Netflix star executive is now grateful that she was once fired from her dream job. And she has the job everyone dreams of

In 2016, Bela Bajaria faced what many would consider a career catastrophe — she was fired from her position as President of Universal Television. After five years of leading the NBCUniversal-owned studio and helping it become a significant force in the industry with hits like The Mindy Project, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Chicago Fire, the news came as a devastating blow.

At the time, her departure was attributed to internal tensions between the studio and the network, but the experience left her personally shaken and professionally adrift.

Losing the role she once considered her dream job forced Bajaria to confront some tough emotional and identity-related questions. Having poured herself into her work, her sense of self had become closely tied to her professional achievements. With the sudden loss of her position, she was faced not only with uncertainty about her career but also with the difficult task of explaining the situation to her children and navigating the emotional turmoil that followed, she had earlier said in an interview.

Rather than rushing into the next opportunity, Bajaria allowed herself time to process the emotional roller coaster. She resisted the immediate urge to bounce back, recognizing that some lessons only come through stillness and self-reflection. Though the first few months after being let go were particularly difficult, this period ultimately became a turning point — one that reshaped her approach to failure, resilience, and leadership.

That same year, Bajaria joined Netflix, beginning a new chapter that would prove to be the most defining of her career. By 2023, she had ascended to the role of Chief Content Officer, becoming one of the most powerful executives in global entertainment. In this role, she oversees content across all Netflix markets, including global blockbusters like Stranger Things, Wednesday, Squid Game, Bridgerton, Heeramandi, and Lupin. She also led the platform’s move into live programming and sports, securing major deals with the NFL and WWE and greenlighting high-profile events like Chris Rock: Selective Outrage and The Roast of Tom Brady.

Her ability to transform a public setback into a platform for reinvention and success has earned her widespread acclaim. Bajaria has been featured in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list, Variety’s LA Women’s Impact Report, and Fortune’s Most Powerful Women rankings for five consecutive years. In 2024, she was elected to the board of The Coca-Cola Company, further cementing her position as a leader across industries.

Looking back, what once seemed like a professional failure has proven to be a pivotal experience. Bajaria now views that chapter not with bitterness, but with appreciation for the clarity and courage it gave her. The firing that once left her reeling ultimately freed her to take risks, redefine success on her own terms, and lead with a deeper understanding of resilience.

"There’s amazing books and quotes and all this stuff about [how] you learn so much from failure, and failure is important, and you’re not trying hard enough if you’re not failing,” Bajaria told CNBC. “And all of that is true, but then when you fail, nobody wants to talk about it.”

“The first three months (after being fired) were really rough,” she said. “In retrospect I am so grateful that it happened,” Bajaria said. “I’m not scared of getting fired. It’s very liberating, actually.”