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Reimagine Tomorrow

I want the world to see more

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Linda Bagley

Demarcus Johnson

Jennifer Lee

Doug Clark

Stan Verrett

Vicki Ariyasu

Carlos López Estrada

Leslie Gordon

Kayla Cromer

Jaina Lee Ortiz

Voices

Reflections Film Compressed for Web

Reflections Film

Community

Our Intentions

On September 1st, 2021, The Walt Disney Company launched its large-scale platform for amplifying underrepresented voices and untold stories, ReimagineTomorrow.Disney.com. The site features news and highlights, workforce diversity data, and inclusive storytelling across the company.
 
From spotlighting unique personal stories to introducing creative musical explorations of classic Disney songs, the Reimagine Tomorrow site invites everyone to see themselves and their perspectives represented in meaningful ways.
 
To mark the one-year anniversary of the site, we’re adding more original content to celebrate the diversity of Disney. Something we’re especially excited about it is the introduction of five musical artists as part of our Recital of Remixes page. This original music series presents up-and-coming, independent artists reimagining beloved Disney songs. Fans can look forward to discovering these new artists from various backgrounds and genres as they put their own unique spin on the classic “Go the Distance” from Disney’s “Hercules,”(1997) now available to stream on Disney+. The new artists, to be announced during D23 Expo, will take part in special live performances at this year’s D23 Expo. Stay tuned for their reimagined songs to be released via Walt Disney Records everywhere songs are streamed on September 9.
 
Nearly 100 years ago, Walt Disney set his company on a path that would revolutionize the entertainment industry, and the ReimagineTomorrow.Disney.com website is just one of the many ways we are sharing stories that reflect our ever-changing world.

Celebrating a Milestone – ReimagineTomorrow.Disney.com

Voces Unidas celebrates the vibrancy of Hispanic and Latinx cultures, and honors the unity of the voices, communities, heritage, and traditions woven throughout Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries.​
 
From September 15 through October 15, during the anniversaries of the independence of many Latin American countries, The Walt Disney Company uplifts stories of Hispanic and Latinx cultures around the world.
 
Through transformative storytelling and a focused approach, Disney is uniquely positioned to honor the diversity of Hispanic and Latinx communities by amplifying the voices of leaders, employees, talent, and creators.​
 
In celebration of Voces Unidas, we will continue to support culture and unity by building programming to retain, develop, and advance equity for all Hispanic and Latinx talent and their allies across Disney.
 
“There are so many incredible events, both in person and virtually, taking place throughout the celebration across our destinations that it’s hard to narrow it down to just one,” shares Javier Moreno, Senior Vice President of Disney Destinations Sales Solutions.
 
“I am excited to vocalize and share the rich and diverse stories within our own Latinx community. The cultural diversity within our identity is important to educate for our allies and familia,” says Claudia Durón Burke, Career and Education Program Manager at The Walt Disney Company, and one of the leaders of the Voces Unidas celebration within Disney’s Business Employee Resource Groups (BERGs).​
 
Disney encourages and fosters creativity, growth, equity, inclusivity, and diversity across the businesses, bringing awareness to and highlighting the multifaceted experiences, diverse backgrounds, and impactful contributions of Hispanic and Latinx people.
 
“I am looking forward to bringing all the events and content to life, and seeing the reaction of many around The Walt Disney Company! I am looking forward to watching our heritage month planning team succeed and be filled with joy when they see their ideas come to life,” adds Janneth Fuerte, Analytics &amp; Insights Analyst at The Walt Disney Company, and another leader of the Voces Unidas celebration within the BERGs.
 
There are numerous ways our audiences can celebrate Voces Unidas with Disney throughout the next month and beyond. Here are just a few highlights:
 
• Dedicated content hubs on our streaming services across the Disney Bundle – Disney+'s <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com%2Feditorial%2Fhispanic-and-latin-american-stories&amp;data=05%7C01%7CRachel.Stand%40disney.com%7Cf3a082f113ba4da2fcc808da8b854108%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C637975701687395526%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2BW74Oa6Yuc3vADrFrUO9YFOk98MBUZDRD9Lm1mmIWQk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hispanic &amp; Latin American Stories</a>, Hulu's <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Fhub%2Flatino&amp;data=05%7C01%7CRachel.Stand%40disney.com%7Cf3a082f113ba4da2fcc808da8b854108%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C637975701687395526%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=B4UFqgXWest%2BsYNLw4G7C%2Bx%2FuQjIsWL0D2%2FJR%2Bjtd8E%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hispanic &amp; Latinx Stories</a>, and <a href="https://www.espn.com/espnplus/catalog/7adb70d5-82f8-4790-bf7e-176cc59e1935/hispanic-collection-for-espn+#bucketId=31021&amp;partitionDtc=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESPN+Más</a>
 
