Seth Abbe ’03

Seth Abbe’s career at Disney Parks and Resorts is a story of adaptability and growth, beginning with a strong foundation in industrial engineering. With eight years in Disney’s industrial engineering department, Abbe has worked across a variety of operational areas, supporting departments such as transportation, resorts, theme park operations, and FastPass. In this department, Abbe’s role was akin to that of an internal consultant, rotating through different business partners and solving complex operational challenges. His work ranged from enhancing the efficiency of theme park operations to optimizing logistics. Abbe’s expertise helped optimize Disney’s operations by identifying areas of improvement and implementing data-driven solutions. “It’s all about getting as much experience in different areas, applying your skill sets in new ways, networking, and building those relationships with leaders above you,” he says. Abbe’s career at Disney evolved over time, and today, as director of digital experience at Disney Parks & Resorts, he leads cutting-edge projects that blend digital innovation with physical guest interactions.

What Abbe found most exciting about his industrial engineering degree was its breadth and depth. “What resonated with me was the ability to leverage math, science, analytics, and problem-solving, but lean more into the leadership, managerial, business, and strategy side of industrial engineering,” he explains. Abbe completed four different co-ops at Disney, which enabled him to support several different roles within industrial engineering. The hands-on approach of the industrial engineering degree, combined with RIT’s strong co-op program, gave Abbe the opportunity to apply classroom concepts to real-world challenges and build a solid network of industry professionals.

As director of digital experience, Abbe continues to drive large-scale initiatives that enhance the guest experience, leveraging the knowledge and skills he developed at RIT. “RIT’s industrial engineering group, faculty, and program are head and shoulders above what I’ve seen elsewhere,” he says. For future engineers, Abbe’s advice is straightforward: “Gain experience in diverse roles, build a network, and be open to new opportunities. By applying your skills across different departments, you can open doors to career growth and success.” Abbe concludes, “I made the right choice to attend RIT, and it really helped me to get to where I’m at today.”