Sophia

Describe something that you learned from your mentors.

One thing I learned from my mentor—and honestly, the whole team—is that it’s not about knowing everything (thankfully), but about your willingness to learn. It can feel overwhelming stepping into a new role and thinking you’re expected to know everything right away, but that’s rarely the case.

Looking back to when you were applying, and knowing what you know now, what advice would you give yourself?

This might sound cliché, but it’s the truth, you get what you put into this program. There are so many opportunities, and so many people who are genuinely happy to stop what they’re doing to answer your questions. There are tons of events that not only help you understand how different parts of the studio work together, but also make you feel like part of the Disney Animation family. So don’t be afraid to ask questions, wander around the office, meet people outside your department and follow your curiosity.

What will you take away from your experience and how will you apply it?

One of the biggest things I’m walking away with from this internship is a real appreciation for how every part of tech support matters, whether you're the first person someone calls at the Helpdesk or working behind the scenes in Platform and Infrastructure. Starting out on the Helpdesk side taught me how important it is to communicate clearly, stay calm under pressure, and really listen when someone needs help. Then moving into Platform and Infrastructure gave me a whole new perspective on the bigger picture, how systems are built, how they scale, and how much thought goes into creating tools that make life easier for everyone across the company.

What do you like about working at Disney Animation?

The studio is such a magical place to work. The people are amazing, and I feel lucky to be working in tech while surrounded by so much creativity and passion.

What was your favorite Disney movie growing up?

This is an impossible question to answer—I have a huge Disney DVD collection! But if I had to narrow it down, my favorites would be Tangled and The Princess and the Frog.

What's the most surprising part of working at Disney Animation?

Free Bananas!!!

What Disney character do you connect with most?

I connect with Pascal from Tangled—small and quiet, but way sassier than you’d expect. If he could talk, he’d always have a witty comeback ready.