Debra Lee — Embracing Change & Triumphing Over Disruption

The Boston Public Library welcomes former Chief Executive Officer of Black Entertainment Television Debra Lee for an online conversation moderated by BPL President David Leonard. This program, presented in partnership with the Kirstein Business Library and Innovation Center and the GBH Forum Network and sponsored by the Friends of Kirstein, is part of the BPL's Repairing America Series.

People who are interested in attending are kindly asked to register at the following link: https://wgbh.zoom.us/webinar/register/3016158433722/WN_M90R1NGtTZuhLamb0AAHKA.

In this compelling talk for companies that are facing external disruption or internal change, Debra Lee shares lessons learned from her career as one of America’s few African American women CEOs and on boards ranging from Marriott to Twitter. Honored as an Adweek Disruptor, as a champion for change in the Time's Up movement, and a change agent on prominent corporate boards, Lee provides essential approaches for individuals and organizations to thrive and triumph in a constantly changing world.

During her three-decades-long career with BET, where her many honors and recognitions include being named to The Hollywood Reporter’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment, Billboard’s Power 100, and Adweek’s Disruptors list, Debra Lee saw her industry radically disrupted by technology, undergo a revolution in content delivery, and celebrate the ascendance of the Black media consumer. She also saw BET both go public and be acquired by media giant Viacom, all capped off by a highly successful transition of leadership as she succeeded the company’s legendary founder as Chairman and CEO. These experiences transformed Lee into not only an agent of change, but a triumphant champion of it. She went on to shape BET into a catalyst for change via ground-breaking programming that challenged perceptions and more authentically reflected Black America. The re-brand, culture shift, and mission focus under Lee’s leadership transformed BET into the largest global company dedicated to Black programming.

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The Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC) invites media creators, innovators, job seekers, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, investors, coders, and makers to our new space. Business-minded individuals can enjoy an inviting and modern space with over 5,000 square feet of printed resources, flexible seating, innovative technology to conduct business research, and dedicated areas for collaborating on projects with colleagues or developing a new career skill.

The Repairing America Initiative is the Boston Public Library's pledge to focus its 2021 programming and services on bridging the gaps that divide America. By prioritizing economic recovery, civic engagement, COVID-19 recovery, racial equity, workforce development, and youth engagement, the BPL is working to help Americans rise above the challenges they face.

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