What It Does: Disney is involved in almost every piece of the pie in the media and entertainment industries. Disney has a streaming platform and is into film production, broadcasting, theme park resorts, and publishing media content such as comic books. Disney is also involved in the production of video games.
Mission: Disney’s mission statement is to inform, entertain, and inspire people worldwide through the appeal of unrivalled storytelling.
Size and Presence: Disney has a modest but growing presence in Singapore. Its workforce comprises 18 employees in a single office building.
Best Known For: Disney is one of the largest and highest-earning companies in the world. Disney is an established industry leader in animations. Disney is responsible for producing some of the greatest movies of all time.
The Good Bits: Disney is a great place of employment for people that want to build their careers. Disney employees enjoy numerous benefits. The working atmosphere is exciting and fun.
The Not-So-Good Bits: The working hours are long and maybe odd sometimes.
In the early 1920s, Walt Disney and his friend established Laugh-O-Gram Studio. The studio became bankrupt and was purchased by Margaret Winkler. In 1923, Walt and Roy Disney established the Disney Brothers Studio to produce Alice Comedies. The company's name was changed to Walt Disney Studio three years later. In 1928, Disney and Margaret's husband, Mintz, had a falling out because the former wanted a bigger fee for its film production services, and the latter wanted to reduce the current fee. In late 1930, the company was recognised as a corporation named "Walt Disney Productions Limited."
In 1934, Disney decided to make Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a move that eventually paid off as it became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. In 1986, the company's name was changed from Walt Disney Productions Limited to Walt Disney Studio. In 1995, Walt Disney acquired CapitalCities/ABC Inc, an acquisition that was regarded as the second-biggest takeover in American history at the time. Disney started operating in Singapore in 2000. Walt Disney Studios purchased Marvel Studios in 2009. Three years later, the company established UTV Software Communications. In 2017, Disney ended its distribution deal with Netflix and announced it would be establishing its streaming platform. In February 2023, Disney announced it would cut about 7,000 jobs.
Disney’s working environment is very fun and exciting. Its culture is premised on six core values, namely decency, storytelling, innovation, optimism, quality, and community. Disney has inspired optimism and a positive attitude in its employees. The working environment is collaborative and inclusive, strengthening bonds and uniting the workforce as one big family. At Disney, every worker is treated equally regardless of nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, parental status, marital status, socioeconomic background, etc. The company's dress code ranges from formal to semi-casual based on job roles.
As a top employer of labour, Disney offers several career development opportunities to interns and fresh, young graduates. Its internship programmes expose the graduates and interns to life at the organisation and provide a working experience that will equip them with valuable skills. This internship programme places its participants in several departments across the organisation. The interns have the opportunity to build a strong professional network, have deep insights into what working in the entertainment industry is like and get mentored by some of the best in the business. All these make the perfect recipe for a rewarding career.
Disney utilises a thorough recruiting process that begins with a phone screening of applicants and an invitation to the assessment centre, where they will undergo various tests such as role-play exercises and psychometric assessments. This is followed by face-to-face interviews and the job offer.
An intern at Walt Disney Studios earns an average of SGD 15,000 annually, while an entry-level employee earns about SGD 40,000.
Disney has provided healthcare for several children with critical ailments through the Make-A-Wish programme. Disney employees participate in volunteering activities targeted at community development.