Kartika Rodriguez is vice president of EPCOT at the Walt Disney World Company. She was promoted to this role after five years as general manager of EPCOT operations, and the move made her the first Black, female VP to lead a Walt Disney World theme park.
She first started working for Disney 22 years ago, beginning in the industrial engineering department and then moving through roles such as integrated facilities manager; Magic Kingdom Park’s operations manager and general manager of Epcot Park arrival experience, which included food & beverage, merchandise, guest relations, outdoor vending, and merchandise’s Heart of the House lines of business. Rodriguez has also worked on several opening team experiences with the Disney operations command centre, efficiency team and New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.
In her current position, Rodriguez oversees the day-to-day operation of the park, as well as the current EPCOT transformation project, which will see the biggest growth in the history of the park.
Reflecting on her Disney career on the Disney Parks blog during Women’s History Month in 2021, she said she was inspired by the women in leadership roles that came before her: “I remember thinking ‘I too, could have the opportunity to one day be a senior leader in this organization.'” She also talked about the power of mentoring: “Sharing knowledge can feel empowering, and as you coach someone, you will likely collect knowledge as well.”
At IAAPA Expo 2022, Rodriquez joins a panel of other leading Disney figures for the annual Legends panel, in celebration of EPCOT. “Legends 2022: Epcot, 40 Years in a State of Becoming” also features Walt Disney Imagineering global ambassador Bob Weis, Walt Disney Imagineering executive portfolio producer Jodi McLaughlin and Rick Rothschild, founder and chief creative officer of FAR Out! Creative Direction, alongside host Bob Rogers, founder and chairman of BRC Imagination Arts.