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Do you know Nancy Kanter? She knows you. Or better said, she knows your kids, their likes and dislikes,
what grabs them, what leaves them cold—and so, by proxy, she knows you, what you’ll allow, what
you’ll stand behind and what you wind up finding yourself liking. Based on her recent successes, Nancy
Kanter just might understand what it means to be a kid—and a parent—in today’s brave new world
better than all the journalists, mommy bloggers and how-to websites out there that are so desperately
trying to define, name, categorize and pigeonhole the now very commercialized institution formerly
known as parenting. (Uh, present company excluded, of course. Ahem.)
As senior vice president at Playhouse Disney Worldwide, she’s a tastemaker—a major influencer in the world of childhood zeitgeist. Indeed, Nancy Kanter is more a part of your everyday life than you realize, so we thought it would be helpful for you to get to know the woman behind the pop culture phenomena of present like Handy Manny, Imagination Movers, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and, well, you know the lineup. For the pop culture of today is the referential vantage point, aka reality, of tomorrow.
Armed with a keen intelligence, dry humor and priorities in place, this impressive glass-ceiling breaker and mother of three exemplifies the paradigm of modern-day motherhood in all its wow-this-working-mom-thing-actually-just-might-work-out glory. Here, she talks crazy ideas, unconditional love, how her daughter’s unfettered curiosity inspires her and why she’s learned to take life as it comes.
1. Who are you?
Nancy Kanter
2. How old are you?
Ageless
3. Where do you live?
Los Angeles, Calif.
4. How many children do you have? How old?
Three—26, 23, 16
5. What time do you get up?
6 a.m. or whenever I hear the first bling from my BlackBerry e-mail coming in
6. What daily rituals must you do to feel normal?
Put on mascara, have an extra-large decaf cappuccino with low-fat milk—but not too much milk, then it’s a latte. Many people don’t understand the difference. Heads have rolled at my local Starbucks when they don’t make it right.
7. What do you wish you’d do every day, but haven’t been able to incorporate into your routine?
Take 15 minutes to just sit in a quiet place and think. I tried yoga once but was not so politely asked to leave when I got the giggles. I haven’t been back since.
8. Do you work?
Yes.
9. What do you do?
Senior Vice President, Playhouse Disney Worldwide.
10. Tell us about it.
My job is all about creating enriching and entertaining content for preschoolers—shows, online activities, opportunities for engagement that kids enjoy and parents find worthwhile. Most of what I do revolves around helping to create the series that air on Playhouse Disney. Day to day, I work with writers, producers and directors on their ideas for what kinds of shows they’d like to make for our audience, and I try to figure out what I think will work for us and what won’t. I hear a lot of crazy ideas and every now and then a brilliant one.
11. What’s the best thing your mother ever told you?
Use moisturizer.
12. What does being a good mother mean?
It means having unconditional love and making sure your children understand that you do.
13. What’s your mantra/personal philosophy?
Do no harm. I work in a business that can sometimes be insensitive to people’s feelings. Often there is behavior that is excused because it’s considered part of the “creative” process. I try to buck that trend and treat people with respect and kindness. Everyone works better when they feel appreciated.
14. What do you tell other mothers?
As soon as you think you’ve got your child figured out, things will change. I think this is as true for infants as it is for teenagers. It’s a child’s duty to surprise you.
15. Finish this sentence: I want my children to know…
…that I really do know something, and that I will love them no matter what.
16. Who inspires you?
My daughter. She has an intelligence and a curiosity about the world that I try to live up to.
17. What are you passionate about?
Food, my family, books. Not necessarily in that order.
18. How do you balance your life as a woman, a mother, a friend?
I try to plan at least some time during the weekends to do something just for me—meet a friend for lunch or a movie, browse the bookstore, catch up on e-mail or by phone with friends in different cities. And then I’ll drag one of my kids who happens to be home to the Farmers Market with me. Walking through the stalls of tomatoes and blueberries can open up some very interesting conversations.
19. What do you wish you knew then that you know now?
I wish I knew that there is no plan. Just take it as it comes.
20. How do you get into your groove?
I didn’t know I had a groove.
To see what’s new in Nancy’s world, check out Playhouse Disney.
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