Suzanne de Passe launched her career in entertainment at Motown Records, where she started as creative assistant to company founder Berry Gordy. Credited for signing and grooming the Jackson 5, de Passe executive produced "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" and earned an Academy Award nomination for co-writing Lady Sings the Blues. Currently the CEO of de Passe Entertainment, Suzanne de Passe is the executive producer of the nationally syndicated weekly show "Showtime at the Apollo."

Suzanne de Passe: Have An Attitude For Success
"Well, I think that attitude, controlling your attitude -- in other words -- always striving to put the best face forward in situations. At the end of the day I am very much a positive person and to me the glass is half full, not half empty. And I think that when you are willing to dig down and do the little things, then it prepares you to be able to handle the big things. I think your attitude is the one thing in your whole life that you can control. You are susceptible to so many things and so many outside forces, but the one thing that you have complete dominion over is your attitude," Suzanne on what values contributed to her success.

As a Motown executive in the '70's de Passe nurtured the careers of artists including Michael Jackson and Commodores' lead vocalist Lionel Richie. In addition to bringing her writing and production skills to Motown stage productions Mahogany and The Wiz she is also widely recognized for producing the eight-hour Western epic "Lonesome Dove," broadcast on CBS in 1989.

In addition to Lonesome Dove, de Passe has earned Emmy Award nominations for tv mini-series "Small Sacrifices," "The Jacksons: An American Dream," "Buffalo Girls," and "The Temptations."

(February 21,2008 interview with Suzanne de Passe, at The Essence 1st Annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon. An honoree at the event, de Passe speaks here about her success in Hollywood, working with Jurnee Smollett and Barack and Michelle Obama's importance in politics.)

In honor of Women’s History Month 24 Hour Grind Salutes Women in Entertainment. Check back tomorrow for more!