You're looking to break into the gaming industry. How can you build your leadership skills?

If you don’t love doing what it is your discipline is all about — change jobs. Life is too short to fake it! Play games. A LOT. Know what makes them fun. What the hook is. And depending on your job - the nuance. In my world - it’s about how to make money. So I need to understand everything there’s is to know about money.

Playing games critically involves analyzing games beyond surface-level engagement, focusing on understanding design choices, mechanics, narrative structures, and their impacts on player experience. By dissecting what makes games successful or not, you develop a keen eye for detail and a deeper appreciation for the complexities of game development. Additionally, it equips you with the language and insights needed to communicate effectively with teams and stakeholders, advocating for design decisions or improvements. Playing games critically is not just about gaming; it's about cultivating a mindset that appreciates the art and science of game design, positioning you as a thoughtful leader in the field.

Playing the game but focus on the things that make the game. You can make use of the MDA framework here to dissect it, what's the mechanic behind the game, how is the dynamic connecting and what makes the game aesthetically pleasing. These are some questions you can consider starting. These are also great topics you can use to start a conversation and showing how you can talk about video games and framing your thought process of being analytical about games.

To build leadership skills while entering the gaming industry, seek mentorship, gain hands-on experience through projects or internships, participate in industry events for networking, and continuously educate yourself on industry trends and best practices. Doing this over time will guide you in the right direction in building great leadership skills.

To develop strong leadership skills and succeed in the gaming industry, active engagement with online communities, collaborative projects and attendance at industry events is essential. By participating in constructive discussions, learning from experienced professionals, and assuming leadership roles within projects, individuals can refine their abilities to lead teams effectively and navigate the ever-changing world of game development. A commitment to continuous learning and growth is key to making a positive impact in the gaming industry.

Learn, learn, learn. Learn from every person you can. Learn from the every level of the organization as well. Spend a day walking in the shoes of others and you will have a greater understanding of their barriers, successes, and processes.

ALWAYS be learning. The reason the person who sold fax machines and Xerox copiers became irrelevant — is because they stagnated. CHANGE is a permanent part of the human condition. Learn to love it. Take advantage of it. I have found that it typically takes me about 6 months of being totally immersed in a topic to then speak with any perspective. 6 months isn’t even a blink of an eye in one’s career. It’s worth it!

Every year our Technology upgrade. We still need to adapt the New Technology for additional knowledge what we have right now.

To break into the gaming industry, building leadership skills goes hand in hand with establishing a global presence. I travel over 250 days of the year to countries all over the world because showing up is crucial. Whether it’s for client meetings or attending conferences, the gaming industry thrives on personal connections and being where the action is. This relentless pursuit of opportunities, often just a flight away, not only broadens your network but also exposes you to diverse market trends and innovative ideas. In an industry as dynamic and globally interconnected as gaming, being physically present to engage with peers, mentors, and potential partners is indispensable.

1) take an interest in the industry at large 2) don’t be afraid to ask, and say you don’t know enough 3) as Stephen mentioned above, go out there, meet people 4) read, so much content out there to learn and understand. Eg today printed content from GLI to understand more about certification even though my realm is marketing and sales 5) if you can, do a brief stint, in the customer facing teams, I’ve done it even though super over qualified, big eye opener 6) be yourself

1. Attend Industry Events: Conferences, Game Jams, Hackathons, networking events offer fantastic opportunities to meet professionals from various levels within the gaming industry. Use these events to learn from leaders, understand industry trends, and establish connections. 2. Join Gaming Communities and Forums: engage with communities on platforms like Discord, Reddit, or gaming forums. These spaces can provide insights into the gaming culture, emerging trends, and common challenges, while also offering opportunities to meet veteran developers and potential mentors. 3. Use LinkedIn: Follow industry leaders, engage with their content, and share your own insights and projects on LinkedIn. Don't hesitate to reach out for advice.

My mother used to say, “I know everything there is to know about me — what’s interesting about this chat is YOU.” So pro tips 1. Be more interestED than interestING. You’ll learn more - connect more deeply and create better relationships doing so. 2. Give first. Many people are on auto pilot. They are so keen to tell you what they do. Be different. Start with what THEY need - and how you can help or keep an eye out for them. 3. Be generous. With your time. Your introductions. And if you can - a coffee or a drink. 4. Remember. Everyone is a human. Good days. Bad days. Feeling uncomfortable in their own skin. Be kind. 5. Manners cost nothing but mean the world. Be polite. 6. Remember their stories. Be respectful.

This is honestly going to be the best thing that you can do in the games industry. It's a relatively small one, and everyone knows everyone. Having made solid connections will help you get your foot in the door.

Seeking guidance and advice from experienced mentors in the gaming industry is invaluable. Drawing from their career journeys, mentors provide valuable insights and wisdom to help navigate challenges and make informed decisions. Their feedback and guidance enable continuous improvement, allowing you to avoid common pitfalls and grow personally and professionally. Trusting in the expertise of a mentor fosters a supportive environment where feedback is constructive, leading to enhanced skills and greater success in the gaming industry.

Je dirai déjà de commencer par le commencement : acquérir les bases du leadership. Le leadership est bien plus qu'un titre ou une position hiérarchique. Il est important d'avoir une bonne compréhension des principes fondamentaux du management: savoir communiquer, prendre des décisions, gérer les conflits, motiver ses équipes...

Just like getting into any other industry, learn the production and presentation of it from the core. To communicate effectively with both production and executive teams, learn & play with the product. Luckily, the product is a game so play the game a lot. Moreover, play competitor games, create comparisons. After a while, playing wont be enough, you will be expected to suggest way to improve it so start thinking ahead. So to be a leader, you need to know what everyone else does from A to Z, and spend time how to improve it. Presentation, aka marketing side of it is different. Interactive entertainment can be considered a whole when it comes to sales, that part will require to understand your players. Easy to say but takes time.

Leadership in games is it's own unique beast. You have to be able to balance schedules, creative team members with focused skills and passions which will conflict , milestones , feedback, be aware of your audience and usually aware of competitive products all at the same time. That doesn't even speak to if you're a lead or director in which then you add the touch of your creative and technical vision being the foundation of which all of the above is applied to. I would never lead a game project that wasn't solely comprised of me without having experience in a studio, it's not an entry level ask. It takes lots of nuance, understanding, and communication, focus and even then production is hard and you can do a great job on a bad game.

En plus des compétences en leadership, il est également important d'être techniquement compétent dans le domaine du jeu et dans l'activité spécifique dans laquelle vous exercez ( Machines à sous, jeux de tables, marketing...). Conna?tre et s'informer des dernières tendances du marché, des dernières technologies est une base essentielle. Ces connaissances vous donneront non seulement crédibilité en tant que leader, mais elle vous permettra également de mieux comprendre et soutenir votre équipe.

The best leaders I’ve ever worked with — in ANY field — knew how the company worked from bottom to top. They learned their trade. Take time to walk around — ask questions — Listen - and put yourself in their shoes! You’ll never regret it!