After eight years leading NBCUniversal’s Brand Development team, Vince Klaseus was recently appointed president of Universal Products & Experiences. This new division merges Universal Brand Development with the Universal Parks & Resorts Merchandise Group. He has a diverse background anchored in brand building, product development, entertainment, and the kids & family segment. New team. New role. Let’s get to know Vince!

1. What has your journey been like leading up to this new role?

Before starting at Universal in 2014, I held a variety of interesting roles that cut across different companies and industries. From start-up ventures and toy companies like Mattel, to many years at Disney, my background feels like it has definitely led me to this time and place with the company.

In my previous role as president of Universal Brand Development, I spent a lot of time building businesses and functions from the ground up. This allowed me to be entrepreneurial even within a large company environment. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be leading the new UP&E division and now being able to work so closely with the people and teams doing such amazing creative work.

2. What are you looking forward to with these two groups coming together?

The potential of what this collective team can do together is very exciting. Harnessing the different core strengths of the various teams gives us new capabilities we didn’t have before. It’s transformative! Our vision is to be a leader in our industry (physical and digital consumer products and retail) and continue to push ourselves to new levels of innovation, quality, and experiences.

3. How do you foster greater innovation?

I believe it’s essential to create a culture of creativity to foster innovation across all functions of the business. First, create an environment that allows for experimentation, where you celebrate the wins and failures. We must remain open to allow everyone the opportunity to participate in creativity and have a voice. We also try to make sure our workspaces support creativity. And lastly, remain nimble as an organization and collaborate both inside and outside the team to find inspiration.

4. What does being a team player mean to you?

There are a few ways I look at being a team player. The first thing that comes to mind is ensuring that we’re working together to problem solve. Sometimes that means taking a step back personally to make sure that we’re solving for what’s best for the broader division or even company. There are no winners or losers in teamwork.

5. Who is your biggest inspiration?

I find inspiration through a variety of sources. Sometimes it can come from my family, previous mentors I’ve worked with, or even a colleague I’m currently working with. Inspiration can also range from a simple gesture of someone being kind to leaders making decisions to improve the world.

Bonus Question!

What is your favorite thing to do in the parks?

I’m a big kid at heart! I love a great roller coaster like the Jurassic World VelociCoaster or the immersive environment of Diagon Alley. I also enjoy people watching and seeing the smiles, excitement, and joy on their faces as they experience the park. It’s amazing that we all get to be part of creating that for people.