
30:11And I know that you partly addressed it already,
30:13but if there's something else you want to add.
30:15Well, I've been fortunate my whole career
30:18to serve on corporate boards and, you know,
30:21unfortunately it's still a well-kept secret
30:24from black folks and from women.
30:26You know, the white males kind of had a hold on it
30:28for a long time.
30:30And one of the things that came out
30:32of George Floyd's murder and the aftermath of that
30:35is that, you know, all these companies said,
30:38oh, we believe in Black Lives Matter and racial equality
30:43and we're going to give $10 million to the Urban League.
30:46And all of that was great.
30:48And we can do PSAs.
30:50All of that was great.
30:50But then the young people, the millennials said,
30:53well, wait a minute.
30:54If you believe in Black Lives Matter,
30:56why is there no one black on your board?
30:59You know, they pulled back the curtain and said,
31:02you know, we have a problem with this.
31:04You can't, you know, say you're an advocate or an ally.
31:08And then when you look at the number of women
31:11and people of color on your board and in your C-suite,
31:16we don't see anyone who looks like us.
31:18And, you know, the music labels were called out for that.
31:24And, you know, they had put out all this money,
31:27but people in the industry were like, wait a minute.
31:30You know, when you get to the top of these labels,
31:33there's no one there with any color in the boardrooms.
31:36And, you know, that prompted the day that everyone
31:42in the music industry and other industries took the day off
31:45and said, okay, what are we going to do about this?
31:47And out of that came the Black Music Collective
31:51and some other things that the Grammys are doing.
31:54But I looked and I said, you know,
31:56boards have been my passion and been a part of my career.
32:01And I'm getting a lot of calls from people
32:03who either want to get on boards or want me on their boards.
32:08I'm at the point, I have four boards.
32:10The last board I joined was P&G, which I'm very proud of.
32:14But, you know, I said, there are a lot of other people
32:18other than me that can serve on corporate boards.
32:20And I know them.
32:21You know, either I've hired them over the years
32:24or I ran into them through various industries.
32:27So my partner and I started the Monarchs Collective
32:31to help those companies that say they can't find
32:35women and people of color.
32:37And we just raised our hands and said, we know them, call us.
32:42Don't call the big search firms that don't have connects
32:46or only have one connect.
32:47Call us because we can help you.
32:49So it's been great.
32:50We've been getting good response from candidates
32:53and from companies.
32:55Oh, I love it.
32:56I love that.
32:57And you're right.
32:57It's not just a company saying, we're going to talk about it.
33:00It's like, be about it.
33:01Right.
33:02Let's see the reflection of ourselves.
33:04So-
33:05And the other part of it is the retention.
33:07You know, how do you make it comfortable
33:08for a Black board member to come on your board?
33:11So we're offering coaching.
33:13And my partner, Rabia Dilan-Long is the executive coach.
33:18And for Black people who've never been on a board,
33:22how can we train them before they get to the boardroom?
33:25And it's not, I always say, it's not training in a negative way.
33:31It's letting you know what you're walking into.
33:35What you expect.
33:36Right.
33:36So you're better prepared.
33:37Because if you've never been in a boardroom,
33:39you don't know what to expect.
33:41Yeah.
33:41Yeah.
33:42Absolutely.
33:43Well, good.
33:43So you're on four boards.
33:45Yes.
33:46Are you going to do any more?
33:47Or is that-
33:48No.
33:49Four is really the limit in terms of for-profit boards.
33:54OK.
33:54Even if you're retired like I am.
33:57And you just want, you know, you want to be effective.
33:59And you also want your rest.
34:02Right.
34:03And I want to do other things.
34:04Yeah.
34:04I want to do other things.
34:05So four is a good number.
34:08OK.
34:09So.
34:09And before I forget, Light, I want to draw attention
34:12to what you and Lynn have been doing
34:15in terms of the financial industry
34:19and better preparing Black folks to thrive in that.
34:24And for what you've done for BET
34:27by being the voice of for so many years.
34:31Well, thank you.
34:32I'm very proud of that.
34:34And when I saw you on the Grammys this year,
34:36I was like, yay.
34:39Oh, yes.
34:39Doing the voice of.
34:40Doing the voice of.
34:41Yeah.
34:42Yeah.
34:42We'll see if they call me back.
34:45But I had a really great time with that.
34:47And of course, you know, my VO for BET
34:51launched under your leadership.
