In this episode of The Talent Game podcast, I speak with Nick Button-Brown, a gaming industry veteran with nearly 30 years of experience. We explore Nick’s journey from accounting to gaming, his role as an angel investor, and what makes a startup investable. The conversation covers balancing creativity with delivery in game development, the impact of leadership on team culture, and the evolving role of AI in games. Nick also shares insights on hiring, team dynamics, and the importance of authenticity and self-reflection in building strong teams.

🎮 Balancing Creativity & Execution – Great game development isn’t just about big ideas; it’s about delivering them effectively. Startups often fail by prioritizing creativity without considering execution. The best teams iterate rapidly, refining their vision while staying grounded in production realities.

🚀 What Makes a Team Investable – Investors look for teams with a mix of experience, adaptability, and the ability to learn from failure. Passion is important, but startups need leaders who understand both the commercial and creative sides of gaming, ensuring long-term sustainability.

🤝 Leadership & Team Culture Shape Success – Strong leadership isn’t just about honesty; it’s about knowing when and how to deliver tough messages while maintaining morale. Hiring should focus on team fit and diverse skill sets, with self-awareness and emotional intelligence playing a key role in building and scaling great teams.

In this episode of The Talent Game Podcast, I speak with Olivia Yu about her transition from the entertainment industry to gaming and tech. We explore the role of partnerships in business, shifting workplace cultures, and the impact of leadership and mentorship. Olivia highlights the importance of inclusivity, particularly for women in the industry, and shares insights on how technology can drive positive change. The conversation wraps up with advice for aspiring professionals and a look at what the future holds.

Key Takeaways

• Partnerships and inclusivity drive business success – Strong collaborations enhance growth, and diverse workplaces lead to better decision-making.
• Women in tech face unique challenges – Amplifying women's voices in meetings and fostering mentorship can create more equitable opportunities.
• Adaptability is key to career success – Embracing continuous learning and understanding cultural differences help navigate evolving industries.

In this episode, I speak with Bruce Grove, CTO of Avantis Education, about his journey from gaming to EdTech. Bruce shares his experience working at Sun Microsystems, Dell, OnLive, and Polystream, highlighting the evolution of cloud gaming and how VR and gamification are transforming education. He discusses the challenges of building startups, the importance of trust and co-founder chemistry, and why curiosity and adaptability are essential for leadership. The episode also covers effective hiring and interviewing techniques, fostering genuine connections, and creating a strong company culture that drives success.

• Gaming & EdTech Innovation: Bruce shares his career path from building his own games to working at Sun Microsystems, Dell, OnLive, and Polystream, highlighting the evolution of cloud gaming and its impact on VR in education.
• Leadership & Startups: He emphasizes the importance of trust, chemistry with co-founders, and psychological safety in building successful teams, along with how curiosity and adaptability drive great leadership.
• Hiring & Culture: Bruce discusses effective interview techniques, fostering genuine connections, and creating a culture of openness that enables teams to grow and succeed.

In this episode of The Talent Game Podcast, I sat down with Jon Warner, a seasoned executive with over two decades in the video game industry. Jon shares his unconventional path from military intelligence to gaming, beginning in QA before rising through the ranks at major studios like Microsoft and BioWare. We explore the importance of aligning teams with a shared vision, the unique challenges of mobile vs. console development, and the evolving landscape of the industry. Jon also reflects on the critical role of talent, resilience, and learning from failure in building successful teams and projects.

• A Clear Vision Drives Success – Aligning teams on a shared vision empowers autonomy and creativity, leading to stronger project execution.
• Talent and Culture Matter Most – Success in gaming hinges on fostering great talent, creating a positive culture, and treating people well.
• Failure Fuels Growth – Setbacks are invaluable learning experiences that shape both personal and professional development.

Apologies, parts of this episode includes echo that I couldn't remove in editing. I hope it doesn't take away from all of the fantastic insights that Matt shares!

In this episode of The Talent Game Podcast, I speak to Matt Hearnden, a former senior recruiter at Activision Blizzard King, about breaking into the gaming industry, personal branding and job-seeking strategies in a competitive market. We explore the power of networking, content creation on LinkedIn and the importance of finding one’s voice. Matt shares insights on how simple, engaging content can boost visibility, how leveraging brand recognition aids career growth and how authenticity fosters meaningful connections.

• Personal branding and content creation: Establishing a strong LinkedIn presence and sharing valuable insights can open doors in the gaming industry.
• Networking and engagement: Proactive networking and being part of industry communities create more career opportunities.
• Authenticity and simplicity: Genuine content, bite-sized posts, and well-designed interview questions resonate more with job seekers and hiring teams.

In this episode of The Talent Game, I speak with Vanessa Mullin, VP of Sales & Marketing at Scenario, about her journey from travel to tech, the evolving role of AI in gaming, and the challenges of balancing parenthood with a fast-paced career. We explore the shifting cultural landscape in the gaming industry, the importance of diversity in hiring, and the contrast between working at startups and big tech companies. Vanessa shares her insights on sales strategies, the introversion-extroversion spectrum in sales, and the power of storytelling in interviews.

Key Takeaways:

• AI & Diversity in Gaming – AI is becoming a widely accepted tool in game development, and diverse teams drive innovation and better decision-making.
• Sales & Hiring Strategies – Selling to developers requires a thoughtful, non-extroverted approach, and hiring for "culture fit" can sometimes limit diversity and fresh perspectives.
• Startups vs. Big Tech – Startups offer more flexibility and trust, allowing for greater experimentation, while big tech companies often have more rigid structures.

In this episode of The Talent Game podcast I chat with Charlie Ruck, Head of Games at True Search, about his transition from finance to gaming, the nuances of executive search in the industry and the vital role passion and culture play in leadership. We explore how building strong relationships, understanding corporate goals and fostering creativity are key to successful hires in the competitive gaming landscape.

Takeaways

• Passion & Culture Matter: Hiring leaders from outside gaming requires a strong cultural fit and genuine passion for the industry—traits that often outweigh traditional experience.
• Executive Search Nuances: Executive searches in gaming are relationship-driven, averaging 120 days to close and require balancing creativity with corporate objectives.
• The Power of Connection: Gaming isn’t just about products; it's about people and the lasting connections they create, both in-game and within teams.

In this episode of The Talent Game podcast, I sit down with Liat Barer, Chief Product Officer at Odeeo, to explore her journey through the ad tech and gaming industries. They discuss the rapid evolution of mobile gaming, the challenges of hiring in high-growth startups and the contrasting dynamics between corporate and startup cultures. Liat shares valuable insights on what makes an effective hiring process, the importance of understanding team dynamics and the key qualities to look for in candidates. The conversation emphasises adaptability, continuous learning and how real-world experience shapes both product leadership and talent strategy.

Takeaways

• Hiring for more than skills – The best hires aren’t just technically strong; they fit the culture, adapt quickly and bring problem-solving abilities.
• Corporate vs. Startup Mindset – Corporates require patience and structure, while startups demand agility, resilience and a willingness to fail fast.
• The power of real-life examples – Asking candidates for real-world stories reveals deeper insights into their strengths and thinking process.
• Stakeholder management is key – Great product leaders balance the needs of diverse teams, from engineering to business.
• Continuous learning wins – Both hiring and leadership are ever-evolving skills that require adaptability and growth.