College Experiences That Helped a Disney Production Finance Manager Succeed
Chris's undergraduate experience, characterized by "playing a lot" and involvement in Greek life and other organizations, unexpectedly provided valuable training in conflict resolution and collaboration, skills directly applicable to their career at Disney. The advice offered to students focuses on actively researching the chosen industry, beyond surface-level understanding, by reading industry trades like *Variety* or *Deadline* to gain a deeper understanding of the business side, not just celebrity culture.
Communication, Teamwork, Problem-Solving, Collaboration, Industry Research
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Chris Kang
Senior Manager, Production Finance
The Walt Disney Company
University of Arizona, 2013
N/A
Accounting
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Finance
Former Foster Youth, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Develop strong collaboration skills by participating in extracurricular activities and organizations. This helps prepare you for resolving conflicts and working effectively with diverse personalities in a professional setting.
2. Conduct thorough research on your chosen industry. Read industry-specific publications like Variety or Deadline to gain a deeper understanding of the business side, beyond just the glamorous aspects.
3. Don't underestimate the value of diverse experiences. While academic success is important, social interactions and extracurricular involvement contribute significantly to professional development by shaping your ability to navigate workplace dynamics.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
That's a good question. I played a lot in my undergrad years, but honestly, I think this goes back to being open. It's not like I was a bookworm or always in the library studying, or proactively finding jobs.
But I think, going back to what I said earlier, I did play a lot with my friends in undergrad, hanging out and going out. I think these types of experiences really, people don't always understand the social aspect of things, being able to interact with different personalities.
I was involved in Greek life and other organizations at school. Every organization has its own set of challenges in a different manner, and you'll have the same types of conflicts that you'll have to resolve together. Having that experience really helped me be prepared for a real job when dealing with these conflicts.
You can recall feeling a similar struggle before, in a different way, in the past. How did I resolve that? What was my attitude towards it? Issues come up, and the most important thing is how you respond. You may have responded immaturely when you were younger, and when you're older, you realize that didn't work out.
So, I think just focusing on collaborating was important. I would also say to do your research on the industry. That's one thing I regret is that I didn't read too much into the film industry. I just had a facade of what the industry might be like, but I didn't really read into it or watch things. I just saw the finished product and interviews and thought it seemed fun to be in their shoes.
I would definitely say to read into the industry. Read the trades, like Variety or Deadline. There are always articles coming out that aren't just about what a celebrity did today or what they ate. They have business articles about things other than just celebrities.
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