When TAG reached out to members asking them to nominate a TAG woman who inspires them, Leslie Park couldn’t choose just one. Working as an Episodic Director on Hailey’s on It!, she admires fellow Episodic Director Cat Harman-Mitchell for the way she prioritizes the well-being of each individual on the team, and she respects Art Director Lee Ann Dufour for standing up for other team members when they’re too afraid to speak out.
“I believe Cat deserves a spotlight because of her leadership and willingness to think beyond the production,” Park says. “She [is] strong yet so kind, and actually puts her words into action consistently.”
For Harman-Mitchell, finding that balance can be a challenge. “There were many days where it would’ve been much easier to lose my cool, many days I wanted to lose my cool,” she says. “What does that solve? At best you look unprofessional, at worst you’ve made a tough situation even tougher. People tend to be more receptive to ideas, compromise, and critique when you approach it with kindness and understanding. At the very least, I know that’s true for me. Being strong is staying true to your values—not being the loudest person in the room.”
Park sees parallels between Harman-Mitchell and Dufour, who she calls a “one-woman powerhouse.” Of the latter, Park says, “She’ll be the first to suggest changes to better the environment for our team.”
Dufour’s approach to building a strong team is to try to see the situation from the other person’s point of view. “It’s been harder with remote work, but I try to make sure everyone on the team feels comfortable raising any challenges they’re facing, and I make it a priority to try to find a solution that will work for all parties involved,” she says. “I keep an eye on the team’s workload, [their] interpersonal conflicts, and I try to get to know the artists and what they like most about their roles so I can assign work that is creatively fulfilling to them.”
Harman-Mitchell subscribes to a similar philosophy, feeling strongly that looking after her team is a significant part of her job. “One of the biggest leaps from Storyboard Artist to Director is accounting not only for your own needs, but the needs of your team as well,” she says. “The art of course is important, but making sure your team is taken care of and is able to perform at their best is ultimately what you are there for.”
“I love to see everyone bring a part of their experience to the project,” Dufour adds, “and I think encouraging those contributions as well as creating a space for open communication goes a long way to creating a positive working environment.”
From Dufour’s goal to find creative solutions that create a pleasant working environment for everyone to Harman’s proactive efforts to make sure her team knows she’s available to help when they need her, these TAG women lead by example, creating inspiring environments for TAG members like Park, who considers working with them a learning experience and a gift.
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