I worked for 15 years in live TV (think news/morning shows/red carpets) before pivoting into animation. I worked for another studio here in Vancouver for about a year and a half before being hired by Disney.

As a production coordinator, I partner with a creative department in the animation pipeline and help the artists and supervisors in that department to do their best work while keeping things moving on time and on schedule. I also help facilitate collaboration between creative departments and provide a link to the directors and show leadership.

The people! Everyone is so passionate about their work, it's really inspiring. And when you see our team's hard work pay off on the big screen, it's still so surreal to me.

If you love animation but your skills don't lean towards the artistic, you can still work in the animation industry. There are many different roles here and people with different skill sets that contribute to the magic. So do your research and find out what might be a fit for you.

My colleagues in production management! Many think that we are a very functional department and not creative, but there are so many ways to partner with people, keep our departments organized and on track... it can be very creative in its own way.

Te Kā / Te Fiti - as a trans woman, I think that leaving my old life behind and finding my heart has allowed me to bloom, grow, and be a positive force in the world.