Walt Disney

Founder & CEO of The Walt Disney Company (1923-1966)
Walt Disney
 Known Worldwide for his timeless popular creation as an animator, Disney was also a dogged entrepreneur who created a huge and enduring business empire from scratch. As well as facing the usual concerns of any entreprenur, Disney had to contend with economic depression, world war, unscrupulous competitors, andd ever- changing public tastes. His ability to innovate and his determination to keep his sights on his business goals ensured that his company propered, and it remains a powerful corporate presence.

Biograpghy
 1901-1966 Born in Chicago Disney and his family settled in Kansas City in 1911 when he was nine. He began drawing for his school newspaper, and as a driver with the Red Cross during World war 1 he decorated his ambulance with cartoons

Leadership Style
 Sometimes nortoriously tough on his employees. Nonetheless, Disney understood the importance of letting other people's creativity flourish for the benefit of the overall project.

Key strength
 Immense determination and an intuitive understanding of what would entertain families.

Best Decision
 Pushing on with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, even though a feature-length animated film had never been made before and he was running out of money.

False Starts
 When Disney's First studio providing cartoons to local theatres in kansas City went bankrupt the determined young entrepreneur moved to holywood to try his chances in the movie industry. He had success with a series called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and hired a team of animators, butwhen he discovered that he didn't own the rights, nearly all his animators jumped ship, leaving his business in tatters again


Breaking New Ground
 Undeterred by two business failures, Disney began work on a new character based on a mouse he had kept as a pet while working in Kansas, Mickey Mouse proved to be an immediate hit, as did a number of other creayions, and Disney's studio took off, giving him the confidence to begin work on another innovative idea- the first animated feature-length film in English. After three years, he ran out of money and had to take a rough cut of the film to his bank in the hope of securing further funding. When it was finally released in 1938, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs became the most successful movie of the year, rewarding Disney's innovation and persistence in creating a whole new genre.
 During World War II, labour strikes and the need to produce government propaganda films sent the business into another decline, but it recovered enough after the war for disney to begin work on a theme park, another groundbreaking concept that was widely derided. The opening of Disneyland and the continuing success of the studio finally set Disney's business on a solid footing, providing the base for the diversification that has builttoday's media giant.

Lessons In Business Bouncing Back
 Everytime he looked like he was on the road to success, Disney took a hit. But every time he learned the lesson, picked himself up and came back stronger,Proving that genuine Innovators are never finished untilthey allow themselves to be.

 Take risks, even as a middle manager or team leader. Get a reputation for trying new things.
 Don't allow the entrepreneurial spirit to exist only at the top-look for innovation from everyone.
 At the end of every event or project discuss and record what went well and what needed improvement.

Moral For Us
 "All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them."
      -Walt Disney


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