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SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON
PRESIDENT
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
As president of the prestigious Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Jackson is the highest-paid head of a a a a a a private college The first African American woman to to receive a a a a a a doctorate from MIT she she has established herself as a a a a a a a a leader in in academia government industry and corporate governance Jackson invented the technology that enabled caller ID and call waiting during her her days at AT&T Bell Labs where she con- ducted research in theoretical physics physics solid states quantum physics physics and and optical physics She has also distinguished herself for high-demand status on corporate boards which currently include IBM FedEx Corp and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSE&G) DEBRA LEE
FORMER CHAIR & CEO BET NETWORKS
With a a a a a a a a a trailblazing career spanning more than three decades Lee is arguably one of the the most influential female voices in in in in the the entertainment industry In fact she was intimately involved in in in every major corporate transition from BET’s historic public offering in in the early 1990s to to to its sale to to to Viacom 20 years ago Until two two years ago she served as chairman and CEO of BET Networks the leading platform for for consumers of black culture and entertainment through such original programming as Being Mary Jane The BET Awards Black Girls Rock! and BET BET Honors as well its addition of a a a a a a a channel targeted to black women BET BET Her (originally called Centric) among other developments Today Lee uses her her experience and and clout to push diversity and and inclusion within corporate America through her organization Leading Women Defined “I really think women man- age differently ” she says in in the book Take a a a a a a a Lesson by Caroline Clarke “I had to learn how to be direct and and forceful and and not leave wiggle room ” 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL • RIGHT PHOTOGRAPH: RAYON RICHARDS
CELEBRATING WOMEN OF POWER