What Disney movies can teach us about leadership
(and life!)
The following is an excerpt from our April 2025 issue of Hey Leader.
Hey Leader, crafted with thought & care by The Perk, is a monthly email series all with the intention to help you lead better. You belong here!
Hey, Leader —
Here's the confession that everyone who knows me is already well aware of, but I still need to make for the sake of this newsletter: I'm a massive Disney fan. 🏰
Dan & me, enjoying a delicious Lapu Lapu at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
When I say "massive," I mean the kind that:
Spontaneously quotes Disney movies in meetings
Plans "research trips" to Disney World (both with & without my kids—yes, Dan gets to come along)
Has a pretty great collection of mouse ears for all those research trips (because you can't wear the same pair twice!)
Among my friends, my team, & many of The Perk's clients, my Disney fandom is well-documented.
Case-in-point: When we crushed a HUGE sales goal at the end of 2023, we surprised The Perk team & their spouses with…you guessed it, a trip to Disney.
Another example: When I celebrated my birthday in February, a bunch of my best girlfriends surprised me with a night at "Disney on Ice" at Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum. They figured that if they couldn't take me to Disney World for my birthday, "Disney on Ice" would be a close second...& they were RIGHT. Excited doesn't even BEGIN to cover how I felt.
Where did my love for Disney come from? That's an answer that would take an entire newsletter to answer, but for now, I'll say this:
I used to think that the reason I loved Disney so much was the innovation, the wonder & happiness & a little bit of emotional & psychological safety. And don't get me wrong—it's still ALL of those things. Lately, though, I've realized something: Every Disney movie I've ever seen is a life challenge in disguise, & can be used as a coaching tool.
Disney movies aren't just entertaining—they're practically case studies in personal growth, emotional intelligence, & leadership transformation.
Yes, I'm ABSOLUTELY serious.
Take "Moana." Moana struggles with self-doubt & finding her purpose. Everyone's happy on the island, so why can't she be? It's a perfect watch for someone who's going through career changes, dealing with imposter syndrome, or feeling stuck in their personal growth.
"Encanto" is a film all about feeling unseen, or wanting to break free from expectations. Mirabel feels like she doesn't measure up in her family & ultimately learns that worth isn't tied to accomplishments. This is great for anyone dealing with family pressure, people-pleasing, or self-worth issues.
Lightning McQueen's journey in "Cars" resonates with just about every ambitious leader we coach. The film beautifully illustrates how slowing down & building relationships ultimately leads to more meaningful success than just racing to the next achievement.
I could go on & on & ON.
What I find most powerful about these stories is how they create a safe space to explore difficult topics. There's something about these universal narratives that bypasses our defenses & helps us see ourselves more clearly.
The world...feels like a lot right now—inside of work & outside of it. And when everything feels a little unsteady, that's when we need a safe space to explore difficult topics. That's what these movies represent to me. There's something about these universal narratives that take us out of our "adult" bodies for a minute & help see ourselves & the challenges we're having more clearly.
Want a little Disney life coaching assignment? I thought you'd never ask.
Our #PerkProTip below features some of my favorite Disney-inspired coaching activities—frameworks you can use with your own teams right away.
Remember: Sometimes the most AMAZING growth happens when we approach challenges with a sense of imagination, story, & yes... a little Disney magic. ✨
Three Disney-Inspired Leadership Activities
The "Moana" Zone of Genius Exercise: First, have the team watch the movie. Then, help team members distinguish between what they're good at versus what truly energizes them. Have everyone answer: "What's your ocean? What calls to you, even if others don't understand it?" Then, explore the difference between their Zone of Excellence (what they're merely good at) versus their Zone of Genius (what lights them up). Just like Moana's journey, this helps people recognize when they're following expectations versus their true calling.
The "Inside Out" Emotional Awareness Activity: Have your team watch Inside Out as a fun (& surprisingly deep!) way to explore emotional awareness. Then, introduce the Thought Model to help them shift from reacting to intentionally responding. This super tool puts us back in the driver’s seat to shape our feelings, actions & results in any circumstance!
Disney’s “Once Upon a Studio” Legacy Reflection: Have your team watch this short, 9-min video Disney created celebrating their 100-year anniversary. Have your team reflect on your organization’s 100-year anniversary using these questions to spark purpose & long-term thinking:
What’s happening?
What is your team or the company doing?
What are we known for?
Someone walks past a photo of you & says “thank you”. What are
they thanking you for?
This is a powerful activity for reconnecting to individual impact, collective purpose & the legacy being built right now.
As always, if you try any of these out, be sure to reply back & let us know how it goes!
What's The Perk saying?
Our media selections this month are to help you in becoming a the best leader you can be for your team!
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5 min read
55 min watch or listen
What's our community saying?
We’re always soaking in the latest news & insights on culture, organizational development, & leadership. This month’s resources focus on leading with heart.
89 min listen
17 min watch
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