From Disney Intern to Disney Professional: Meet William!
Finding the right next step after graduation can be a journey. Luckily, Disney internships are great opportunities to get your foot in the door to start your career.
William started his Disney story as an analytics intern focusing on optimizing internal platforms used by employees and cast members. Now he is Associate Business Systems Analyst in Burbank, California on the same team.
As an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) graduate, William prides himself on bringing authenticity and hard work to his role every day. At Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) he studied computer science focusing on data structures, databases and software architecture. “What really shaped how I work today wasn't just the coursework; it was the environment. PVAMU cultivated a strong culture of peer learning, where you were constantly moving between being the student and being the teacher. Some weeks I leaned on classmates who grasped a concept faster than I did, and other times I was the one breaking a concept down for someone else. That back-and-forth taught me early how to translate technical concepts for people who think about problems differently than I do — a skill I rely on daily in my current role.”
His HBCU experience prepared him for the start of his career at Disney. “I had several mentors who pushed me to grow in important ways — from strengthening my time management to understanding the value of accountability and taking pride in my work. Their guidance played a major role in shaping who I am professionally and preparing me for this role.”
William knew mentorship wasn’t limited to his campus. As he came to Disney to start his internship, he utilized the strong network to widen his community. “My manager mentored me on the tools we used to build dashboards and reports and taught me how to approach and fulfill metrics requests. Throughout the internship, I made it a priority to connect with other interns and Disney employees across the company — not only to learn more about the culture, but also to understand how to make the most of the opportunity and position myself for a full-time role.”
Thanks to his growing network and the support from his leaders, William was able to land that full-time role. Now six months into his role he has learned new tools to improve existing processes and is continuing to make valuable connections.
William’s favorite part about working at Disney has been fostering those connections created on his team, “We all walk over to the studios or the ABC Commissary together, and it's a great chance to laugh, eat and connect. Everyone on the team brings such a different
personality that each lunch ends up being its own random, memorable experience.”
For any fellow HBCU students interested in a career at Disney, William shared, “Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Apply for roles at a company like Disney with confidence, and don't hesitate to reach out to recruiters or express your interest directly — building those connections can make all the difference.”
Start your journey, just like William, on a Disney Internship! Apply here!
