Walt Disney Television Rolls Out Two New Talent Initiatives

Walt Disney Television has launched a pair of programs to attract and develop talent from underrepresented backgrounds—the Executive Incubator Program and the Studios Intern Program.

Both pilot programs are designed to create opportunities for women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, military veterans, people with disabilities and others with diverse and varied perspectives who are seeking network executive roles and behind-the-camera positions across the Walt Disney Television studios.

The Executive Incubator Program, a two-year apprentice-style rotational program, will operate across ABC Entertainment and Freeform. Individuals selected for the program will gain experience in development, current, casting and marketing, with the goal of job placement within the company. The first cohort is expected to join the program in October. The Walt Disney Television Studios Intern Program will offer a career path for talent from underrepresented backgrounds behind the camera, with participants developing their skills with the studios’ production, post-production, writing and casting teams. The initiative is scheduled to begin in time for the 2019 fall season.

Karey Burke, president of ABC Entertainment, said: “Our jobs allow us the privilege to nurture great storytellers and it’s imperative that these stories come from different places, with authentic points of view and varied perspectives. It’s incumbent on us to help find and nurture the next generation of executives who will create new opportunities for storytellers. The Executive Incubator Program is another step in making our ranks more diverse and our stories more reflective of the world we live in.”

Tom Ascheim, president of Freeform, added: “The Executive Incubator Program gifts us with the opportunity to continue to create a culture in which the storytellers of tomorrow are given a foundation for a more inclusive and diverse television landscape. Some of the richest storytelling is yet to be found, from perspectives that we haven’t yet seen or heard, and we are truly looking forward to welcoming in a new generation of leaders who will open the door to these voices on- and off-screen.”

Craig Hunegs, president of Disney Television Studios, said: “Our Studios program creates opportunity for underrepresented talent to access an incredible range of career opportunities at Disney Television Studios. This new initiative is a win-win-win—it helps us discover talent in underrepresented areas, gives candidates real experience as they grow their careers and ultimately leads to more diverse stories being told.”