In her current position, Director of Worldwide Consumer Insights & Research, Eleonora works in an environment that she calls "very dynamic, intense and demanding."
When asked about the future, Eleonora says she might be back to LCC one day to pay the university back and teach. "Meantime, I am very proud that my son Jonas will start his new life stage as an LCC student this fall", she shares in the interview.
Eleonora, your story is one of several Alumni success stories our admissions counselors keep telling prospective students and their parents. Director of Worldwide Consumer Insights & Research at Warner Bros. Home Entertainment sounds really exciting. Can you tell more about what exactly your duties are?
I am a part of Global Warner Bros. Home Entertainement Group which manages video (theatrical release movies, TV Franshise & Animation), Games and Digital product marketing and distribution on a global scale. Consumer Insights and Research plays a very important role in business decision process, especially now when technology is rapidly changing, thus affecting our consumer consumption and purchase behavior. I direct and oversee the organization's global marketing research projects, ensure effective communication with various internal and external stakeholders, local markets, drive new and innovative initiatives and consult senior executives on strategic questions. My working environment is very dynamic, intense and demanding. It is never a dull day and I really like it.
How does it feel to work for one of the largest and well-known companies in the world? Have you ever imagined your professional career taking this turn?
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Eleonora Jonušienė
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This year Warner Bros. is celebrating their 90th anniversary. The legacy of this brand is immense and it feels great to be a part of the Warner Bros. family. I did not imagine working for Warner Bros. or any other studio, but I feel happy that my professional career took this turn.
You graduated from LCC International University in 1999 with a degree in English language and literature (major) and Business Administration (minor). What did you do before you started to work for the Warner Bros. about seven years ago?
During my last year at LCC, I started to be interested in Business Administration. One of the disciplines that I really wanted to put my hands on was Human Resource Management. I knew that Philip Morris was a great fit to get this experience. So, I started as an HR assistant right after my graduation. After four months I was offered an Employee Relations position. It was a newly formed position globally and no one really knew at that time the role of this position. I had to establish it and I loved doing this.
After a few years within the HR department, I made a cross-divisional move and worked as Corporate Communication Executive. During my four years career at Philip Morris I learned a lot about project management, negotiations, strategic communication, corporate social responsibility, business ethics, and global talent management.
In 2004 I decided to move to Stockholm, Sweden together with my son Jonas. In 2006 I graduated with a MBA from Stockholm School of Economics. That was one of the biggest highlights of my life. During my MBA program, I was very lucky to have Carl-Johan Bonnier as my mentor (note - Bonnier is the largest family-owned Media Company in Sweden). He consulted with me on my professional career, provided an opportunity to visit all Bonnier companies (e.g. books, magazines, business newspapers, film studio) and comissioned me to provide recomendation for one of his Baltic companies on entry strategy for the magazine business. My recommendations were implemented. That is when I seriously got interested in the media industry.
Work at Warner Bros. was a lucky coincidence. I went to speak with one of the mentors from the MBA program and he happened to be Nordic Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Managing Director. After a short conversation he asked me if I would be interested in establishing a Marketing Research position in a newly established Nordic organisation managing Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. My knowledge of Scandinavian culture, business and project management skills which I shaped in Philip Morris and later in my MBA, helped me to succeed in this position. After three years of my work with Warner Bros. Nordic, I was offered the Director's position in the central office to join a newly formed Global Marketing team in Burbank, California.
You moved to Los Angeles about four years ago. Do you enjoy the city and the fact your workplace is as close to the Hollywood film industry as ever before?
Los Angeles is a very specific city. I was told that it usually takes approximately three years to start liking this city. In the beginning I struggled – the city was too big, looked dirty, too distant with terrible traffic and long commute times, inhabited by too many wanabees, homeless people, drug addicts... At the same time, I was thrilled by the diversity which I never experienced before. And of course, amazing weather is an unbeatable factor for liking this place as well. Now after three and a half years, I feel that this city is little by little getting under my skin every time I land in Los Angeles airport from my travels.
Working for the film industry implies being really fond of watching movies. Is it true? Is watching movies a part of your job?
Yes, I am fond of the movies and yes, watching movies is a part of my job. The most recent one that I am excited to work on is the Great Gatsby. If you liked Moulin Rouge, I have no doubts you will enjoy this one as well. Apart from my job, I like attending independent movie screenings and participating in various movie festivals. My recent passion is documentaries.
You started your way with studies at LCC. Can you share what impact did this institution and the years your spent here have on the development of your personality? What do you remember LCC for?
LCC played a huge role in the development of my life philosophy. When one spends four years in the institution that believes in him/her, then they start believing in themselves and others. I have built life lasting friendships, met many incredible professors that inspired me to be a critical thinker and a creative problem solver, I have learned to be persistent in achieving my dreams and to care about the world around me. LCC laid a great foundation for my success as a person and as a professional.
One day I plan to come back to LCC to teach students and to inspire them in their future steps as I was inspired... Meantime, I am very proud that my son Jonas will start his new life stage as LCC student this fall. When a second generation continues following academic path of their parents, it tells a lot about the value of LCC.
Thank you for inspiring the new generation of LCC's students with success stories like yours!
Are you interested in what it takes to study at LCC International University? Take a look! » Challenging Minds. Changing Lives.
