Category: AAA Executives

Join Lizzie Mintus on this episode of the Here’s Waldo Podcast to dive into the secrets of driving business growth with Mike Wallen, Chief Commercial Officer at Keywords Studios. With over 29 years of experience, Mike’s career has been a fascinating journey from recruiter and agent to VP at Lakshya Digital, and now Global Business Development Director at Keywords. Since joining Keywords, Mike has played a pivotal role in scaling the company by 500% across 70 studios in over 25 countries. Tune in to learn more about his approach to business development, the importance of culture and values in scaling companies, and the innovative strategies that propelled Keywords Studios to the forefront of the game industry.

Jordan Weisman is a 40-year industry legend with four entrepreneurial company exits to Disney, Microsoft, Topps, and Paradox Interactive. Today, he is the CEO of Endless Adventures Inc., a no-code game creation platform designed to empower game designers, storytellers, authors, and artists to create their own narrative video games and drive innovation. Tune in to learn about Jordan’s journey and the key lessons he’s learned along the way.

Sarah Anderson is the Head of Global Marketing and Partnerships at Amazon Games. With over 30 years of experience in the gaming industry, Sarah has held strategic roles at Sega, Canopy, 2K Games, and now Amazon Games, where she leads growth initiatives and fosters community for major titles like New World and Lost Arc, along with overseeing upcoming releases. Join us as we uncover Sarah’s career journey, gain insights into building effective teams and nurturing talent, and uncover the authentic marketing strategies that have shaped the success of renowned titles like Bioshock, Borderlands, and Civilization, as Sarah provides a behind-the-scenes look at her impactful contributions to the gaming world.

Tune in to the latest episode of the Here’s Waldo Podcast, where host Lizzie Mintus sits down with Scott Hartsman, Advisor at Brain Jar Games and an active investor in various companies. Scott has an extensive track record in the game industry, with a portfolio of successes dating back to the early days of online gaming. From EverQuest 1 and 2 to Rift, Trove, ArcheAge, Gemstone, Scepter, and even online Warcraft, his contributions have generated billions in revenue and engaged hundreds of millions of players. We dive deep into the secrets to creating successful live games, streamlining hiring processes, and making tough decisions as a leader.

Join Lizzie Mintus on today’s episode of the Here’s Waldo podcast as she interviews Don McGowan, former General Counsel at Bungie. Don’s career also included stops at The Pokémon Company International and Xbox Game Studios Publishing, where he launched some of the biggest IPs in gaming. Tune in as we delve into Bungie’s groundbreaking “Pizza Attack” case and explore the legal side of the gaming industry. We’ll discuss topics like Employee Safety and Employer Obligations, Brand IP and M&A Strategies, AI and Copyright Issues, the Epic Games vs Apple Antitrust Lawsuit, and more.

Join Lizzie Mintus on today’s episode of the Here’s Waldo podcast as she interviews Mitch Gitelman, a 30-year veteran of the game industry and former CEO of Harebrained Schemes, known for hits like the Shadowrun Returns and Battletech. Mitch shares wisdom on navigating layoffs with compassion, fostering meaningful industry connections, offering tips on maintaining culture through acquisitions and starting a studio, and more!

Join Lizzie Mintus on today’s episode of the Here’s Waldo podcast as she interviews Joshua Howard, the COO of OtherSide Entertainment, to talk about fostering employee growth through effective leadership. Joshua discusses the relationship between management and game design, how to be an effective leader, and the value of having a diverse team.

Join Lizzie Mintus for this episode of the Here’s Waldo Podcast, where she talks to Raph Koster, CEO of Playable Worlds, about gaming startups. Raph discusses how to raise startup funding, a 10-year outlook for the gaming industry, and what makes a video game fun.

Tune in on today’s episode of the Here’s Waldo Podcast as Lizzie Mintus welcomes Rafael Brown, Founder and CEO of Symbol Zero, to discuss how to pivot within the gaming world. Rafael shares how to survive the industry during uncertain times, tips for making online spaces safer, and why diversity and inclusion are vital to leadership.

Join Lizzie Mintus on this episode of the Here’s Waldo Podcast, where Joe Nickolls, Co-founder and Managing Director of Timbre Games, discusses how networking and relationships can influence career opportunities. Joe discusses Timbre Games’ talent acquisition process, the inspiration behind his viral #JoesImpact100 LinkedIn posts, and his journey into working in the video game industry.