Vice President of Global Strategies for Diversity and Inclusion
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

As Vice President of Global Strategies for Diversity and Inclusion, Carmen is responsi- ble for leading the development of global strategies and tactics for designing, imple- menting and sustaining a dedicated diversity and inclusion focus for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide. Her team ensures diversity and inclusion strategies are integrated into creative entertainment World-Wide, Global development and all Walt
Disney Park Operations, business and cruise lines. This also includes recruitment and retention, Cast programs and activities, learning and development, guest services and communication. In addition, Carmen is a key partner working with business and creative leaders to advance strategies in four major areas of focus for Diversity and Inclusion: workforce diversity, workplace inclusion, inclusive products and services, and corporate citizenship.
Prior to joining Disney Theme Parks and Resorts World-Wide, Carmen served as the Vice President of the Talent Development Programs for the Disney/ABC Television Group. In this position she was responsible for overseeing and managing the Disney/ABC Writers Fellowship Program and Writers Breakage Initiatives; the ABC/DGA Directors Fellowship Program; the Touchstone/DGA Partnership; the Directing Assignment Initiative; the Casting Project; the Talent Development Scholarship/Grant Program for filmmakers, writers and directors; the Entertainment Associates Program; ABC/Disney Writer-Director Summer Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the Institute of American Indian Arts; the American Indian National Center for Television and Film and she executive-produced the Micro-Mini Television Series Project. She also functioned as a liaison with diverse creative communities around the country, non-profit arts institutions, entertainment industry guilds, colleges and universities to nurture talented, emerging writers, actors and directors.
In 2007, Ms. Smith received an Honorary Doctorate from the Metropolitan College of New York. Ms. Smith serves on the board of the Urban Resource Institute and the Robey Theatre. She is a current member of the advisory board of the Urban Women’s Retreat. She was a presenter at the United Nations’ Fourth Non-Governmental Forum on Women in Beijing, China. She was elected to the Hall of Fame of the Alumni of Hunter College of the City University of New York; she received the Urban Resource Institute Certificate for Outstanding Leadership; the Great Seal of the State of New York
for Community Service; recognition from the Doors of Hope Foundation for outstanding service to
Battered Women. Ms. Smith was selected as the ABC, Inc. Black Achiever in Industry for 2000; recei- ved the 2001 John D. Blodger Diversity Award and the 2003 AFTRA National American Scene Award ( Crystal Award), was a 2004 AFTRA, Actors’ Equity and SAG Diversity Honoree; received the 2004 Oneness award for promoting diversity in Television and film and received the Directors Guild of American African-American Steering committee award for outstanding efforts to elevate the stature of women and minorities in the entertainment industry; 2005 AFTRA National Scene award as Executive Producer of the ABC Entertainment Micro-Mini TV Series and the 2005 Theresa’s Haven Award from the Family Support Systems Transitional Housing Services of New York, for improving the quality of life for homeless families in New York and received the Institute of American Indian Arts 2006 Visionary Award. Most recently she was honored with the Frances E. Williams Award by the Community Coali- tion of Los Angeles; 2009 recipient of the Our Authors Study Club- Pat Tobin Award of excellence; the 2009 DiversityBusiness.com Champion of Diversity Award and the recipient of the 2009 DiversityFirst award winner from the California Diversity Council.
A native of New York, Ms. Smith graduated from Hunter College with a degree in Communication Arts. She received her Masters in International administration from New York University, completed the Simmons Graduate School of Management Certificate Program for Developing Managers and Harvard.

another Speakers

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  Josef Pröll

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  Brigitte Jank

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  Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer

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  Lord Michael Hastings CBE

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  Douglas C. Freeman

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  Carmen J. Smith

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  Simon Smith

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  William C. Eacho, III

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  John Barret

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  Andrés Tapia

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  Ellen Seßar-Karpp

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  Michael Bird

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  Christian M. Baldia

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  Hans W. Jablonski

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  Reinhold Lopatka

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  Rudolf Hundstorfer

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  Bibiana Mbuh Taku

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  Hilmar Kroat-Reder