Copy of Ask a Former Assistant: Allison Leffingwell (Director of People Experience, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group)

Allison Leffingwell,

Director of People Experience,

Universal Filmed Entertainment Group

- Interview conducted by Michelle Greene, Marketing at Showtime -

Hi Allison! Thanks for joining us today. Currently, your title is Director of People Experience at Universal Filmed Entertainment Group. Can you tell us a little about what that entails?

I organize events and experiences for our employees in the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (or UFEG for short), striving to foster a positive, meaningful and inclusive work experience. Throughout the year, the People Experience team and I program a variety of experiences of all different scopes and scales for our global employee base, from large scale Town Halls to smaller networking events or film release activations. I am based on the Universal Lot in Los Angeles, which has the largest contingent of UFEG employees. The majority of the events and experiences we plan are held here, but we also work with our international partners to align and bring similar experiences to employees in our various office locations across the globe. 

It must be rewarding to bring colleagues together through events. Can you tell us more about that, and what your day-to-day looks like? 

My day-to-day always looks a little different depending on our upcoming calendar of events, but typically, I will either be preparing for an upcoming event or working an event on the lot. Either way, most of my days entail connecting with colleagues, employees or internal partners, and this is one of my favorite parts of the job. In organizing an employee experience, we collaborate with various departments—from marketing to music to consumer products and many more—to put together unique and impactful events. When working an event, I love getting the chance to meet employees and learn more about them, their team, and their work experience. The best part is seeing our employees having fun, discovering something new about our company or business, and making new connections with fellow colleagues.

Let’s back up a bit to when your journey in entertainment first began. How did you get your start in the industry? 

When I was younger, I knew I wanted to work in the film industry in some shape or form, but I honestly didn’t know in what capacity. I ended up landing an internship with NBCUniversal during college and was assigned to Focus Features in their publicity department. My time working as a film publicity intern piqued my interest enough that I started to explore those types of job opportunities after graduating. When I moved to LA, I worked as a set PA on a few productions as I was applying for PR jobs. I had stayed in touch with my internship supervisor at Focus Features, which helped lead me to my first job at a very small PR firm—less than 10 employees total. I worked there for a few years before deciding that I wanted to work at a bigger company for a different experience. Then, my next job landed me back at NBCUniversal where I’ve been for the last eight years.  

Speaking of your early career journey, what are some lessons you carried over from your assistant days that still serve you now at the Director-level?

As an assistant, you quickly learn the importance of multitasking and task prioritization, and I think continuing to hone those skills as you grow in your career is integral; the need for these skills never goes away.

A big part of being an intern and assistant is the team-player attitude and being willing to jump in to help wherever or however. That is something that has certainly stayed with me, and I bring that to my current role.  

Between Focus Features and Universal Pictures, you’ve worked at NBCUniversal for the majority of your career. What are the perks of staying with a brand long term, and would you recommend that path to others? 

I have really enjoyed being at NBCUniversal (for nearly a decade now!). Over that time, I’ve appreciated the chance to learn so much about the entertainment industry just by being adjacent to so many other divisions and businesses and seeing how they all fit together. It’s also fascinating to see how the company and business evolves throughout the years, and I’ve enjoyed exploring growth opportunities within the company. For me, my favorite part about staying with the company for so long is the people—the connections I’ve developed and the sense of community that continues to expand over time. From my experience, I would highly recommend staying with a brand long term to others!

Although your employer has remained constant for some time, you’ve had many different impressive roles. You’ve worked in Publicity, Global Communications, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, as well as your current, more employee-based role. What advice would you give someone who wants to make a pivot in their career?

I think keeping an open mind and recognizing how many transferable skills you can bring to the table is key. A career pivot can seem daunting, but when it comes down to it, there are several qualities and skills you can bring to a new remit that will allow you to excel in the new space. 

Also, don’t shy away from a lateral move, or sometimes even a move backwards. Career paths are certainly not always linear and sometimes, those moves end up most rewarding in the end. 

Lastly, embrace the learning curve!  

In your current role, it’s important to motivate employees to stay energized and encourage morale in the workplace. How are you able to achieve these goals? 

Through our events and internal communications, we aim to inform, celebrate, and support our employees however we can. I think providing experiences that hit on a balance of those themes, with some optionality as well, gives our employees a well-rounded work experience and boosts employee engagement. It’s never a ‘one size fits all’ mentality, and I think you can make a big impact with a variety of bespoke experiences and opportunities for employees.   

And what do you think are the most important characteristics for an applicant hoping to work in PR/Communications?  

In the world of Communications and PR, I have found that thinking on your feet and operating with a solutions-oriented approach are important qualities to have and ones that will be put to use quite frequently. The news cycle, industry changes, company updates, and so much more can impact the communications space in the blink of an eye, and I’ve learned you need to be ready for anything in a moment’s notice. Being detail-oriented is also very beneficial.