Building with the Prime Video Family
Kaja Wolffers on Emotional Drivers and Collaborative Alignment
By Pooja Shah
Kaja Wolffers is a seasoned media executive with over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Currently serving as the Head of Content and Programming for Amazon Prime Video, he is the mastermind behind Amazon Prime Video's content and programming strategy in the Benelux region.
Before joining Amazon, Wolffers had an impressive career in the Dutch film and television industry. As Producer and Managing Director at NL Film & Television, a powerhouse in Dutch scripted productions, he oversaw the creation of an impressive 12 series and 4 feature films annually. This track record speaks volumes about his ability to manage high-volume, quality content production – a skill that undoubtedly translates to his current role at Amazon Prime Video.
Wolffers knows a thing or two about storytelling. His role at Amazon is all about finding content that resonates with viewers, and he's always on the lookout for talented collaborators.
A high-profile job like this is often met with challenges. Finding the right content for a vast customer base in a competitive market is a constant hurdle, though that's where experimentation and learning comes in. Part of the experimenting and learning phase is to collaborate with others while telling stories that align with Amazon’s overall goals.
Wolffers is passionate about stories that leave a lasting impression, sparking emotions that keep viewers glued to their screens.
Values he cares deeply about is ensuring that the content reaches a large number of people and emotes with them on a personal level. “To be able to reach somebody and leave them with a feeling or delight, suspense, excitement or whatever emotion as long as it is positive. This is what keeps me going personally and it also guides me when looking into our programming.”
Collaborators should really think about whether their requests to work together will be something that will resonate with the Amazon community. Looking at the current landscape and really studying the content is a good way to gain a sense of what will work, and what won’t.
The Entertainment industry is constantly evolving and relies on developing relationships, even with those who they have not previously worked with.
Wolffers and his team understand that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere, and while they value the potential in every stage of development, a "good idea" is just a start. He encourages collaborators to find allies who share their enthusiasm. “I try to encourage people who want to work with us to find stakeholders who share the same enthusiasm for their ideas. This makes the project stronger.”
Ultimately, investing the effort in crafting a clear vision and fostering shared enthusiasm will make a collaboration proposal stand out.
Open and professional communication is also a key part of a successful, reciprocal relationship. Be mindful of people's time, especially in this fast-paced industry. If something isn't clicking, be prepared to adapt and develop alternative ideas that are more suitable.
“Try to meet people and listen. You will have your moments to impress people, but the times that you have an inspirational person in the room or in a conversation, make sure you listen and are not too busy talking,”
Wolffers stresses the importance of building positive relationships throughout your career, as kindness goes a long way, even when challenging leadership and moving up the ladder.
“The people next to you will be around you the rest of your career. The people ‘below’ you will be around for the rest of your career. The people above you will most likely move aside. So don’t lick up and kick down!.”
Healthy ambition is balanced with a sense of teamwork. It's about pushing yourself and challenging the status quo, but also working effectively with others to create a win-win situation. This kind of ambition motivates you to learn and grow, without sacrificing positive working relationships or resorting to cutthroat tactics. He believes fostering a supportive environment goes hand-in-hand with career advancement.
How to approach the Prime Video Team?
Now you've honed your concept, solidified your goals, and (hopefully) identified potential allies. But how do you get your well-developed plan in front of the team?
Know Your Why
Before you reach out, Wolffers emphasizes understanding your own motivation. With so many departments within Prime Video, a clear goal will help him connect you with the right person.
Making Contact
For Wolffers, the best way to contact him for work requests is through LinkedIn for professional networking. He uses his Instagram for sharing pieces of content he has worked on and for personal purposes only.