34:54And thank you.
34:56And as far as Hip Hop Sisters Foundation is concerned
34:59that Lynn and I have co-founded with Dr. Felicia Shaw.
35:02You know, BET was a great contributor.
35:06So yeah.
35:08So thank you.
35:08Really proud of that.
35:09Yeah.
35:10Really.
35:10Yeah.
35:11So OK.
35:11So you have contributed.
35:13And we're almost dwindling down.
35:16You have contributed to the culture in such a huge way.
35:19And you give back through your philanthropy.
35:23What is next for you in terms of for-profit?
35:27Like, do you plan on getting into any more entertainment
35:32or film?
35:35Yeah, I think about it every now and then.
35:37You know, I have to let my non-compete run out with Viacom.
35:41So I'm on the other side of that.
35:43The Monarchs Collective that we were just talking about,
35:46that's for-profit.
35:48And I'm doing some speaking engagements
35:50and things like that.
35:52But I don't know.
35:52I might do some producing down the road.
35:56I miss it, you know, being in the mix.
35:59So no plans right now, but you never know.
36:04No, I can imagine coming from that creative space
36:08that you still have that to kind of exercise.
36:11Yeah, it's hard to let it go.
36:14And on the non-profit side, you know,
36:16I'm working with the Grammys on the Memorial Fund
36:23that was started for my son, Quinn.
36:26And we'll have an announcement about that soon.
36:30OK, awesome.
36:30But you know, the goal is to get more young Black creatives
36:34in the music industry.
36:35Then that's something he was passionate about.
36:38And I want to keep his legacy going.
36:41OK, that's excellent.
36:42Excited about that.
36:43Yeah, that's excellent.
36:44I think it's so important that young kids know
36:47all of what is offered in the entertainment field
36:50in terms of what it is that you can do.
36:53You know, it's not just what you see in front of the camera,
36:56but so many other things outside of that.
36:59And so my last question.
37:01OK.
37:02And thank you so much for joining us.
37:04Oh, no, this is fun.
37:05You and I can sit down and talk all the time.
37:07Yeah, the last time we went on your membership
37:11to the SoHo House and had a wonderful lunch.
37:16So thanks again for that.
37:18When you look back at your career,
37:21what do you want your legacy to be?
37:25You know, that's such a good question.
37:28And I want it to be that I ran and managed
37:35a profitable company that was able to produce
37:39authentic programming for African-Americans.
37:43And I wanted to focus on the number of people
37:47who have come through BET, you know,
37:49the people that were hired or started their careers there
37:53and went on to bigger and better things.
37:55I mean, that's one of the things I enjoy most about my job
37:58is hiring young people and giving them the opportunity
38:01to change the world and to do as much as they can,
38:05whether they were in finance or operations
38:09or were doing the research analysis.
38:12You know, over my 32 years at BET,
38:15I was so fortunate to hire and see people become successful
38:21and to give them opportunities
38:22they didn't have at other companies.
38:24And that's important.
38:26And, you know, it was always so important to me
38:30that BET do it better than anyone else,
38:34you know, that we wouldn't take excuses like,
38:37oh, we don't have enough money,
38:38or, oh, you know, blah, blah, blah.
38:41You know, MTV is more marketing, you know.
38:44Okay, yeah, right.
38:45It's right.
38:45It's true.
38:46But we are, and I always felt like the people
38:51that worked at BET were so committed to our mission.
38:55That we just worked harder.
38:59So I hope that's my legacy,
39:00that we worked harder and served our community well.
39:07Well, you did.
39:09You did.
39:10Thank you so much.
39:11And we had fun doing it.
39:13Right.
39:14You know, that means everything,
39:17especially when you, you know,
39:19when you've gotten through the 20s and the 30s,
39:21it's all about where, who can I work with
39:25that has, you know, like, that are like-minded,
39:28aligned with our missions.
39:31And, you know, I know some people
39:33who create things to work on
39:34just so they could spend time with their friends,
39:37you know, hence LeBron.
39:39He went and played in Miami
39:40just so he could play with his friends, you know.
39:42Right.
39:43So, yeah, but in the meantime,
39:45you have done such great works.
39:48We appreciate you.
39:50Thank you for joining us today.
39:52I'd like to thank my guest, Debra Lee,
39:55for sharing her story and her groundbreaking work.
39:58Again, this is the Black Music Collective Podcast.
40:03Stay tuned for our next episode.

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