Disney Champions AAPI Workplace Inclusion & Authentic Storytelling at Annual Ascend Convention
Disney has been a proud and longstanding supporter of Ascend, the largest global network advancing Asian and Pacific Islander professionals in the workplace. Recently, Disney was once again a key sponsor of the annual Ascend Convention, the organization’s signature event focused on celebrating stories of upward mobility and resilience, exploring barriers to advancement and journeys across career levels, and sharing best practices for enabling Asian and Pacific Islanders advancement in the workplace. This year’s theme, “We Lead Together,” focused on building a culture of collective leadership, exploring the possibilities of leadership at any career level, and sharing tangible solutions to leadership advancement challenges.
Represented by a cohort of approximately 16 employees from across the company, Disney engaged in numerous ways at this year’s convention. Fresh off the news of its record-breaking Emmy nominations, FX’s Shōgun was featured in a plenary panel entitled, “Bringing an Epic Saga to Life: Honoring Tradition and Authenticity in FX’s Shōgun.” Featuring Rachel Kondo, co-creator and executive producer, and writer Shannon Goss, the panel celebrated the show’s commitment to authentic storytelling in front of and behind the camera at every stage of the production process.
Emphasizing the importance of collective leadership, Goss claimed, “Everyone is on the same team, doing the same thing, striving to execute the original vision of our creators. For this particular show, this vision carried into the writers’ room and all the way through to post-production and marketing.”
Another convention highlight involved a retired Disney employee and former Vice President of Enterprise Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Christine Cadena was honored with Ascend’s President’s Award, which recognizes volunteers, members and leaders across the Ascend network who demonstrate great leadership, strengthen the Ascend community, and use innovation to drive progress. Christine was honored largely due in part to her work while at Disney, and Judy Agay, ESPN’s Senior Vice President, Human Resources, surprised Christine with celebratory remarks onstage. The award was presented during the convention’s closing Gratitude Dinner, emceed by Denise Dador, Health Reporter, ABC7/KABC.
“Television is an incredibly exciting world because of collaboration and allyship,” shared Kondo. “At some point, I remember thinking to myself that we were doing something that could only exist because of everyone involved contributing at the highest level. This experience was so specific to a group of people who were equally as passionate about telling an authentic a story as we could.”
“This is a full circle moment because it was Christine who recommended me to my first Ascend Convention in 2015 when we worked together at Disney,” said Agay. “I was so inspired by what I learned at the convention that a Disney colleague and I started an AAPI employee resource group the following year, and Christine was a great mentor. She is a shining example of what it means to be an inclusive and empowering leader.”
At the closing of the convention, Mickey Mouse and Tinisha Agramonte, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, The Walt Disney Company, shared a surprise announcement with attendees.
“I want to thank Anna Mok [President of Ascend] and her incredible team for all they do in championing and elevating AAPI professionals on a grand scale,” she shared. “On behalf of The Walt Disney Company, we are so excited to share that next year’s convention, marking Ascend’s 20th anniversary, is going to be simply magical!”
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is the host site for next year’s convention.