Guest author: Judy Guan
Steamforged Games is my first experience working in the gaming industry, so it has been four and a half years as a woman in gaming. It has been an exciting few years with plenty of challenges and achievements that I am very proud of.
I have always loved the aesthetics of tabletop and miniature games, but until I actually worked for Steamforged, it was impossible to understand the level of work and effort that goes into it. The passion and dedication that goes into the development, making and playing of games makes this a very unique industry. I have gained a new level of appreciation for the discipline, expertise, and talents required to develop tabletop games.
In the past few years, the tabletop games industry has become increasingly professional and dynamic. Steamforged Games is part of that trend, transforming itself from a start-up studio to a major player in the market.
The successful delivery of a project, from the noticeable improvement in our operations, and the ability to continue the growth of the company year on year is one of the best aspects of the job. Another very significant part that has made this such a fantastic job for me, is the people I work with – from day one, I felt how different this is from other industries I have worked for. There is a very warm and friendly feeling in the workplace.
To date, my biggest achievement is definitely transforming Steamforged Games’ business operations – making the production and fulfilment part of the business work much more efficiently by careful strategic planning and day-to-day implementations. The improvement has made sure that in the past four years, we have successfully delivered all our projects on plan. It has solidified my understanding that in order to make it a sustainable success, it’s never down to one person. The team that is required to deliver the plan is the most valuable asset to the business.
Generally speaking, as a woman in business, especially in executive roles, we are still a minority. Throughout my career, there have been times when I came across conscious and subconscious bias, whether it’s related to gender, age, race or otherwise. I am also very glad to see the awareness of these issues and the empowerment of minority groups are much greater now compared to that at the beginning of my working life. I work in an environment where I can feel comfortable, not being held back by any bias that is not relevant to my qualification or ability, which is part of the reason I am able to deliver the performance the business needs.
My advice to other women looking to progress in their careers would be to focus on self-improvement, trust in your ability, face up to challenges and voice your opinions, especially to your boss!
