Name: Brian Lee
Profession: Professional Athlete & Artist Accountability Partner
Age: 29
One Word That Describes You: Transformed
A former Advertising Account Executive Brian Lee has helped develop and craft numerous integrated global campaigns for notable brands including: Nike, Old Spice (P&G), Levis, NBA 2K, Li-Ning (Brand WADE), CHAMPS Sports and Time Warner Cable. After receiving his Bachelors of Science in Marketing from Elmhurst College in 2007, Brian returned home to Chicago and begin his career in Sports Advertising. This was also the start of his involvement in the community on the south side of Chicago. Playing point guard throughout his college career not only helped Brian develop his leadership skills, but started to shape a fiery passion to mentor in the field of sports. Recognizing the impact sports has on a community his vision shifted to the image and development of many of todayʼs athletes — collegiate and professional alike.
In June 2014, he took a leap of faith to quit his job in order to embark on that vision, and has now started his own consulting firm equipping professional athletes and artists, with foundational tools to develop their character, in order to maximize their brand and success in life and respective fields. Brian’s leap has lead him to the opportunities to consult from a sports perspective with some of today’s leading brands including: Cleveland Cavaliers, Hennessy USA, Marcus Graham Project, and Fear Of God.
Purpose is why Lee entered the world of sports and entertainment. “At the intersection of these two worlds is where my calling exist,” Lee tells BE Modern Man. “These are the areas I am called to serve in.” Surviving the process of stepping into his calling, Lee continues to believe and put forth the work required to reach his goals. “Doors may continue to shut, and people around you will continue to question your journey but you have to endure even when your timing doesn’t match up with Godʼ
s timing.”Able to gain a vast amount of experience in the corporate landscape of sports and entertainment, Lee is focused on providing a purer form of leadership in a culture that tends to appoints leaders instead of allowing leadership to emerge. “Initially when collaborating in a large group I’m concentrating on the bigger goal and how I can best utilize the tool set I’ve been given,” says Lee. In my group experience the best results come when everybody is working toward the common goal with the focus of “self” consistently taking a back seat.”
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Cultivating a successful career, or campaign does not happen overnight, and regardless of our technological advancements there are no shortcuts. “Avoid the notion that on-line equals an easier route to success,” Lee tells BE Modern Man. “I wouldn’t start anything on any platform on-line included, until I have a clear understanding of what I’m looking to achieve.” Before understanding a technology platform, Lee understands the importance of building self-awareness. “Continue to work on your reputation, it’s definitely hard to change, and as you continue to strive forward it will begin to precede you.”
Working in sports and entertainment has given Lee a behind the scenes view of the narrative being told by mainstream media as it relates to our communities and the people in them. “Many times the people telling our stories are not Black,” says Lee. “Those telling our story have a totally different outlook and understanding than those who they’re reporting on.” As a leader in his community Lee also believes that it is important to understand where our cultural values are placed, or are perceived to be placed. “We as leaders still have work to do to shift those cultural norms by providing useful messaging in the language of our community, in relatable ways.”
A big picture visionary Lee’s impact is deeply rooted in developing culturally relevant strategy that leads to effective creative output, which challenges pop culture ideals, taps into cultural tension, and provides irresistible yet useful messaging for today’s progressive generation, through sports and entertainment. “This is what being a BE Modern Man is about,” says Lee. “Being the absolute best version of yourself and being able to translate that in today’s progressive culture.
The BE Modern Man team salutes Brian Lee for having the courage to step out of his comfort zone and into his calling which is having a tremendous impact within his community. Already working with some of sports leading brands, Lee is emerging as a leader at the intersection of sports and entertainment.
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