Jess - Walt Disney Company
Marketing student Jess completed a work placement with The Walt Disney Company in 2024–25. She joined Disney+ Partnerships in London, supporting campaigns with major brands and contributing to large-scale showcase events.
Q&A
Tell us about your placement experience.
My placement was with The Walt Disney Company in London, where I worked in the Disney+ EMEA Partnerships Marketing team. The role gave me the chance to get involved in a wide variety of projects, mainly focused on supporting marketing partnerships with big brands like Uber, Tesco, Sky, Lloyds and O2 as well as partners across EMEA.
A key aspect of my role involved planning content for upcoming Disney+ releases and ensuring that partner campaigns aligned with the wider business strategy. A standout moment was contributing to a large-scale Disney+ content showcase in London, which celebrated the first year of ad-tiers in Europe. I was involved in both the event logistics and the creation of immersive, themed experiences for partners. This featured exclusive previews from Disney, Pixar and Marvel and a look at the content coming up over the next two years.
On a day-to-day basis, I focused on developing social media campaigns with partners like Lloyds, O2 and Tesco. This involved tailoring posts to reflect each brand’s tone of voice while still achieving Disney+ marketing objectives. I also worked on prize packages, influencer gifting, and promotional boxes to support these campaigns, collaborating closely with the content teams to ensure everything was consistent, engaging and well executed.
Alongside my main role, I also got involved in event facilitation – from fundraising with the Disney+ Million Makers team for The King’s Trust. I also assisted in running media lineups at film premieres and screenings as well as coordinating press and talent on event days.
Tell us about your favourite thing about your placement.
My placement provided me opportunities to meet new people and gain experiences I could have never imagined. Experiencing events like film premieres and press junkets with BAFTA & Oscar winning actors offered me a new unique perspective on the industry whilst also giving me memories that are truly once in a lifetime. I met with industry professionals who have worked in the sector for years and have influenced some of the most popular TV shows and films in the modern day.
Have your future plans changed as a result of doing placement?
My placement experience has influenced my future plans by reinforcing my ambition to build a career within the film and television industry. Being part of The Walt Disney Company, a brand with such a rich history and legacy, was highly inspiring and gave me a deeper appreciation of the power of storytelling. Working within a company that is widely regarded as the home of the greatest stories emphasised to me how film and television can shape culture, create shared experiences, and leave lasting memories in a way that few other industries can.
What was the motivation for you to look for a placement year?
I had always planned to do a placement before starting university, and pursuing one in TV and film was a natural choice for me. Knowing how competitive the industry is motivated me to gain practical experience and build skills that would give me a head start. Doing a placement year was a perfect opportunity to try something new, and fully immerse myself into the fast paced creative environment that is media.