• Inspirational specials and themed programming on our networks, such as our ABC Owned Television Stations' “Our America: (IN)visible,” National Geographic Channel's “Latin America from Above: From Baja to Patagonia,” and new episodes of “Ultra Violet &amp; Black Scorpion” on Disney Channel
 
• <a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/09/foodie-guide-to-hispanic-and-latin-american-heritage-month-eats-and-sips-at-disney/">Tasty treats</a> highlighting the flavors of the Hispanic and Latin American cultures at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort
 
<a href="https://disney.guildeducation.com/partner?utm_source=employer&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=ca_announcement_disney_07.20.2022&amp;utm_term=press-">Disney Aspire</a>, our education investment and career development program, offers eligible hourly employees and cast members 100% tuition up front at a variety of in-network learning partners. Amongst those partners are several Hispanic Serving Institutions. HSI's are accredited degree-granting public or private, not-for-profit institutions of higher education with 25% or more total undergraduate full-time/equivalent Hispanic student enrollment. California State University, Fullerton, University of Arizona, Valencia College, Fullerton College, and the University of Central Florida are our in-network HSI's, helping to serve our employees and cast members put their #DreamsWithinReach.
 
At Disney, inclusion is for everyone. <a href="https://reimaginetomorrow.disney.com/">Reimagine Tomorrow</a> is our way of celebrating, highlighting and amplifying underrepresented and untold stories as well as championing the importance of accurate representation in media and entertainment. We are all greater than a single story and we all deserve to feel seen, heard and understood, not only during heritage months but year-round.
 
“Reimagine tomorrow is an opportunity for all of us to make a change, to write a new story where we all belong. It requires determination, courage, being selfless, and having accountability for our acts. As leaders, we do have a significant responsibility on paving the way throughout this journey,” shares Gisela Mendoza, Vice President of Linear Ad Operations.
 
“A reimagined tomorrow looks like a place where we can all continue to make a difference in the world. Where we can all feel seen, heard, understood, and where we can all continue to work together to bring joy and happiness to our families at home and around the globe,” shared Janneth.
 
Keep an eye on your favorite Disney brands throughout the month for more surprises, and check out <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ReimagineTomorrow/">@ReimagineTomorrow</a> on <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FReimagineTomorrow-108752528089585&amp;data=04%7C01%7CShelby.D.Curry%40disney.com%7C0f141904a8204ec4079408d994abea29%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C637704288345560833%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=S0O46Wv0SbjULVYGnoQ0UGbZS3OJMYh3x0IFmYz5%2BZE%3D&amp;reserved=0">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/ReimagineTomorrow">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Freimaginetmrw&amp;data=04%7C01%7CShelby.D.Curry%40disney.com%7C0f141904a8204ec4079408d994abea29%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C637704288345570786%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=ITXdBkceklvJrde2qW1sqTHYVU4LGaE5QBTdr4T%2FzHY%3D&amp;reserved=0">Twitter</a> to follow along in the celebration and share ways you plan to celebrate the month.

Celebrate Voces Unidas with The Walt Disney Company

DEI HHM Voces Unidad2022 Animated 1920x1080

The Walt Disney Company and Reimagine Tomorrow have partnered with up-and-coming artists to once again go the distance! Reimagine Tomorrow's "Recital of Remixes" features new performers from various backgrounds and genres, giving their renditions of classic Disney music. This year, five artists rose to the titan-sized task with five unique takes on "Go the Distance" from Disney's Hercules (1997).
 
Keep reading to discover our featured artists, click "Learn More" to listen to the newly released EP, and check back in on the "Recital of Remixes" page for more content coming soon! 
 
Hercules is available now to stream on Disney+.
 
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
 
Gabby Samone
@<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2F_gabbysamone%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CNicholas.Peters%40disney.com%7C59fab823a57743482f8408da91138988%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C637981810342068930%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=NecVq0F9bv%2F6sIeb6TyBccVWYkM8sla3elQExjDB41w%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://www.instagram.com/_gabbysamone/. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noreferrer noopener">_gabbysamone</a>
Gabby Samone is a 20-year-old female pop/R&amp;B artist. A viral superstar on social media, she’s also caught the attention on social media of giants in entertainment such as Jennifer Aniston, and applauded by music superstars, J.Cole, Jhene Aiko, Jennifer Hudson, Missy Elliot, Brandy, and classic R&amp;B groups SWV and XSCAPE. They have commented, liked or shared some of her video stories and reels on social media. As an emerging artist, she has already opened for R&amp;B legends Keke Wyatt and Kelly Price and landed a role in her first major production, “Dream Girls.” Gabby Samone’s debut single is scheduled to be released in the fall 2022.
 
