Dr. Deborah Bartlett

 

Dr. Deborah Bartlett’s leadership role in the business, professional and civic communities continue to prepare and equip her to expand her vision for media and economic empowerment for the disenfranchised in The Bahamas and global community. Deborah Bartlett was born in Nassau on the island of New Providence, which is the capital of The Bahamas in 1958. Her father was Frank Bartlett who was a Permanent Secretary, a senior official in charge of a government ministry. Her mother is Mizpah Bartlett who was a senior executive in several companies, a real estate developer and an entrepreneur.

 

From an early age Deborah was recognized for her ability in leadership. She was brought up in a home where bonding with her immediate as well as her extended family was priority; where exposure to other cultures was encouraged; and hers and her two brothers’ talents were developed through ballet and music lessons. Her parents and grandparents taught them that they were born to help rule the world and that this rulership was through serving and helping others. She was also taught not to choose friends by color or class, but by their character. This wisdom has guided her throughout her life.

 

Dr. Bartlett attended St. Anne’s Primary and High School in Nassau where she was Head Girl. In 1974, she then matriculated at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, USA where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication. Dr. Bartlett received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organizational Leadership/International Media from Michael University in 2011.

 

Visionnaire and Founder

Dr. Deborah Bartlett is the Founder and President of the CEO Network which was established in 1997 to strengthen work ethics, raise levels of productivity and create a networking platform for economic empowerment. The motto of the CEO Network is “Empowering Professionals through Knowledge and Opportunities”. Deborah’s Mother, Mizpah Bartlett is the Co-Founder of the CEO Network. The CEO Network hosts some of the most powerful international conferences and awards ceremonies in The Bahamas and in Atlanta. Political, business and professional leaders attend from The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the United States and international communities. The keynote speaker for the 2018 CEO Network Conference was the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, The Right

Honorable Dr. Hubert A. Minnis. Also at The CEO Network Conference in May 2018, Dr. Bartlett was conferred as a Princess by Nigerian royalty, Her Royal Highness, Princess Moradeun Ogunlana and Her Royal Highness Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin.

 

Dr. Bartlett is the Visionnaire and Founder of the Economic Emancipation Empowerment Movement (EEEM). Dr. Bartlett is also the Visionnaire of Bartlett Media Enterprises (BME).

 

Veteran Journalist

As an intern at the CBS television affiliate in 1979, Dr. Bartlett’s determination and commitment to excellence shattered the racial barrier and she became the first black reporter. Dr. Bartlett is a veteran journalist who is also a syndicated talk show host with guest appearances on the Rightside television show, which is seen on 84 television stations including ABC, CBS and Fox affiliates and XM Radio which is hosted by Mr. Armstrong Williams.

 

Ms. Bartlett respectfully turned down the invitation to become a full time reporter at CBS to return home to work at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas. She entered as a copywriter. Months later she was the television talk show host of a popular program “Woman”. About a year later she expanded her television target market with a program “Reaction.” It was the first program in the Bahamas with a studio audience. Reaction was the number one program throughout it’s time on television. Hosting talk shows yielded to leadership roles in the newsroom. She was news anchor, chief news editor and eventually Assistant General Manager with responsibility for news, program, production and sales and marketing.

 

World Renowned Talk Show Host

Dr. Bartlett is the only journalist in the Bahamas that is a syndicated talk show host in the United States. Dr. Deborah Bartlett was a part of the Empowerment Radio Network “Live from the Bahamas”. In 2006, the media arm of the CEO Network was started with the establishment of Gems 105.9 FM. Gems 105.9 FM succeeded in its mission to dominate the market among women with a very strong following among men and inner city communities. Gems 105.9 FM is a trailblazer in the international community as well. The Gems team covered the Democratic and Republican Conventions and the inauguration of U.S President Barack Obama. Gems launched the weekly Economic Emancipation Show in 2020 with an impressive slate of local and global guests who are known as trendsetters, which is hosted by Dr. Bartlett. The Economic Emancipation Show is aired live on 360Wise which has a potential viewing audience of 30 million. Gems Television is in the 360 Wise Network and Dr. Bartlett’s weekly show is featured on 360 Wise News.

