Maya Niijima

A Journey Across Film, Entertainment & Global Media

Meet Maya Niijima
A Journey Across Film, Entertainment & Global Media 🎬

Maya Niijima has spent over 20 years building her career in the world of media and entertainment, driven by a longtime love for Hollywood films.
Starting in film distribution, her journey has taken her across major media companies including DAZN and Disney, with leadership experience spanning content licensing, strategic partnerships, and media rights across Japan and Asia.

Her career has also taken her beyond Japan, including five years working in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Most recently, she serves as Country Manager & Head of Ads Sales at the BBC in Japan, expanding her expertise beyond entertainment into the broader world of news and global media.

What are you currently building?

Growing the BBC's business in Japan. Having recently joined the organization, Maya is focused on overseeing the Japan office, coordinating across multiple teams and business functions, and identifying opportunities for growth. Her role gives her the chance to bring together different parts of the organization while learning a new side of the media industry.

What excites you about Japan?

The scale and potential of Japan's entertainment and media market. From film and sports to music and streaming, Japan has a strong appetite for content and entertainment. Despite increasing competition among platforms and services, Maya sees significant opportunities for companies to innovate, expand, and reach new audiences.

A risk that changed your trajectory?

Stepping into unfamiliar environments. Having spent five years working in Taiwan and Hong Kong, Maya has experienced what it means to adapt to different markets and cultures. More recently, joining the BBC marked another shift, taking her from entertainment-focused businesses into a broader media organization with a strong emphasis on news and journalism.

Rather than viewing these decisions as risks, she sees them as opportunities to challenge herself and broaden her experience.

A habit that has had the biggest impact?

Staying consistent with fitness. Maya has maintained a gym routine for nearly 20 years, working out almost every day except Sundays. She also enjoys boxing, finding that exercise helps her refresh mentally, manage stress, and maintain a sense of balance.

Advice for your 20s?

Don't view failure as a bad thing. Maya believes failure is a natural part of growth. Being willing to try, make mistakes, and learn from them gives you the freedom to pursue opportunities you might otherwise hesitate to explore.