OTNES
@<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Femilybluelovesyou%2F%3Fhl%3Den&amp;data=05%7C01%7CNicholas.Peters%40disney.com%7C59fab823a57743482f8408da91138988%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C637981810342068930%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=mZneYikX5G%2BLMFpEm%2B1cO0Ty%2FUDAPQWwIRnYdKn4YZ8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://www.instagram.com/emilybluelovesyou/?hl=en. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noreferrer noopener">emilybluelovesyou</a>
OTNES is a genre-fluid, gender-fluid pop artist living in Nashville, Tenn. Formerly Emily Blue, OTNES spent their young adult life cultivating their unique pop sound. They were previously named Chicago Reader newspaper’s "Best Pop Artist in Chicago,” and her songs have been featured on Hulu's "Love Island" and "Maggie." OTNES achieves irresistible catchiness through hooky vocals and gritty synths. OTNES’ recent transformation finds them more confident than ever, with dynamic and bold pop tracks in line with Caroline Polachek, St. Vincent, Imogen Heap. Expect a debut single in fall 2022.
 
Danni Cassette
@<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdannicassette%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CNicholas.Peters%40disney.com%7C59fab823a57743482f8408da91138988%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C637981810342068930%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=hvp449vP54wliTAH78pZ9EwArEk%2Bz1L8WdwW1%2BTwVp8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://www.instagram.com/dannicassette/. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noreferrer noopener">dannicassette</a>
Danni Cassette is a performance artist and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Born into a musical family deeply rooted church, Danni cultivated their own sound and expression very early. Having toured over 40 cities across the U.S., audiences agree that Danni’s stage presence is electrifying. Danni has also performed alongside artists like Cakes da Killa, BOSCO, Big Freedia, Durand Bernarr, and B. Slade.
Danni has completed their first exhibit with LACE Gallery titled “When Sunday Comes,” exploring Danni’s many obstacles celebrating the beauty of their artistry.
 
Brittney Mendoza
@<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fbrittneymendoza&amp;data=05%7C01%7CNicholas.Peters%40disney.com%7C59fab823a57743482f8408da91138988%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C637981810342068930%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=DS6FcQtEGvJtRKlmGPqeYMV6STqMP049YgCTeB%2BoAOI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL: http://instagram.com/brittneymendoza. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noreferrer noopener">brittneymendoza</a><a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fbrittneymendoza&amp;data=05%7C01%7CNicholas.Peters%40disney.com%7C59fab823a57743482f8408da91138988%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C637981810342068930%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=DS6FcQtEGvJtRKlmGPqeYMV6STqMP049YgCTeB%2BoAOI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL: http://instagram.com/brittneymendoza. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
Brittney Mendoza is a Chamorro/Filipino singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. She has released two singles since the winter of 2021 and plans to release an EP in the spring of 2023. Her alternative pop/R&amp;B sound is influenced by lush landscapes, ethereal tones, and tight grooves, while her lyrics explore the complexities of love, anxiety, and honest self-reflection.
 
Alan Eugene Price
@<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Falanprice123%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dcopy_link&amp;data=05%7C01%7CNicholas.Peters%40disney.com%7C59fab823a57743482f8408da91138988%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C637981810342068930%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=CfdtDZGShYKWg2ybW4dJt8HUl3LRtSnfL%2FRDhsmL31I%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://www.instagram.com/alanprice123/?utm_medium=copy_link. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noreferrer noopener">alanprice123</a>
Alan is a contemporary violinist educated in music at Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Berklee College of Music in Boston and Valencia, Spain is versed in classical, hip hop, river dance and jazz, He has performed at the White House for former First Lady Michelle Obama, led Patti Labelle’s orchestra as concert master at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and performed the Bolivian National Anthem in Bolivia. Alan brings his background in violin and music production to create a unique style whether performing solo or with a group.

New Recital of Remixes Coming Soon

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Bardo

Bardo Music Clip

DEI RoR Bardo CL 1940x436 zxx

Stories Matter

Meet Ariel Hernandez, a Specialist on the Disney Outreach and Engagement team. His work sits at the intersection of talent acquisition, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and corporate social responsibility.
 