 

Her leadership roles in journalism provided access and created platforms to interview some of the most celebrated leaders in the world. Dr. Bartlett has interviewed three of her country’s Prime Ministers. They are the late Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, former Prime Minister the Rt. Honorable Hubert Alexander Ingraham and former Prime Minister the Rt. Honorable Perry Gladstone Christie. Dr. Bartlett was the reporter assigned to the wife of Sir Lynden Pindling, Dame Marguerite Pindling, who later became the Governor General of The Bahamas. This veteran journalist has also interviewed the late Nelson Mandela, former President Bill Clinton, the former President of Haiti, Jean Bertrand Aristide, and Dr. Tony Oreilly, the Chairman of Heinz.

 

Civic Campaigns and Community Involvement

For more than 30 years, Dr. Bartlett has initiated and supported initiatives for inner city transformation. Ms. Bartlett’s high visibility created platforms for speaking engagements in schools, churches and civic organizations. She used the platforms to promote and advance social outreach initiatives. She initiated the Yellow Elder Club as a crime intervention program in 1983. The CEO Network established the first computer labs for D.W. Davis Junior, C.C. Sweeting Junior and C.C. Sweeting Senior Schools through its Brand New Hope Campaign.

 

“Say Yes to Life, Say No to Drugs”, was Dr. Bartlett’s brainchild and was one of the most successful anti-drug campaigns in the country. Her former colleague who was news director at the time, the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe invited her to co-host and co-produce a documentary called “Base Streets” which highlighted persons caught up in the cocaine epidemic in the 1980’s and captured an international award.

 

Dr. Bartlett served as a consultant to the Trade Union Congress of The Bahamas and served on several Boards including Zamar International. She served for 32 years on the Board of Governors of Bahamas Faith Ministries International founded by Dr. Myles Munroe. She presently serves as Senior Advisor to The Embassy International founded by Apostle Benjamin Smith which is located in Nassau, The Bahamas. Debbie’s love for community development initiatives harnessed her event planning skills. She organized the biggest concert in The Bahamas in the 1980’s featuring Grammy award recording artist Candi Staton.

 

International Involvement

Ms. Bartlett’s influence in the international community continues to expand. She served alongside Ambassador Andrew Young as co-chair of the International Board of the 60th Anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Dr. Bartlett has served as an international consultant for various international development projects. In 2006, Dr. Bartlett served as managing consultant for the establishment of the first national television station in the Turks & Caicos Islands. It was the first HD station in the Caribbean. She was Senior Consultant of International Affairs for the Campaign for Maxo Joseph, Presidential candidate in Haiti in 2015.

 

Dr. Bartlett was appointed Managing Consultant for the Caribbean for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. legacy for three years (2012-2015). In 2013, Dr. Bartlett and the CEO Network were responsible for coordinating the events for the Caribbean for the 50th anniversary of the “I Have A Dream” Speech, and also the celebration of a global day for Coretta Scott King that was held on April 27, 2013. In 2018, Dr. Bartlett was invited to be one of the keynote speakers at the Martin Luther King Day ceremony in Atlanta. In 2019, Dr. Bartlett was a keynote speaker in Ghana at a women's conference. In 2020 she met with African Royals in London led by the King of the Remo Kingdom.

 

Entrepreneur

Dr. Debbie Bartlett also has a passion for entrepreneurship. She owned a gift and souvenir store for 20 years in the Melia Hotel, formally Radisson Resort. She also owned a Deli on Elizabeth Avenue, downtown Nassau for a number of years. Dr. Bartlett also has significant holdings in real estate.

 

This media entrepreneur launched the multi-media platform, the Caribbean Digital Network (CDN). The CDN digital newspaper targets the Caribbean, Latin American and global communities.

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