ESCP Europe Alumni Magazine - N°145 - Novembre/Décembre 2012 - 23

FoCus

Disney dreams

Par Edwige LECHEVALIER (04)

Manager Global Development, based at the company’s headquarters in Burbank, California, Edwige LECHEVALIER defines with her team future growth plans for the existing Disney destinations around the world.
Could you tell us about your company? quiring theme parks rights for the movie Avatar, The Walt Disney Company has five business assessing strategic value for potential new busisegments: media networks, studio entertainment, nesses, such as Shanghai Disney Resort under consumer products, inconstruction and targeted teractive media, and, the to open at the end of one I work with, parks & reThis job requires a broad 2015. sorts. At the heart of Walt This job requires a broad skill set including strategic skill set including strategic Disney Parks and Resorts (WDPR) are five worldthinking, analytical skills thinking, analytical skills class vacation destinaand problem-solving, along and problems-solving, tions with 11 theme parks with a passion for the traand 43 resorts in North vel and tourism industry, along with a passion for America, Europe and Asia. across different countries. the travel. Parks and Resorts also Being culturally sensitive includes Disney Cruise and a positive team player Line, with four cruise ships is also a key asset since the sailing in the Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe and success of a project often depends on the level of other regions around the world; Disney Vacation collaboration we can create among work partners, Club, with over 500,000 individual members; who come from varying cultural and professional Aulani, Disney Resort and Spa in Hawaii; and backgrounds. Adventures by Disney, our guided tour business which provides family vacation experiences to Have you seen any major changes on destinations around the globe (Machu Picchu, WDPR activities, in light of all the external Great Wall, etc.) by Disney trained adventurist events that have impacted the tourism and local experts. industry over the past few years (economic context, etc.)? And your role with Disney Parks and While the context has changed and will continue Resorts? to change, Parks and Resorts has found strength After a short experience in strategy consulting, I and relevance with guests by continuously invesjoined Disneyland Paris as part of the Strategic ting and leveraging four key assets: the Disney Planning team where I worked for six years. It was brand, a wealth of creative and intellectual proa fantastic learning experience, partnering with perty, innovation and technology, investing in our internal experts to develop a number of activities cast members (Disney name for employees) and including theme parks and attractions, but also ensuring a commitment to quality. Combining all hotels (6,000 rooms!), merchandise, food and of these assets with a very strong focus on our beverage, etc. guests’ feedback leads to success, such as the I transferred to the US in 2010 and I am now recent opening of Cars Land at Disney’s California Manager Global Development, based at the Adventure park in Anaheim, California, this sumcompany’s headquarters in Burbank, California. mer or the launch of the fourth cruise ship, the Examples of projects we have led include: acDisney Fantasy, earlier this year. ●

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ESCP Europe Magazine N° 145 - Novembre/Décembre 2012 -

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ESCP Europe Alumni Magazine - N°145 - Novembre/Décembre 2012

Table des matières de la publication ESCP Europe Alumni Magazine - N°145 - Novembre/Décembre 2012