His team’s mission is to continually ensure The Walt Disney Company is an active, attainable, and inclusive employer of choice across all functional areas and historically underrepresented demographics while elevating our employer brand, attracting, engaging, and retaining top, diverse talent, and giving back to the communities we serve.
 
Ariel has been with Disney just over six years. He began his Disney journey at ESPN, where he spent five years. After a brief stint outside of the company, Ariel joined the Outreach and Engagement team one year ago!
 
What are you most looking forward to during Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month?
 
I am looking forward to all of the great events that are happening during Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month! I am currently a member of the HLHM Tentpole Event committee, helping with logistics for all <a href="https://belong.disney.com/events/?event_type=Hispanic-/-Latinx&amp;location=">major events</a> for the month. I can’t wait to see all the hard work of our team and the BERGS come into fruition.
 
I’m always looking to connect with other folks in the Hispanic/Latinx community at Disney! Whether it’s a Zoom call, brunch, or anything in between, feel free to reach out!
 
What you find most rewarding about your experience as a BERG member?
 
I am a Strategy Lead for the Voces @ Disney BERG. What I find most rewarding is being able to connect folks from the Hispanic/Latinx community across all segments of the company through our programming.
 
There are many employees that do not know these BERG communities exist, so when they attend a Voces event and find out that there’s other folks that share their culture and values at work, it continues to show why there is a need for these groups and communities to exist.
 
What does a reimagined tomorrow look like for you?
 
A reimagined tomorrow is a time where leadership is willing to listen to the underrepresented communities that work for them and create meaningful action when problems arise. While words can mean a great deal, to me, actions mean even more.
 
If leaders are willing to listen and follow with direct action, this can lead to better employee retention and satisfaction. When leaders are able to step up and actually represent their employees, then we will see greater results.
 
What makes Disney an exceptional place for storytelling?
 
No other company sets the standards for creativity like Disney. From our parks to our content, and so much more, Disney creates innovative stories that come to life with our employees’ creativity.
 
In my line of work, this shows through our employees. The Outreach &amp; Engagement team makes it our goal to shine a light on our colleagues across the company to highlight the great work across all business units.

Employee Spotlight: Ariel Hernandez

Today, Marvel Studios shared a new trailer and poster for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the action-packed feature film that ventures back to the kingdom of Wakanda, where a new threat emerges from a hidden undersea nation called Talokan.
 
In the film, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta as Namor, king of Talokan, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, and Alex Livinalli.
 
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, opens in theaters November 11, 2022. Fans counting the days to its release can purchase tickets wherever tickets are sold. Now fans, communities and organizations can arrange group bookings and theater buy-outs by visiting <a href="https://wakandaforevertickets.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WakandaForeverTickets.com</a>.

Marvel Studios Debuts "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" Trailer

Filmed before a studio audience, "Just Roll With It" blends improvisational comedy with a scripted family sitcom that allows the studio audience the opportunity to select the direction of key scenes. This unique series follows the newly blended Bennett-Blatt family—preteen stepsiblings Blair and Owen and their fun-loving parents Rachel and Byron—as they navigate everyday family life and the ups and downs of adolescence while balancing a household of contrasting personalities. Through it all, the Bennett-Blatts, and the actors who play them, take whatever life—and the studio audience—throws at them … and they "Just Roll With It." In this episode of "Just Roll With It," Owen befriends a new kid at school named Kyle. When he discovers that Kyle and his mom are homeless, Owen makes it his mission to help him.

Other Homeless Just Roll With It207 Full

Just Roll With It ‖ "Owen's Bromance"

Erika Sosa w New L3 End Card

Erika Sosa

We’re back with Reimagine Tomorrow’s newest spotlight series showcasing members of the <a href="https://belong.disney.com/ceo-diversity-inclusion-council/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEO Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council</a>. Through this series, learn about the global group of senior leaders across the Company who are working to accelerate our progress in service of the Company’s DEI efforts, drive results and advocate for solutions that support our strategic pillars. The Council’s goal is to challenge the status quo and build a truly representative and inclusive culture.
 
How do you describe your role at The Walt Disney Company?
 
I’m the Executive Vice President of Network Production Management and Operations at Disney Branded Television. Put simply, my team is responsible for providing an infrastructure around projects so that the creative teams can execute their visions.
 
