Anam

Describe something that you learned from your mentor!

My mentor and my team have been nothing short of amazing. One aspect of working in the diversity and inclusion space is navigating every meeting, discussion, question and approach with empathy. Although human connection comes naturally, it is important to actively grow compassion through observation and attention to detail. There have been many instances where my team has caught the smallest detail and used their voice to address and alter the detail to become more inclusive. This is a skill that I am hoping to continue to grow with practice, and I am always in awe to be in the same (virtual) room with them to work together!

What are 3 words you would use to describe your internship/trainee experience?

Impactful, Meaningful, Creative

Looking back to when you were applying, and knowing what you know now, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself that it is okay to take chances. I come from a first-generation and low-income background, so working for Disney was never something I could have imagined even in my biggest dreams. But taking the chance to believe in myself has helped me grow in so many ways, including confidence and in relation to my passion for increasing DEI.

What will you take away from your experience and how will you apply it?

After every meeting with my team, I would write down the most important questions that were asked in relation to examining an article/website/image in terms of DEI. What questions were they asking? How do they approach looking at the content? What are the most important factors to look at?

I am very eager to go back to this list, and grow my own approach to working in DEI. DEI is an ongoing effort, and there is no one approach that works best. I want to continue learning and growing as much as I can so that one day I can help people feel represented and valued, and I really gained very important tools in order to do so in my internship.

What are you most proud of from your internship/trainee program?

The connections I have built with me team. I value collaboration and communication, and my team has always been there to support my goals. I am thankful for all I have learned, and I am just very proud to have contributed in my small ways to helping everyone.

What's the most surprising part of working at Disney Animation?

How quickly time flies by everyday! I am always surprised how the day always manages to slip away, but that's what happens when you're having fun!

What Disney character do you connect with most?

Tiana is my role model. I adore her dedication to her craft, family, and friends. She is so compassionate, but also uses her courage to guide her towards her goals.