We caught up with the brilliant and insightful RENEE LEE a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

RENEE, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Here’s a refined version of your narrative for an article interview. This version maintains your powerful story and bold voice while adding polish and structure for publication:

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### **“I Don’t Stay in My Lane—I Build New Roads”**

By nature, I’m a risk-taker. I’ve never been one to “stay in my lane.” Instead, I’ve made it a habit to build new lanes—ones I own with authority.

Before launching my own business, I served as a Senior Director for a program that was part of a national network. Under my leadership, we were recognized as a Center of Excellence—the gold standard that other agencies and centers across the country looked to for best practices. Eventually, our work became the blueprint for the State of Tennessee’s own network of centers. Watching those centers thrive today, knowing I helped lay the foundation, is incredibly rewarding.

When our local program closed due to funding constraints, I was offered a new position. But I declined. I felt called to do the work differently—locally, independently, and on my own terms. I took the leap, leaving behind what many would call financial security in exchange for a vision I believed in. I had hope, courage, and an expectation that funding would follow.

It didn’t.

I found myself broke and facing hard choices. But I knew I was smart, resourceful, and capable. At age 50, I was determined not to return to the traditional workforce. I knew I could find another way.

Fast forward three years: I’m now the CEO of ABR FIRM LLC, a Black-family-owned, woman-led premiere leadership development and brand management firm with a global reach. We are not just building leaders; we’re building legacies.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a strategist, a builder, and an unapologetic truth-teller with a deep commitment to equity, excellence, and impact. My work sits at the intersection of organizational leadership, capacity building, and strategic communications.

What sets ABR FIRM apart is our ability to cut through the noise. We don’t offer generic leadership platitudes. We listen deeply, customize rigorously, and ask hard questions that drive lasting change. Our clients don’t just get coaching—they get a co-strategist and an advocate who will help them move from concept to clarity to confident execution.

I’m most proud of the fact that this business was born from conviction, not convenience. I built it after 50, during a time of financial uncertainty, and without external funding. It’s a reflection of what I teach: vision, boldness, and the willingness to bet on yourself.

To anyone reading this: I want you to know that ABR FIRM isn’t just a service provider—it’s a catalyst. We are here to help leaders lead well, organizations grow strong, and messages land with the power they were meant to carry.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I have to start with the fact that our parents saw a need in our community which was actually a need in our own home. We didn’t have a dryer. My sister and I had to hang the washed clothes on the clothesline in the backyard. So, my Mom wanted a dryer and because of her and my father’s entrepreneurial spirits, they ended up with 1o because they decided to purchase a laundromat that was for sale in our community. So not only was our need of having or wanting a dryer met, so were the folks in our community. My siblings and I and other family members of our core team proudly carry forward that same spirit of service. Today, we are committed to equipping individuals, leaders, teams, and organizations with the capabilities they need to reach their highest potential and achieve meaningful goals.

My personal reputation was built on a foundation of integrity, intentionality, and a relentless focus on people over profit. At ABR FIRM, we’re not in the business of checking boxes; we are in the business of changing cultures, strengthening leaders, and helping organizations move from where they are to where they’re truly capable of going.

What’s helped us stand out in the market is twofold: the depth and clarity of our proprietary frameworks and
the character and credibility of the people behind the brand.

Our team combines lived experience with professional excellence. We’re multi-sector, cross-generational, and mission-aligned. People trust ABR FIRM because we don’t just consult. We believe in the currency of collaboration. We don’t just teach leadership. We model it.

Personally, I think one of the most powerful contributors to my reputation has been my willingness to say the hard thing, ask the right questions, and follow through with excellence. I don’t play small, and I don’t play politics. Clients know when they come to ABR FIRM, they’re getting the truth delivered with clarity, compassion, and strategy.

Another critical piece has been our commitment to equity and authenticity. We are proudly Black-family owned and woman-led, and we lead with that identity—not as a tagline, but as a lived reality.

At the end of the day, reputation is earned by consistently delivering on your promises. That’s what we do each and every time we serve our clients.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the moments that best illustrates my resilience and my leadership style happened during my tenure as Vice President of Workforce Development at a highly respected nonprofit organization.

We were entering the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, and our team was staring down an ambitious goal. On paper, it looked almost unreachable in the time we had left. But instead of backing down, I leaned in.

We set the target, named it out loud, and then I did something a little different. I created what I call “Wall Talks.” I put the goal up, big and bold, on a giant Post-it sheet right on the wall. This wasn’t for the purpose of adding to the décor; it was our visual accountability and our rallying point. Every day, team members would gather around that wall. We would check in, strategize, celebrate small wins, and push each other forward. It turned a solitary goal into a shared mission.

But here’s the key. I didn’t lead from behind a desk. I was in it with them. I used my resilience not to pressure the team, but to power them. I reminded them that we weren’t just going to meet the goal. We were going to exceed it together. It was all hands on deck, and I made sure everyone, from coordinators to directors, knew that we were building momentum shoulder to shoulder.

And we did it. Not only did we reach our lofty goal—we surpassed it.

That experience reinforced what I’ve always believed: real leadership is resilient leadership. It’s not about doing the hard things for the team. It’s about doing the hard things with the team and showing up, again and again, until the vision becomes reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.abrfirmmemphis.com/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/reneelee-abrfirm
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Reach4BetterPlus

Image Credits
Impact Lyfe Media – Sedrick Askew