Professional Intern Spotlight: Damien Jenkins – Talent Acquisition Marketing Account Management Intern

Meet Damien, a professional intern with Talent Acquisition Marketing supporting account management. In this role, Damien assists with marketing initiatives to support recruitment efforts for brands we know and love such as ESPN, Disney Studios, and even Disney Programs. As a recent college graduate, Damien brings different perspectives and ideas to the team he supports, especially as it pertains to attracting early talent. As he progresses through his internship, Damien hopes to grow within this role as a valued contributor to his team and build a supportive network to help him successfully navigate The Walt Disney Company.

What is your role, specific title, and how would you describe what you do to a friend or family member?

As an account management intern, I support many areas of the enterprise with their recruitment marketing efforts. Some areas I support are Disney Programs, Disney on the Yard, Corporate, Disney General Entertainment, ESPN and Disney Studios. This is a client-facing role and I am responsible for assisting my team with project management by handling and passing assets between the client and our team as well as helping us meet project deadlines.

Working with Disney on the Yard specifically is rewarding because I get to be part of work and conversations that are important and highly visible at The Walt Disney Company right now. It is really exciting to actually contribute and see that my perspective is valued because I just graduated from a historically Black college and because I am new to Disney and see everything with fresh eyes.

Why did you choose to pursue a career with Disney?

I wanted to work somewhere where my background and previous work experience would be honored – where I could use what I learned in college to contribute to a team and learn new things to expand my skill set. I also wanted to work somewhere where creativity is embraced.

Damien graduating from Bethune-Cookman University.

How have you enjoyed your experience as a Disney Professional Intern?

Being a Disney professional intern has been awesome! I have learned a lot and met of people, and I have come to find that the optimism and enthusiasm other employees have for their jobs creates a really good work environment. I feel comfortable, and I can see myself not just working for Disney but thriving here.

Something that surprised me about my internship was the reach and visibility of this role from very early on. Because of the businesses I support, I could be interacting with someone from my team in one meeting then someone from Pixar in another, and the span of job levels always surprises me as well. Working with the people who bring our favorite brands to life brings a sense of humanity to Disney. That person who works for Marvel or Pixar is a person and Disney employee just like me!

How did your college experience help you in your role today at Disney?

I went to Bethune-Cookman University and I feel that I was well prepared for professional work settings after graduating. My university was adamant about professional and business etiquette such as how to properly communicate via email, in meetings and even in text messages. I learned all of this from my professors and classmates in a formal way but also just in how they carried and presented themselves. This was an asset for me when I came to Disney, I believe, because it allowed me to focus on learning other things.

My hope is that my professionalism and the things I learned from Bethune-Cookman will allow me to help in keeping the door open for other people that look like me. 

What are some of your goals for your Disney Career?

Some of my goals for my internship are to expand my professional network and continue learning from all of the people around me. I also want to learn to navigate my way through this company with confidence. Disney is such a big company which can be somewhat intimidating, but what I like about my role is that I get to meet and learn from people representing so many different businesses, brands, and segments on a daily basis. Disney is the best of the best, and learning from the best will really help me in my professional development to be ready for the next role or step in my career.

Currently, I am focusing on learning and growing in my role and trying to be the best I can each day. One day I do hope to explore roles in digital marketing and roles with Marvel.

Interested in a Disney professional internship?  Head to DisneyInterns.com to explore roles by industry or location.