Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kristin Paiva. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kristin , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Of course. One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was launching my own business after a long and established career at Disney. I spent over 18 years inside the walls of that legacy brand, first in Talent Relations, and eventually in Casting & Talent Relations. Over the years, I had the privilege of helping shape the voices behind many of the shows that defined a generation. I got to witness firsthand how the right voice can bring a character fully to life, and how much thought goes into making those choices feel effortless.

But in 2023, something shifted. I got a push – and I jumped.

It was time to build something of my own. I had gathered so much knowledge, instinct, and love for the craft of casting, and I realized I wanted to use that in a new way, in my own way. I wanted to shape character, nuance, and voice in a way that was deeply intentional, especially for animated and branded storytelling.

So I took the leap and started my own casting company, Paiva Productions.

Yes, it was a risk, not having the structure and recognition of a major network and stepping into the unknown. But it was also liberating. It has given me the freedom to work closely with creators and companies who value the why behind every casting choice. Now, I collaborate with teams from incredible indie animation studios, video game developers, other major networks, and beyond – teams who care about resonance, representation, and making sure every character is cast with purpose.

Losing the comfort of the establishment and following something that felt right, turned out to be one of the most defining choices of my career. And it’s the heartbeat of the work I do today.

Kristin , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’d be happy to. My path to where I am today has been shaped by a love of storytelling and a deep respect for talent. Here’s a bit of my journey. I’m a Casting & Voice Director with a deep love for the talent behind the voice – the voice actors who bring characters to life with nothing but their performance, imagination, and skill. After nearly two decades at Disney in roles that evolved from talent relations in Parks & Resorts to casting and talent relations in animation, I launched my own company, Paiva Productions.

My career began in Talent Relations for Disney Parks & Resorts, where I supported celebrity guests, foreign dignitaries, and corporate VIPs from Fortune 500 companies and beyond. These visits ranged from personal vacations to high-level business or park initiatives, and my role was to ensure they experienced the brand in a seamless and meaningful way. That experience built the foundation for how I approach every relationship with clarity, discretion, and care.

I later moved into the live-action division at Disney Channel, working in Casting and Talent Relations, and eventually into Disney Television Animation, where I stepped fully into a dual role casting animated series and overseeing talent relations across the division. That’s where I discovered my passion for creative casting, helping find the voice talent that doesn’t just fit the specs but one that breathes life into a character.

That philosophy became the core of Paiva Productions.

Today, I run a boutique casting company that specializes in casting and directing for animated series, films, video games, and branded content. I partner with indie animation studios, major networks, game developers, ad agencies, and production companies to cast voice actors who align with the creative, emotional, and cultural intent of the story being told.

What sets me apart is how I cast. I don’t rely on rosters. I don’t go down a list of usual suspects. Every project is a new opportunity to uncover the right talent for that specific role. Not someone who is “safe”, or someone I know, but someone who IS the character. I bring a director’s eye, a storyteller’s instinct, and a casting strategist’s discipline to every role, no matter how big or small.

My clients come to me when they’re looking for someone who sees casting as a creative function, not a checklist. I dive deep into the character, the world, and the tone, and then build a casting approach that is highly curated, intentional, and deeply collaborative. I also bring extensive experience in talent relations and production management, which means I can balance creativity with clear communication, timelines, and talent handling across the board.

I’m most proud of the trust I’ve built with creators, clients, and the voice actors I advocate for. I’ve spent my career navigating the intersection of performance, storytelling, and business, and I still get excited every time I help bring a new character to life.

If there’s one thing I want potential collaborators to know, it’s this: casting is a creative process. When done with thought and intention, it elevates everything. And that’s the kind of work I’m here to do.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Sure. For me, resilience hasn’t always been about bouncing back from a single moment. It has been about staying rooted in who I am, even when I’ve been asked, directly or indirectly, to shrink.

I have a strong personality. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say. I’m passionate, direct, and I care deeply about the work I do and the people in my life, both personally and professionally. But for years, I was told to tone it down. I’ve been labeled “aggressive” more times than I can count, a word I’ve come to recognize as one that is too often used to make assertive women feel like they are too much.

That word used to sting. I internalized it. I tried to soften, to reshape how I delivered ideas, to make sure others felt more comfortable, even if that meant making myself smaller in the process.

But I’ve done the work to unlearn that. I’ve learned that my strength, my clarity, and my voice are not liabilities. They are leadership traits. And they are part of what makes me an effective collaborator, decision-maker, and advocate, especially in the creative space where clarity and confidence are essential.

I was recently in a professional setting where I was asked repeatedly to slow down. Yet, I don’t believe it was about clarity. It was about tone. Interestingly, the feedback came largely from the men in the group, even though no one had commented on the pace or energy of their own delivery. It was subtle, but it was familiar. It was that old pressure to adjust, to be less, to quiet down.

But I didn’t. I stayed rooted in my message, in my energy, in my presence. And afterward, so many attendees came up to thank me, not just for what I said, but for how I said it. That was a reminder: the very things I was once told to dial back are the things that make others feel seen and heard.

Resilience, for me, is about knowing when to hold your ground, not with defensiveness, but with purpose. It is about giving yourself permission to take up space and encouraging others to do the same.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

This actually connects to what I shared earlier about resilience. One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn the idea that being liked is the same as being effective.

For a long time, I thought that if I softened my delivery, managed my tone, and made sure everyone around me felt comfortable, I’d be seen as a strong collaborator and leader. But the truth is, leadership isn’t about keeping the peace, it’s about standing in integrity, even when that makes others uncomfortable.

I lead with honesty, integrity, and the genuine hope that I will help people in whatever way I can. Whether I’m casting a show, advising a client, or mentoring someone early in their career, I hope to leave them better than I found them. I won’t always get it right. I’m not always successful. But the intention is always there, and I believe that’s what keeps me moving in the right direction, with people at the center of everything I do.

Unlearning the need to please everyone gave me space to prioritize purpose over perception. It allowed me to show up with more clarity, more consistency, and more trust in my own voice. And that shift has made all the difference, not just in how I work, but in how I connect with others. It’s one of the most freeing shifts I’ve made, and I hope it resonates with others trying to lead with purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.paiva.productions
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinpaivaprod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristin.paiva
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinpaiva
• Youtube: @thepaivachronicles

Image Credits

These are all personal photos, no credit to anyone specific