In 2017, Michaela Coel (now 33) pitched her show “I May Destroy You” to Netflix.  The show—which Coel wrote, directs, and stars in—documents a young Black woman’s attempt to rebuild her life, career, and relationships after a sexual assault.  Netflix offered her $1 million to make the show but would not allow Coel to retain any percentage of the copyright.  Coel rejected the offer.  “Something made me question the nature of the deal.  It wasn’t just a check. I needed to know what was behind the check and exactly how things were operating . . . I began to enjoy realizing that they thought I was just going to take it, then being like ‘Surprise bitches, I’m not taking it.” – Coel. 

In the fall of 2017, Coel pitched the show to BBC.  BBC picked it up and gave Coel everything she asked for: a seat at the table on production, full creative control, and the rights to the work.

On Sunday, Coel became the first Black woman to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for “I May Destroy You.”  In her acceptance speech, Coel said: “Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that is uncomfortable. I dare you.” 

Know your worth, and—no matter how scary that may be—never accept less.  The rewards are priceless.