What Type Of Person Thrives In The Entertainment Industry According To A Technology Sourcing Manager At Netflix
Nicole, a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix, emphasizes the crucial role of networking in the entertainment industry, stating that "it's all about who you know," and this is evidenced by their own career journey, beginning with a chance encounter that led to internships at Disney and Deluxe before ultimately landing at Netflix. The advice given is to actively cultivate and maintain a professional network through LinkedIn, alumni connections, and consistent outreach, viewing this as key to mentorship, job opportunities, and career advancement.
Networking, Mentorship, Communication, Career Development, LinkedIn
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nicole Panzovski
Technology Sourcing Manager
Netflix
UCLA 2016
UCLA Anderson MBA
Economics
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Technology
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Networking is crucial for success in the entertainment industry. Building and maintaining strong professional relationships can open doors to new opportunities and mentorship.
2. Leverage your alumni network and LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your field of interest. Informational interviews and coffee chats can provide valuable insights and potential leads.
3. The entertainment industry is dynamic; people change jobs frequently. Consistent networking, even infrequent check-ins, helps maintain relationships and can lead to unexpected career advancements.
Transcript
Describe people who typically thrive in this industry.
To thrive in the entertainment industry, people need to be really good at networking. It's very similar to acting. It's all about who you know, who trusts you, and how they can get your name out there.
Whether you're in business or on the creative side of entertainment, it's all about your network. Who's going to vouch for you? Who's going to help you along?
My biggest recommendation for breaking into the entertainment industry is to start on LinkedIn. Begin with your LinkedIn network and reach out for coffee chats. Talk to people who are in roles or industries you're interested in. That person might be the key to your next role or your job after college.
The reason I got into the entertainment industry is a bit of a story. During my first internship, I was selling paint jobs door-to-door. I knocked on a lady's door who worked at Disney.
She opened the door, and I told her I wanted to work for Disney. I explained I was a freshman intern looking for business experience. She said to give her my name, and they'd chat.
Two years later, she helped me get my internship role at Disney in strategic sourcing. That led me to a post-production house called Deluxe, then back to Disney, and eventually to Netflix. All of that happened because I knocked on one random lady's door in Diamond Bar.
The biggest thing in the entertainment industry is the people. It's about the people you trust who are going to help you along the way.
I highly recommend LinkedIn, as well as utilizing your school's alumni network. It's also important to learn how to stay in touch with these people over time, because that's how networking works. You don't have to talk to them every day, but you should be reaching out.
I usually reach out to my network quarterly. I talk to my old bosses because things change quickly in the entertainment industry. People move jobs; someone who used to be at Disney might now be at Warner or Meta.
Your network will be helpful for mentorship, jobs, advice, and even just venting. I highly recommend networking, not just in entertainment, but in any field you're pursuing. In entertainment specifically, the most important thing is utilizing your network.