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.
Industry Realities, Workplace Challenges, Executive/Leadership, Work-Life Balance, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Heather Anderson
Vice President, Original Content and Business Affairs
ESPN and The Walt Disney Company
UC Berkeley
UCLA School of Law - JD
Ethnic & Related Studies, Political Science, American Studies
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Law
Business Strategy
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. The reality of the entertainment industry is different from the glamorous perception. It involves long hours, extensive reading and writing, and many meetings; the exciting moments are interspersed with a lot of hard work.
2. Prioritizing what truly matters evolves over time. What might seem appealing in one's twenties (e.g., socializing with celebrities) may become less important as personal priorities (like family) shift.
3. Setting realistic expectations early on is crucial. Understanding the day-to-day work involved can help manage expectations and avoid disappointment when the reality differs from the idealized image of the industry.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
Someone told me early on in the entertainment law industry that it's really just hard contracts with important or popular people's names on them. When you're a student aspiring to enter the field, you might think you'll be hobnobbing with famous folks.
However, the reality is that you'll likely be dealing with their representatives, who are a bit removed. By the time I reached a position in the industry where that kind of interaction was possible, it wasn't as important to me anymore.
What I aspired to do in my twenties, like being at parties with entertainers, changed by the time I was 30. I wanted to go home, I was married, I had a family, and that wasn't the priority. I wanted to be home doing fun things with my family.
Having an understanding of what that looks like in reality helped me reset my expectations early on. It's like those memes that show what your mom, friends, and society think you do at work, versus what work actually looks like.
The reality of the job involves long hours, a lot of reading, writing, and talking. It's very much in between. You may get those party opportunities where you're in the room with someone, and I have had amazing opportunities and experiences that I am so grateful for.
But the day-to-day involves long days and a lot of work. That's not what gets posted on social media; only the fun things do. It's important to be cognizant of the balance of all of that.
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