The President of Walt Disney Imagineering Barbara Bouza, IIDA, FAIA, has always believed in embracing every opportunity. From her high school days, when she decided to take an architectural drawing elective, to her position as co-managing director and principal at Gensler Los Angeles, where she worked with highly innovative clients—think Netflix, JPL/NASA, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and hospital and research center City of Hope among others—her path has been nothing short of impressive.
Now president of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bouza leads the global creative, design, and development teams behind Disney’s theme parks, attractions, resort hotels, cruise ships, and entertainment centers. ”I am part of a demographic that doesn't even make up 1% of my profession,” says Bouza, the first woman and person of color in her position. “When I first started that percentage was .3%, now we're at .4%, so it is moving in the right direction." But that never stopped her from thinking and dreaming big—viewing challenges as the fuel that powers greatness, and keeping her cool when it comes to making important leadership decisions.
In addition to Perspective magazine’s cover story, Thinking Big with Barbara Bouza, IIDA brings you a peek into her life through a series of quick-fire questions in this members-only article.
What is your idea of happiness?
Family time with no drama.
Which talent would you most like to have?
The ability to improvise with music.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist.
What motivates you?
Young people who are fearless.
What fact about you would surprise people?
My daughter tells people I am a veterinarian.
How would you define your personal design style?
I like to understand what moves people and create experiences that evoke meaningful and timeless moments.
What's the one thing you can't live without?
My family, and binging on British crime dramas.
What is your favorite Disney character?
Mickey Mouse—such an iconic character that’s so resilient after all these years.
What's the most fun project you got to work on?
Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, in Anaheim, CA—one of the first projects I started engaging on at Imagineering.
What’s your biggest design inspiration?
People and their stories.
What is the most important life lesson Disney has taught you?
Making the impossible possible.