In "Unlocking Me / We / Us: Every Challenge is an Opportunity", Juney runs the audience through a vulnerable series of personal unlocks that have proven to be catalysts for her career, her teams & organisations, and the game industry at large. She hopes to inspire the realisation that every time a challenge feels intimidating or overwhelming, it's a signal of a high likelihood of personal growth & development!

This talk challenges traditional notions of leadership, emphasising that true leadership is defined by skills and mindset and not just hierarchical status. Whether you are new to a leadership role or who have been in a senior positions for a long time, the session delves into the essential qualities that constitute effective leadership. Andy explores the concept that everyone, regardless of their job title, has the potential to be a leader. He focuses on the importance of developing core leadership skills like communication, empathy, resilience, and the ability to inspire and motivate teams. These skills are crucial in adapting to and thriving in today's fast-paced work environments. Participants will gain insight into how leadership is not confined to those at the top of an organisational chart. Instead, it's about influencing and guiding others, making strategic decisions, and fostering a positive, productive workplace culture. Andy's talk promises to be interactive and thought-provoking, providing attendees with practical strategies to enhance their leadership capabilities.

In this interactive session titled "Communicate to Elevate," we'll focus on practical techniques for enhancing communication within your team. This talk will cover effective methods for setting clear expectations and delivering constructive feedback that fosters a culture of growth and collaboration. You'll learn specific strategies for setting goals and deadlines, framing feedback positively, and encouraging open dialogue. Whether you're in a leadership role or a team member, this session will equip you with actionable tools to improve your communication skills and strengthen team dynamics.

Explore the unique challenges and strengths of being neurodivergent in the games industry with Ash, Monica, Steph and Adam. This session covers key topics, including disclosing neurodivergence at work, identifying neurodivergent-friendly companies, navigating workplace dynamics and more. Gain insights on embracing your neurodivergent identity, advocating for yourself, and finding environments where you can truly thrive.

This talk will explore how game jams serve as an ideal starting point for discovering and nurturing talent. We’ll explain how developers can grow through mentorship, focusing on practical and communicative skills that prepare them to create valuable, commercially viable intellectual properties (IPs). These IPs can develop into studios or be acquired by established studios and accelerators. We'll also review key programs that can support this growth trajectory, helping emerging developers realize their potential.

In this presentation, you'll learn how to optimize your relationship with your PR firm by fostering clear and consistent communication. Discover the key information your PR team needs from you to craft impactful campaigns, and understand how to define and articulate your own expectations. We will explore how to set measurable goals, align on shared objectives, and ensure that everyone involved understands their role in the partnership, ultimately driving success and mutual satisfaction.

Making games is hard! How do Developers do it? Where are the resources? How do I make a living? In this lecture, we're going to dive in to some ways you can set realistic expectations and goals for game development. In particular, we'll hone in on ways you can protect your mental health and be good to yourself during Game Development. With Game Development getting more uncertain and difficult, we'll focus on sustainable practices, setting boundaries and keeping yourself afloat.

Join indie developer Carlos as they share insights on leading Eternal Guardian: Forbidden Portals from concept to AAA-quality development. This session covers strategies for building a clear vision, effective team communication, and overcoming indie-specific challenges.

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Cord Smith, Studio Head at Inevitable Studios, who brings over 25 years of experience across publishers, developers, and a game-centric creative agency. In this episode, Cord shares his unique perspective on the current climate of the game industry for indie developers, the importance of seeking meaningful partnerships and funding, and why he's betting on substance over trends and gimmicks.

We'll explore a variety of thought-provoking topics, including whether or not to use Kickstarter, the advantages of remote work and having an international team, and the differences in game development between Canada and the U.S. Cord also provides insights into the Unity versus Unreal debate, working with an agent versus going solo, and how to effectively cut through the noise on crowded platforms like Steam.

This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone in the indie game industry looking to navigate its challenges and opportunities.

Connect with Cord Smith:

Twitter: twitter.com/inevitablegood

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cordsmith

Facebook: facebook.com/inevitablegamestudios

Instagram: instagram.com/inevitablegamestudios

#IndieGameBusiness #GameIndustryInsights #CordSmith #InevitableStudios #GameDevelopment #IndieGames #RemoteWork #Kickstarter #UnityVsUnreal #GameFunding #IndustryTrends

Join us for an exciting conversation with Michael Yum, CEO of PM Studios, Inc., as he shares his incredible journey from starting in QA testing to founding his own company. With over 30 games produced and a passion for both game development and game collecting, Michael offers unique insights into the gaming industry and his experiences.

In this episode, Michael talks about his career progression, his love for video games, and what it's like to work on so many titles. He also shares stories about his massive game collection, how many games he's completed, and his thoughts on the state of the industry after decades of experience. Whether you're an aspiring game developer or a seasoned industry veteran, this episode is packed with valuable advice and entertaining anecdotes.

Topics Covered:

Why indie devs should do a physical release for their game

Michael's career journey: From QA tester to CEO

Producing over 30 games and lessons learned

The passion behind building a game collection

Thoughts on the state of the game industry

Balancing a career in games with a love for gaming

Reflections on decades of experience in game development

Connect with Michael Yum:

Twitter: https://x.com/balbnis

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-yum-a400726/

#IndieGameBusiness #GameDevelopment #GameIndustry #PMStudios #MichaelYum #GameCollecting #GameProduction #CareerInGames #VideoGames #GamingInsights