Intern Spotlights: TaBria Donkor, Jennifer Ng & Alanis Rodriguez Rivera
Disney General Entertainment is excited to spotlight some of our amazing interns. Get to know these students who put in time and hard work within our teams both in-person and virtually.
Disney Branded Television
TaBria Donkor – Culture Initiatives Intern
B.S., Journalism and Mass Communication (Mass Media Production)
North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
What have you enjoyed about your Disney internship so far?
As a Disney Professional Intern, I have enjoyed connecting with people from all branches of the business and listening to their growth stories. I desire to always be able to turn to the people that have mentored me. I love attending guest speaker events throughout the company and jump at every opportunity to learn more about different careers because I am a curious girl with huge ambitions. I was honored to be a Spring Intern Representative at one point and helped plan events and maintain a sense of community among the company’s interns.
How have your life experiences influenced how you define yourself and the impact you hope to make in the diversity and inclusion space?
Attending an HBCU as a first-generation college student has shaped me in a way that allows me to show up unapologetically; expressing my opinions from a diverse background gives me gratitude. I’m tech-savvy, a great listener, and I hope to advocate for the development and promotion of diverse talent at an executive level.
Favorite Disney character, show, movie, franchise, park, or property? Why?
My favorite Disney movie is “The Little Mermaid” because of her bright red hair and the fact that she’s a mermaid. I also love “That’s So Raven” because of her misbehaving ways and top-tier fashion choices.
Freeform
Jennifer (Jen) Ng – Marketing & Creative Intern
B.B.A., Marketing Analytics
Baruch College
What have you enjoyed about your Disney internship so far?
I’ve enjoyed experiencing the Disney culture. As an intern, I get to deep dive into the social media aspect of my job and also see what Disney is all about. I instantly fell in love with the culture of being surrounded by warm and friendly co-workers and mentors who are invested in your learning and career.
Best piece of advice that you can share with other interns?
The best advice I’ve received is, “What you put into the internship is what you take out of it.” Something that has helped me is to just experience everything possible in the internship (whether it’s a project or skill I’ve never done before to networking more and asking questions I’ve longed to ask). This has helped my growth, both personally and professionally, and is something I will take with me for the rest of my life.
How have your life experiences influenced how you define yourself and the impact you hope to make in the diversity and inclusion space?
Growing up and seeing my favorite characters on the screen (like Mulan, Toph from “Avatar” or Scarlet Witch), not only do I get to see this female empowerment that I didn’t see before in media, but these characters have also inspired me to be more confident and be my best self. That inspires me to want others to feel the same when watching their favorite characters. Being an Asian American and a person of color, I hope to make an impact on showing that POC, Asians, and women can break the glass ceiling and make a powerful change that leads to a more diverse and inclusive space in entertainment.
Favorite Disney character, show, movie, franchise, park, or property? Why?
As my all-time favorite characters are Mulan, Toph from “Avatar,” and Scarlet Witch, currently I’m really loving Mei Lee from “Turning Red.” It’s great to see more Asian representation and culture in entertainment. She is also a relatable character going through life like everyone else. It’s very inspiring to see! I look forward to seeing more representation in the future (and hopefully getting to work with them as well!).
Hulu
Alanis Rodriguez Rivera – Comedy Development Intern
M.S., Television Producing/Management
Boston University
What have you enjoyed about your Disney internship so far?
I love that I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many talented, kind, hardworking people. Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful! The fact that I get to work on the coolest projects with these people is a huge plus.
Best piece of advice that you can share with other interns?
Don’t be afraid to reach out to people within the company, especially your fellow interns. You’ve probably been told a million times that networking is essential, but it goes beyond that. Getting to know people from different backgrounds will enrich your life in many ways.
How have your life experiences influenced how you define yourself and the impact you hope to make in the diversity and inclusion space?
I grew up in Puerto Rico, which led me to develop a sense of community that defines me to this day. I think community and representation go hand in hand, so I seek to foster both wherever I go. I want people to feel connected to the characters they see on screen and, in turn, feel connected to other viewers.
Favorite Disney character, show, movie, franchise, park, or property? Why?
“Treasure Planet.” It’s a true masterpiece – original, visually stunning, funny, and touching.
Do you envision a future as a Disney Intern? If you do, head to DisneyInterns.com to learn more and explore roles available for Spring 2023.
by Disney Career Recruitment