Joellen Ferrer

The Why? Ferrer settled into her newly created role after Crunchyroll’s acquisition of Funimation Global Group in 2021. For fans, her team introduced a series of monthlong campaigns to celebrate Pride, Women’s History and Black History. For employees it launched the company’s first ERGs, with Ferrer as executive sponsor of the Crunchyroll Women’s Network ERG.

She Says… “Don’t be afraid to say the wrong thing; accept feedback, acknowledge misses and move forward with an open mind.”

Song from your earlier days that’s still on your playlist? “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie. We all have our pressures, and at the end of the day, it’s how we approach each and every one of them.

What community support initiative has your company championed that you’re most proud of? Crunchyroll champions the art and culture of Anime to a passionate community of fans around the world. It’s been humbling and rewarding to see that many fans have found a place of belonging within the anime community – with that, our company mission is to help everyone belong. Our mission internally is the same, and I’m most proud of the ongoing initiatives led by our Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s). The leadership teams from each of ERG’s are talented and passionate, and they’re truly making a difference to help everyone belong. We’re continuing to learn, build, and evolve, and I’m inspired by them every day!

How can leadership best support DEI? Make the time to be present and learn. Don’t be afraid to say the wrong thing; accept feedback, acknowledge misses, and move forward with an open mind.

First internship: I worked in sports for the first decade of my career, and my first internship was in the sports department for a local TV station in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Honored For: