June 26, 2020

Dear ATHENA Awards Program Selection Committee:

I have known Krista since she began her journey at Disney Institute as a Professional Intern two
years ago. I will never forget our first official meeting (which she of course took the initiative to
set up). We shared some highlights of our professional journeys. Later that evening, I shared
with my husband some details of our discussion and how impressed I was with Krista’s
professionalism. I told my husband that evening, “Just watch. This young lady will be an
executive at Disney one day”.
Disney Institute is the external professional learning and development arm of The Walt Disney
Company. We work with organizations around the globe by sharing Disney’s approach to
leadership excellence, employee engagement, and quality service. We offer various services
which include advisory (i.e. consulting), professional development courses at our resorts, and
convention services (i.e. keynotes, workshops for organizations hosting their conventions at Walt
Disney World). Krista has mastered all lines of business and is now responsible for servicing
our Conventions market.
Krista’s role is extremely vital to these engagements. In 2019, she serviced close to 100
engagements. Once engagements are sold, it is Krista’s responsibility to communicate and
coordinate with our Clients and our delivery and contracting teams to ensure a smooth delivery.
I am so grateful to have had the privilege of having Krista as my partner in the Conventions
market. Krista is an extremely hard worker who is well organized; she has an amazing ability to
anticipate needs and takes initiative, while maintaining a professional and positive attitude.
While her role requires her to plan and finalize logistics leading up to the day of the
engagements, Krista often takes it upon herself to visit our Clients in person to foster
relationships and even sends handwritten thank you notes on our team’s behalf. I know that
handwriting is not a criterion for the ATHENA Young Professional Award, but I just need to add
that Krista’s handwriting is simply practically perfect in every way.
Speaking of anticipating needs and taking initiative, Krista took an eager interest in attending site
inspections for potential Clients to better understand the sales process. This was a stretch
assignment that was approved by the Disney Institute leadership team, which served to be
beneficial for our sales team. Krista is constantly cultivating relationships and reaching out to
other Cast Members (Disney employees) across property for “meet and greets”.
Some of Krista’s accomplishments above and beyond her role include:
• Serviced several keynote presentations on behalf of our Vice President and Senior
Account Director, which includes ensuring that our executives’ needs and
requirements are met.
 • Supported EarMarked Owner’s Summit (a Disney conference for top travel
agency sales performers).
• Represented Disney Young Professionals (DYP) at Disney’s first ever
International Women’s Day celebration.
• Supported several familiarization presentations sponsored by the Walt Disney
World Swan and Dolphin Resort Hotels.
• At The Walt Disney Company, our culture emphasizes recognizing each other
through “Grape Sodas”, which are digital, peer-to-peer recognitions. Since
starting her role in January 2018, Krista has been awarded 81 Grape Sodas by
peers and leaders within Disney Institute (including myself) as well as partners
from other areas at Disney.
• Earned the highest rating during her end-of-year performance review, which was
of course no surprise.
• Featured in Eyes & Ears—the biweekly Walt Disney World Cast Member
magazine, highlighting her contributions to the Disney Institute Conventions
market.
Krista began her service on the events committee of Disney Young Professionals (DYP) in May
2018, helping to ideate and execute 20+ events annually alongside peers from across the
organization. She now serves on the board as Membership Chair for this organization of 1,600+
peers. Cast Members who are involved in DYP represent the future leaders of The Walt Disney
Company. The fact that Krista finds herself in a position of leadership for this organization is a
testament to my opening comment, that Krista will one day be a Disney executive.
Having begun her career at Disney Institute as a Professional Intern, Krista enjoys encouraging
the Professional Interns in our department. She is a great advocate for them by always meeting
with our interns to tell them all about DYP, recommending additional networking opportunities
with other Cast Members across property, and coaching them in preparation for their end-of-
semester presentations.
It is very clear to see that Krista loves being a part of the American Business Women’s
Association (ABWA). While maintaining her responsibilities at work, she makes her
involvement in this association a priority. She works with her leader each month to ensure she
can successfully complete her workload and be present at ABWA functions. She attends the
monthly chapter meetings, is present at the monthly board meetings, and adjusts her schedule
each year so she can attend the regional and national conferences. I can tell Krista has a passion
for ABWA as she loves to share what she learns from her involvement.
Krista also loves volunteering. She serves as the co-coordinator for our department’s
“VoluntEARS” and C.A.R.E. (Cast Activities, Recognition, and Experience) teams. In 2019, she
served just under 100 hours. In fact, through the Disney VoluntEARS program, Krista was
eligible for a $1,000 grant to be awarded on her behalf by the company. She chose the ABWA
scholarship foundation as the recipient of this $1,000 grant.
Krista is the perfect representation of the ATHENA Young Professional Award. As I have
shared, she demonstrates excellence, creativity, and initiative at Disney Institute and in her
overall life. She also demonstrates commitment to service by her contributions of time and
energy to improving the quality of others at Disney and in the community, while serving as a role
model for young and even “mature” women, both personally and professionally.

It has been my sincere privilege to submit this letter of recommendation for Krista. She is an
amazing asset to Disney Institute and The Walt Disney Company. It has been an honor to
partner with Krista and watch as she continues to grow and learn. I am excited to see her reach
an executive leadership role in her future.

Sincerely,

Lily E. Mendoza
Account Manager, Disney Institute