She Did That!: Author And BET Executive Lorisa Bates On Tapping Into Your Passion Project And Making The Most Of Your Career Goals
March is Women's History Month, and for 31 days, we get to salute the women who have paid their dues, made the sacrifices and cemented their names in the history books. And while that is important, it is equally essential to celebrate women who are doing big things right now. The sisters kicking closed doors open, refusing to take no for an answer, and forging a path wide enough for themselves and the several other ladies coming up behind them.
One of those women is Lorisa Bates, vice president of content strategy, co-productions, and multiplatform at BET. Although her title details her impressive 9 to 5 responsibilities, it’s her 5 to 9 that transports her into the powerhouse author of the Benita Renee Jenkins series of books. Benita is the smart and sassy antagonist who grew up in "Do or Die Bed Stuy" Brooklyn and went from being a hairstylist to a full-fledged secret agent.
Bates spoke with BET.com to reveal the inspiration behind her fierce antagonist, the deets about her important day job, plus a few tips about handling your coins to sustain that cash flow.
BET.com: It’s great speaking with you. Can you tell us a little bit about what you do at BET?
Lorisa Bates: I am responsible for acquiring content for the network and making movies. About five years ago, I started a division where I began doing movies of the week, and now that work has expanded to BET+. I also work with another group, the multi-platform team who work on scheduling the video on demand sites and apps. I manage all of that, plus I am a writer.
BET.com: As busy as you are, how do you get inspired and make time to work on your books? How did you develop this fierce character Benita Renee Jenkins?
Lorisa Bates: Benita Renee Jenkins was my brainchild from when I was in grad school. I attended the New School many, many moons ago and while I was there, I took a comedy class. The professor said to take something that's serious and turn it and flip it. Make it as crazy as you can imagine. And so, at the time, my favorite movie was La Femme Nikita; she was an assassin.
I thought about how I could turn that around and I came up with La Femme Benita, a hairstylist from Brooklyn who was all about hair and nails. She's going to get into trouble and become a super agent. I was living in Brooklyn at the time and surrounded by all of these bright and sassy women who were tough but always had their hair and nails done. Bonita is a combination of all of that.
The character was in my head for over 20 years, and I had to get her out. First, I created a script, then I wrote and self-published the book Benita Renee Jenkins: Diva Secret Agent. Years later, while working at BET, where I had started in 2013, a friend reached and encouraged me to republish the book. I got a publisher, updated the book, and it was republished in October 2020; the second one followed in October 2021, Benita Renee Jenkins 2: Boxing Rings and Cages.
BET.com: Why did you choose to self-publish?
Lorisa Bates: At the time, the process of getting a publisher was mind-boggling to me because it can take four to six months before you hear from somebody. I was like, I want to try this. I'm going to do this. I was really into it, and I got it done. And though my career took over, I knew it was something no one could ever take away from me.
BET.com: What did you learn from the process?
Lorisa Bates: I had an editor I worked with on the book, and she lovingly kicked my butt. At times I felt like the worst writer, but I came through it, and it was an ‘aha’ moment. This is now how I develop my projects. I use a red pen to edit writers I am working with. I tell them I'm not doing it to hurt your feelings. I just want to make the project better.
BET.com: When you wrote the second book, you were already at BET, so how did you find time to work on it?
Lorisa Bates: I committed to writing every day. It almost took me out (laughs). I wrote every day from October until I finished it in June. I would work on it for about 2 to 3 hours after work and on weekends.
And then I gave it to the editor, and although she said it was good, it needed a lot of work. At times I felt overwhelmed, but I prayed on it and slept on it. I eventually built the characters, and things started flowing, and then I finally had a product that I was proud of.
BET.com: Being this busy, what do you do to practice self-care?
Lorisa Bates: Before COVID, I would get a massage once a month and I hope to get back to doing that again. I always make sure that I have time to veg out and sleep on the weekend. I also like to meditate and might watch some church services.
BET.com: If you were to give advice to your 20-year-old self who was still trying to figure things out, what would you say?
Lorisa Bates: I wish that I had started investing earlier. Even just putting away $50 a month. Financial literacy is important. Some people say never to use cash, use credit cards. What do credit cards do? A credit card will help build your credit. However, you always pay it off at the end of the month. I never really thought about that because you always hear save, save, save, but you're not building credit.
In the last 15 years, I have really taken my financial literacy seriously. I like listening to audiobooks like Bob Proctor. He talks about changing your paradigm and your thought process. [It’s as simple as] deciding how much you want to make per year, then break that down into small pieces. Figuring out how much you need to make each month, then each week.
I do this also with my writing; everything is more straightforward when you break it down into pieces. And I bet on myself. I know I can trust myself because I'm confident enough to do things independently. Knowing that can help even if you fail along the way.
And don’t focus on failure. Look at what you’ve achieved, and continue to build onto it. Those are the things I would tell young women and young men including my younger self. You have to bet on yourself, but you have to have a plan, and you have to plan your work and work the plan.
