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Heather, Vice President, Original Content and Business Affairs at ESPN and The Walt Disney Company: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from juggling part-time jobs and securing internships with a securities lawyer and Sony Music to a Vice President role at ESPN and Disney, this professional's path showcases proactive networking and leveraging legal expertise in the entertainment industry.
The role involves negotiating content creation terms, collaborating across creative, production, and legal teams, and prioritizing a "fan first" approach.
Success requires strong communication, navigating consensus-building challenges, and fostering a collaborative team environment.
The most rewarding aspect is facilitating collaborations and creating engaging content, while the biggest challenge involves consensus-building.
Entry-level positions include production assistant programs, internships, or even unconventional bartering relationships.
A key lesson learned is respecting all colleagues, regardless of title, and the importance of a balanced college experience, combining academics with robust networking.
The advice for social science majors is to find a passion, build collaboration skills, and understand the job requires hard work and long hours, defying the often-glamorized social media portrayal.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Heather Anderson
Vice President, Original Content and Business Affairs
ESPN and The Walt Disney Company
UC Berkeley
UCLA School of Law - JD
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ethnic & Related Studies, Political Science, American Studies
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Business Strategy
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
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Career Path of a Vice President Original Content and Business Affairs at ESPN and Disney
Heather's career path started with juggling two part-time jobs in college while pursuing a political science degree, gaining early corporate experience "in those business settings," and securing a weekly internship with a securities lawyer. Following UCLA Law School, proactive networking, exemplified by writing letters to women featured in *Ebony* magazine, led to a coveted internship at Sony Music, ultimately resulting in a post-graduation offer from a prominent law firm, setting the stage for Heather's current VP role at ESPN and Disney.
Main Responsibilities of a Vice President Business Affairs at ESPN
Heather's role as head of business affairs at ESPN and Disney involves negotiating the business terms of content creation, acting as a liaison between creative teams, production teams, development teams, and the legal team. This includes discussions around "what is it going to cost," "the deliverables," "promotion," and "derivative rights," before handing off fully developed terms to legal for contract drafting.
A Day In The Life Of A Vice President Original Content And Business Affairs At ESPN And Disney
Heather's role as Vice President of Original Content and Business Affairs at ESPN and Disney involves diverse responsibilities, including "deal negotiation" and "business operations" for original content, encompassing everything from production efficiency to audience engagement. The overarching goal, reflected in the company's "fan first" mission, is to constantly create "exciting and engaging" original content that expands their reach and strengthens connection with viewers.
Most Important Skills For A Vice President Original Content And Business Affairs At ESPN And Disney
Heather, a Vice President at ESPN and The Walt Disney Company, emphasizes that strong communication skills are paramount, stating "communication is key," for navigating internal consensus-building and external negotiations, requiring compromise to deliver "the best product to the fan." This involves understanding diverse team needs and expectations to ultimately create a unified approach.
Favorite Parts of Being a Vice President Original Content at ESPN and Disney
Heather, a Vice President at ESPN and Disney, thrives on collaboration, considering "connecting" people their superpower; the joy derived from facilitating collaborations between brilliant individuals with diverse expertise, resulting in "amazing content," fuels their passion and makes each day engaging.
Biggest Challenges Faced By a Vice President Original Content and Business Affairs at ESPN and Disney
Heather's biggest challenge as Vice President of Original Content and Business Affairs at ESPN and Disney is "consensus building," specifically the "debate" phase of the company's "discuss, debate, decide, and align" directive. While this process sharpens skills in persuasion and ultimately yields exciting results, navigating differing viewpoints and timelines within this framework presents ongoing difficulties.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Entertainment Industry as a Vice President Original Content and Business Affairs
Heather, a Vice President at ESPN and Disney, finds immense fulfillment in supporting "creative people" and strategically building a business model that reinvests in the creative community, enabling the creation of "really incredible entertainment." This work allows Heather to contribute to providing respite for those in demanding professions, offering viewers a chance to "relax and refresh" through engaging content.
What type of person thrives in the media industry, according to a Vice President at ESPN and Disney
In the entertainment industry, success hinges on being "open-minded, curious, and collaborative," actively fostering team growth with a "rising tides, lift all boats" mentality, ensuring everyone has opportunities to develop professionally. This approach, as exemplified by the Vice President's insights, highlights the importance of a supportive and inclusive team dynamic for individual and collective success.
What A Vice President Business Affairs At Disney Wishes They Had Known Before Entering Entertainment Law
Early in Heather's entertainment law career, someone advised that the job is "really just really hard contracts," not constant hobnobbing with celebrities, a reality check that helped Heather reset expectations. The day-to-day work involves "long hours, a lot of reading, a lot of writing, it's a lot of talking," a contrast to the glamorous image often portrayed on social media.
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Sports Professionals at ESPN Disney
Heather, a Vice President at ESPN and Disney, suggests entry-level aspirants explore "production assistant programs" or "summer internships," highlighting Disney's broader college program as another avenue. Alternatively, she proposes a less conventional path: partnering with an emerging talent in "a bartering system," building a strong, trusting relationship that could lead to faster career growth, though this approach carries more risk.
Significant Career Lesson From a Vice President at ESPN and Disney
Heather, a 27-year veteran of the industry, emphasizes the importance of respecting everyone regardless of "titles or seniority," treating all colleagues with equal respect throughout their career journey. This consistent approach, Heather believes, is crucial for navigating the industry and fostering positive professional relationships.
College Experiences That Helped A Vice President Original Content And Business Affairs At ESPN And Disney Succeed
Heather, a Vice President at ESPN and Disney, prioritized strong academics and actively engaged with professors and peers, emphasizing "the social elements of relationship building" as crucial alongside high grades. Despite working full-time, Heather reflects that a more balanced approach, allowing deeper immersion in the college experience and its unique opportunities, would have been invaluable, advising students to "stop and smell the roses" and fully utilize this formative period.
How Identity Has Influenced A Vice President Content And Business Affairs At ESPN And Disney's Career
Heather, a Vice President at ESPN and Disney, advises social science students lacking detail-orientation to "pick a topic...that really moves you" and become deeply knowledgeable in that area, leveraging collaboration to compensate for weaknesses; this approach mirrors her own career, where she focuses on business affairs while partnering with others for creative aspects.
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