The Why? Phifer’s vision for automation brings added value for brands with access, convenience and visibility to foster more meaningful engagements between Disney and its advertisers. On top of helping Disney’s self-service platform achieve 9X growth, Phifer and his team are creating an on-demand course for underrepresented small businesses that will provide custom ad strategies to small companies.
He Says… “Hiring is only a piece of the equation. I hold myself accountable to engaging deeply in the growth and career development of my team.”
What makes for a successful Employee Resource Group? Start with a diverse slate of committee members and ground the group in a shared vision.
Who has kicked down a door for you? So many people have supported and guided me throughout my career, too many to list here, but what I can say is that they all played a role in kicking down a door. That kind of support requires you to demonstrate your talent, inspire trust in your actions and build strong, collaborative relationships. If you genuinely support the people around you, people are more likely to do the same for you.
How inclusive is your recruitment and talent development? At Disney, inclusive hiring is at the core of our ethos, and critically important in fostering an environment that’s transparent, equal and just. We strive to ensure a diverse workforce and inclusive culture through enhanced hiring practices that are specific, targeted and measurable. However, hiring is only a piece of the equation. I hold myself, as a hiring manager and leader, accountable to engaging deeply in the growth and career development of my team. That means genuinely connecting with the people on my team, understanding their interests and supporting their ambitions.