Netflix is a popular American production and movie streaming service company based in Los Gatos, California. Established in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph, the company generates a total of about USD29.7 billion annually.
In this article, WoK brings you the career journey of Dorothy Ghettuba Pala, the Netflix Manager International Originals.
Background
Dorothy Ghettuba Pal was born in 1979. She pursued communications and political science at Andrews University in Michigan State, USA. In 2011, she attended Bucerius Summer School where she studied Global governance. She went on to join Said Business School at the prestigious University of Oxford in 2016 under the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellowship. A year later, she joined Stanford University Graduate School of Business where she pursued Entrepreneurship.
Career Journey
After completing her studies, she settled in Canada where she worked for Venture Capital Fund. She returned to Kenya shortly after her thirtieth birthday and established Spielworks media – an entertainment production and content creation company working with mainstream television and digital platforms in Africa. The company has since produced over 18 television shows, 41 movies and numerous online and mobile shows. Some of the popular shows include ‘Sumu La Penzi’, ‘Lies That Bind’, ‘Saints’ and ‘Higher Learning’ which air in Kenyan TV stations and continental channels like Africa Magic.
The company joined the content broadcast and distribution space with free video on demand platform dubbed ‘NGOMA.tv’ and subscription video on demand dubbed ‘KEJA TV.’ She was also a speech writer for Safaricom PLC and board member at Onward Kenya in 2011 and 2015 respectively. She has served as a member, National Advisory Council at African Wildlife Foundation from April 2015 to June 2019. In May 2019 she was appointed as the Chair of the Kenya Film Commission by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Dorothy Ghettuba was also a columnist with the Standard.
Joining Netflix
In June 2019, Dorothy was appointed as the Manager, International Originals for Europe, Middle East and Africa operating from the Dutch city of Amsterdam.
“We are excited to confirm that Dorothy is joining the International Originals group, which produces original series across the world. She will focus on adding shows across Africa to our strong and growing International Originals slate,” read a statement from Netflix.
During a past interview, Dorothy revealed that she never imagined even in her wildest dreams that she would ever work for Netflix.
“By the time Netflix switched to global streaming in 2016, I was running an entertainment production company in Nairobi, Kenya and like my fellow producers, we looked at Netflix as the holy grail. I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I would work for Netflix. One Monday afternoon as I was minding my business, I got an unexpected call. The caller said they wanted to share my contact information with Netflix and next thing I knew I was interviewing for a job as a Creative Executive. After a lengthy interview process, I started my role as the Manager, African Original Series,” she explained.
Success
After serving in the position for 2 years and 9 months, Dorothy was finally promoted to become Director, Africa Original Series in March 2022. She has been championing African films to be featured in the internationally recognized platform. This led her to win many accolades including being named among the C. Hub magazine’s 100 most creative personalities, the top 40 under 40 women in Kenya in 2011 and 2014, the top 40 under 40 women in Film in Africa and Top 50 Business people in Kenya.
Marriage
She is married to renowned relationship columnist Oyunga Pala. The couple tied the note on 31st of December 2016 at Elsamere Nature Reserve in Nakuru.
