Disney’s Magic Formula For Inspiring Women In The Workplace
Few brands have as broad an appeal as Disney. Its characters are known the world over and loved by the young and old as well as, crucially, men and women alike. Disney’s eponymous theme park in California doesn’t need to rely on magic to ensure they are both represented. The strategy comes from the top down.
Disneyland’s Vice President Kris Theiler is a 24-year veteran of the Mouse’s theme parks and began in 1995 as an industrial engineer in the finance division. Theiler worked her way up through operations support, operations training, workforce management, resort planning and development where she spearheaded the expansion of Disney California Adventure which sits next to the fairytale-inspired original park.
This strong background brought Theiler into contact with thousands of Disneyland’s staff, known as Cast Members due to the role they play in a themed environment. She says that since the start, many of her mentors have been female.
“I’ve always had strong women role models who have supported me in my career. I don’t take that for granted and see my role as providing that same support to our Cast Members. It’s important to have someone in their corner helping our Cast know about the opportunities here at Disneyland and how they can pursue them.”
A whole new world of opportunities opened up in May at Disneyland with the debut of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Set on the planet of Batuu, the elaborate land is a game-changer as it looks more like a film set than a theme park.
“When you enter Batuu, you really feel like you’ve been transported to a galaxy far, far away,” says Theiler. “This is our largest, most immersive single-themed land we’ve ever undertaken. It builds upon Disneyland’s history of immersive experiences and storytelling which is at the heart of our guest experience. This is truly a living land – in Batuu our guests will be part of the action as it unfolds around them.” It isn’t just for show.
Galaxy’s Edge is so detailed that it gives guests the impression they are explorers on an alien planet. “The true magic of Disneyland is about connecting with our guests through our stories, experiences and personal interactions,” says Theiler. “The opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is an incredible opportunity to build upon and strengthen that connection while at the same time expanding our offerings and experiences.”
Theiler provided operational input at all stages of the land’s development which was also supported by Disney’s Imagineers, the wizards who design its theme parks. Theiler says her involvement “ranged from helping determine what we should build all the way to selecting our opening team and making sure they are trained and ready to welcome guests.”
Galaxy’s Edge fueled the creation of 1,600 jobs and they are a diverse bunch. “From Imagineers to the construction team, women have played a critical role in the creation of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge,” says Catherine Powell, President of Disney Parks Western Region. “Of course they are only a portion of the women behind the magic, with thousands more creating magical memories for our guests around the world.”
Theiler is responsible for operational leadership for Disneyland development and there is a magic formula to her success. “The secret to managing the park is to create an environment that supports, enables, and empowers our Cast to create magic for our guests.”
Juggling different duties is key to this and Theiler explains that her role “is really about managing time, people and projects so being able to multi-task is important.
“The job requires a big picture perspective from both a guest and Cast standpoint but also a strong attention to detail and the ability to treat everyone as individuals. It’s also important to be curious, optimistic, and have a sense of fun because that’s what we deliver.
“There are obvious day-to-day tactical elements to running a theme park but it’s also necessary to be strategic and think through what’s next in terms of future growth, innovation, and driving the business forward.”
Galaxy’s Edge set such a high benchmark that it could be hard to top. However, Disney isn’t stopping there. Next year the doors swing open to a land based on super heroes at its California Adventure park. No doubt Disney’s female Cast Members will be the muscle behind that too.