Creating show content is a team effort. Our role is to bring the appropriate people together and provide all the necessary resources to support a project. Every show is a balance of cost, time and creative goals. Partnership and creative problem solving are vital skills.
 
What makes Disney an exceptional place for storytelling?
 
Disney is an incredibly iconic and impactful brand because we tell stories that touch people. Although there’s always room to grow, I’m really proud of the way Disney’s commitment to DEI has been reflected in our content and experiences.
 
I identify with a new show called American Born Chinese, which originated as a graphic novel that my son has read. After I watched the first episode, I told the creative team that I was deeply moved on many levels.
 
The show focuses on the struggle for first-generation Chinese Americans to fit in with their peers. It also portrays a similar journey that my parents had as professional immigrants and the difficulties they faced navigating their own career ladders. I find the show to be a compelling portrayal of what it’s like to be labeled as different and “other,” while also illustrating my culture in a sincere, thoughtful, cool, modern and enchanting way.
 
Why is innovation so important when it comes to Disney’s stories?
 
It is amazing how well our Disney properties hold up, even after several decades. I think the marriage of innovative ideas and tools, along with heart define every great Disney story.
 
I mentioned American Born Chinese. It is a series that elevates traditional Chinese martial arts and mysticism in a contemporary, compelling way to engage the audience in this story of family, culture and identity. Other Disney Branded Television series will utilize virtual set technology to bring us to new and different worlds.
 
How does your team put the audience first when it comes to your work?
 
We work in the Kids and Family business, but many of us may not have interactions with kids—especially while we’re working from home. My own son is 22, I don’t really have the same daily touchstone to children’s content.
 
So, I try to engage my team in fun activities where we can tap into our inner child. We host screenings, share learnings and research about our audience, tell stories about our childhood, take drawing classes and play games. During Covid, my team did a staff table read where they all took on a role in the pilot. We hosted the table read on Zoom for senior leaders, who gave notes that would be typical with the creative team. It was like being back in film school with the team effort to produce a project.
 
You could work for any company in the world… so why Disney?
 
I just celebrated my 25th anniversary at Disney, and I’ve spent all of those wonderful years working in children’s and family content, which has been extremely rewarding for me.
 
Our sector is constantly growing so I’m always getting new content responsibilities, but one of the biggest reasons I’ve continued my career at Disney is because I can make an impact in the workplace for our employees.
 
Prior to the pandemic, I managed a yoga program to help boost wellness for our employees; I was part of the Global Workforce Women’s Initiative where we introduced programs to support women across the enterprise; and I created a women’s group called The Women’s Connection, whose purpose is to connect and support women across DBT/TVA and Freeform. I also ran a book club and served on the board of Girls Inc, Los Angeles representing Disney.
 
The work of the CEO DEI Council has been most rewarding as we look at DEI opportunities across the company.
 
What does a reimagined tomorrow look like for you?
 
I would like to see more people with disabilities included and recognized in our workforce. I would like to see more underrepresented identities in our leadership. I’m hopeful that the next generation will be more accepting, that the world will be more equitable, and that people find common ground. To quote our anthem from High School Musical, “we’re all in this together!”

CEO DEI Council Spotlight: Susette Hsiung

Bubba Wallace carries the legacy of NASCAR’s first Black pioneer

SC FEATURED BUBBA WALLACE UPDATE DIGITAL

SC Featured: Bubba

Disney Tinker Lab was developed and implemented in partnership with Chicos.net — an nongovernmental organization specialized in the field of digital media and children’s rights since 1998 — exclusively within Latin America. This unique offering introduces innovative ways of learning through experimentation and story creation with digital media in schools. These programs focus on the abilities and skills that are nowadays considered vital for the full development of boys and girls and lay the foundation for “learning to learn” for a lifetime. Modules merge the STEAM education with doing, playing, and storytelling, to encourage digital literacy, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication in children. 
(Website in link below is in Spanish.)

Tinker Lab

Disney on Broadway cast members from Aladdin, and The Lion King celebrate diversity and inclusion within their shows and theatrical community with this special performance of “This Is Me.” Conceived, directed, and edited by Aladdin cast member Angelo Soriano, the video features Cameron Amandus, Jacob Gutierrez, Pearl Khwezi, Mduduzi Madela, Heather Makalani, Shoba Narayan Brad Weinstock and Sidney Nicole Wilson.

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Disney on Broadway | "This Is Me"

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Accurate, diverse representation matters. Reimagine Tomorrow reflects The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to supporting diversity in media and entertainment.

Celebrating a Milestone

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