During the recent Next World Forum held in Riyadh, which stands as the world's largest esports and gaming conference, attendees, including industry leaders and experts, made an interesting observation: Saudi Arabia appears to boast a gaming sector that is more gender-diverse in comparison to its American counterpart.
Jessica Tams, CEO of Seven Falls, joined a panel discussion titled "Breaking the Code: Challenges for Women in Gaming Leadership," along with notable women from the esports industry like Holly Liu (PKO Investments), investor Boyoung Kim, and adviser/investor Fan Shen. This panel aimed to explore the triumphs and difficulties faced by women in the male-dominated gaming industry, including overcoming prejudices and confronting tough career choices.
From Pixels to Powerhouses, women Pioneers in Gaming Leadership. Join the Journey into a World Beyond the Screen #NextWorldForum pic.twitter.com/kPjArFDlJi
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Holly Liu revealed a surprising statistic that in the United States, women make up only 20 percent of the gaming industry. In contrast, Jessica Tams noted that Saudi Arabia surpasses this percentage in its game development studios due to government initiatives and training fostering a gender-neutral, data-driven environment that supports women's career advancement.
A standout illustration is Manga Productions, a leading Saudi game development company. Jessica Tams highlighted their remarkable 60 percent female workforce, crediting this success to programs that nurture young talent, send them abroad for training, and benefit from the expertise of highly qualified women returning to enrich the industry.
In comparison, it is still difficult to find female executives in the American gaming industry. Gryphon Gaming Partners sought to monitor the proportion of firms with female cofounders during the previous year, but Boyoung Kim said that growth had stalled. Consequently, they shifted their focus to actively seek out female founders, identifying candidates with relevant experiences and offering them additional support and mentorship to create a more equitable landscape.
Research from the University of California Los Angeles underscored the significance of gender balance in decision-making. It showed that women are more likely to express their views when the room includes a minimum of 30 percent women.
The gaming industry poses substantial challenges for women, including entrenched male-dominated cultures, wage disparities, and feelings of being marginalized. Female leaders are actively tackling these issues by promoting gender diversity, fostering safe environments for growth, advocating for themselves and fellow women, and creating new opportunities. They acknowledge that diverse leadership is a catalyst for innovation, growth, and creativity, making it a crucial strategic imperative for businesses.
Fan Shen encapsulated this sentiment, highlighting the increasing economic power of females and the benefits that female leadership brings to a company.
