Your Disney Japan Career Playbook: Unlocking Growth from Within
At The Walt Disney Company Japan, career growth isn’t confined to a single role or department. Instead, it’s about exploring new opportunities, building skills and taking ownership of your career journey — supported every step of the way by leadership, mentorship and programs designed to make career growth at Disney tangible.
Tamie Nakayama, Vice President of People & Culture for Japan, has a front-row perspective on how Disney empowers employees to shape their own careers. From Hot Opportunity Projects (HOP) to Career Day, Tamie oversees initiatives that encourage employees to step into new roles, expand their networks and grow across different teams and functions.
Whether you’re considering a new function, eyeing a cross-business project or simply looking to develop your skills, Disney provides both the tools and inspiration to help employees chart their own path.
“Disney actively fosters a culture of internal mobility by empowering employees to take ownership of their career growth, providing access to comprehensive learning resources, and ensuring transparent communication around emerging opportunities,” said Tamie. “We encourage employees to take on assignments across functions and borders, providing opportunities to gain diverse experiences and expand their skillsets.”
With that support in place, employees are encouraged to take the first step in shaping their career journey, starting with exploring what’s beyond their current role.
Step 1: Explore New Opportunities
Growth often starts with curiosity and a willingness to try something new. At Disney, employees don’t have to figure it all out on their own. Short-term assignments and cross-functional projects give employees the chance to explore different areas of the business, build new skills and see how their work connects across teams. Along the way, they gain broader perspective, strengthen their networks and grow in ways that go beyond their current role.
Step 2: Seek Guidance and Build Connections
Mentorship and leadership play a pivotal role in helping employees feel confident to take the next step.
“Mentorship and leadership are critical enablers of career growth at Disney,” said Tamie. “Our leaders serve as strategic coaches, guiding employees to identify their strengths and areas for development. Through both formal and informal mentorship programs, we create supportive environments where employees can ask questions, build networks and gain confidence to pursue new opportunities.”
This focus on guidance and connection ensures that career development is a shared journey, rooted in support and collaboration.
Step 3: Discover Your Motivation
Disney Japan brings together multiple lines of business, creating an environment where employees can explore how their work connects to something larger.
“Employees are motivated by Disney’s strong brand equity, diverse portfolio, and the opportunity to contribute to experiences that resonate globally,” said Tamie. “Our diverse businesses—from films, streaming, and consumer products to gaming—create unique opportunities for innovation and impact. The synergies we create across lines of business provide unique customer touchpoints that bring Disney into everyday life. With this dynamic work environment, robust learning opportunities, and global connectivity, Disney Japan stands as a premier platform for sustained career growth. Our strong market presence and commitment to delivering meaningful experiences inspire employees to continuously thrive within a dynamic, globally integrated, innovation-driven organization.”
Step 4: Cultivate the Mindsets to Thrive
As Disney evolves, certain skills and mindsets become essential.
“In today’s rapidly evolving business and technology landscape, success at Disney requires adaptability, curiosity, and collaboration,” said Tamie. “As we pivot toward a Direct-to-Consumer model, employees who embrace change, commit to continuous learning, and collaborate effectively across teams consistently excel. A growth mindset — the ability to turn challenges into opportunities — has become especially vital in our fast-paced environment.”
In practice, this means growth is less about keeping up with change and more about how employees respond to it, staying open, learning as they go and finding new ways to contribute as the organization moves forward.
Step 5: Take Action and Engage with Resources
“Disney provides a comprehensive suite of programs — from targeted learning initiatives to personalized BetterUp coaching — designed to support employees and leaders in advancing their careers,” said Tamie. “In Japan, we hosted Disney Japan Career Day, a dedicated one-day event where employees engaged with career development resources and drew inspiration from colleagues and leaders who shared their own career growth journeys.”
Through these events, employees can connect what they’ve learned to real opportunities, turning insights into concrete steps for shaping their career paths. This approach demonstrates that internal mobility isn’t just encouraged, it’s built into the culture. By embracing curiosity, mentorship, cross-functional exploration and a growth mindset, employees are empowered to take ownership of their careers, expand their capabilities and create opportunities that shape not only their future, but the future of the business.
Ready to grow and explore new opportunities? Start your Disney career journey in Japan by applying today on DisneyCareers.com.
