UK & Ireland Employees Network and Share Their Intern Experiences at Celebration Event

June 22, 2023

The remarkable achievements of the Disney UK and Ireland Intern Class of 2023 were celebrated at a memorable in-person event, marking the culmination of their internships as they prepared to bid farewell and return to university. The event included a captivating panel discussion featuring former Disney Interns, who graciously shared their experiences of transitioning into full-time roles within the company after their internships, and the interns' own accomplishments from the past year. The event also included the opportunity for attendees to network with current employees.

To celebrate, we wanted to introduce three converted interns who joined for the networking portion of the event and spoke to us further about their experience at Disney — Samantha, Tash and Lisa!

Can you tell us about your experience as a Disney Intern and what you learned during your time there?

Samantha: My internship was one of the most inspiring, uplifting, and valuable years of my life. At Disney, interns are encouraged to get involved in all projects, including some that are in different lines of business, so I met a variety of people and learned a lot of skills.

Tash: Throughout the internship, I was grateful to be exposed to everything, from managing relationships with external partners to data analysis of products and marketing and retail planning with local markets.

Lisa: Disney being my first corporate job, taught me the importance of being resilient, agile and open to change.

How do you stay motivated and engaged in your work at Disney, and what do you enjoy most about your job?

Samantha: The best part of working within Consumer Products, Games & Publishing (CPGP) is seeing the joy our Disney products bring to people’s lives and how they inject a little Disney magic into the everyday.

Tash: My job varies from day to day. Whether it’s a different market, franchise, or strategy, there is always something happening! I never get bored and always have a fun project I can get involved in.

Lisa: Working in Human Resources — and specifically employee career development —is a passion of mine, so I feel energized knowing that I am making an impact!

How did your internship prepare you for a full-time position at Disney, and what advice would you give to current interns who are looking to convert?

Samantha: Spending a year as an intern gives you valuable insight into making connections, which means you can really ‘hit the ground running’ when returning as a full-time employee. My advice to interns looking to convert is to be open-minded and think about the other business areas where your skills are transferable!

Tash: If I can give any advice to current interns, it would be to network! I know it can be nerve-wracking to put yourself out there, but it will be invaluable.

Lisa: For those looking to come back to Disney, I would say the best thing you can do is to make the most out of every opportunity during your internship. If you are interested in a particular role or line of business, then connect with others and find out more.

What do you think sets Disney apart as an employer, and why did you choose to return after your internship?

Samantha: Disney has a sense of community above anything I have experienced before. Not only are we supported by the company resource groups and mental health first aiders, but all employees are so friendly!

Tash: As cheesy as it sounds, there really is magic when working with Disney. I wanted to return to Disney to capture that magic once again and surround myself with people who are as passionate about what they do as I am.

Lisa: One of the reasons I returned to Disney was because I’m incredibly proud of the work that the company does, and I wanted to be a part of the magic that the organization creates.

Can you share a story or experience from your time at Disney that has stuck with you and influenced your career path?

Samantha: I worked with an incredibly talented and inspirational manager when I first rejoined Disney. She gave me the confidence to pursue the next career step I was interested in and four years later, I am now a manager on her team!

Tash: One day during my commute, the train was heavily delayed and a child opposite me was understandably tired. I had a small Disney LEGO mini-figure in my bag and gave it to the child, and his face lit up. That was when I realized how much Disney means to people, and how much joy it can bring them throughout their life.

Lisa: I’m most proud of how I adapted to my internship being fully remote. Like many, I was nervous to start my internship and that was prior to the pandemic, so to know that I completed the entire experience online while building such good relationships with colleagues, was a huge accomplishment for me given this was such a different experience to others.