Case study · Games · 2019
Games Career Incubator
A free four-month program helping women and non-binary games practitioners step up into senior roles — and stay in the industry for the long haul.
Funded by Film Victoria and run by Girl Geek Academy, the Incubator built on Film Victoria’s earlier Women in Games initiative and our work throughSheMakesGames.
Cohort
62
Women and non-binary games practitioners across Victoria — up from 25 places planned
Duration
4 months
Online modules and in-person events
Funding
$50,000
Film Victoria · free for participants
The problem
Women made up around 22% of the games industry workforce, despite being nearly half of all players. And the women who do get in often don’t stay long enough to reach senior roles.
“We need more women and non-binary talent in senior games roles, and to make sure they have extended careers.”
How it worked
From late April to August 2019: mentoring, network building and practical training — topics ranged from public speaking to career sustainability. Participants committed to every event, workshop and piece of mentor “homework”.
Monthly cohort breakfasts
The whole cohort together each month — building the peer network that keeps people in the industry.
Tailored learning
1:1 and group sessions shaped around each person’s goals, mixing online modules with in-person events.
Access to industry leaders
Mentoring and networking, online and in person, with senior people from Victoria’s games industry.
Graduation breakfast
A final breakfast to celebrate the cohort and meet industry VIPs.
A community, not just a course
“We had no trouble finding those 55 women, but those 55 women would rarely be able to find each other.”
Every participant was matched with a mentor. Mentors included senior people from:
- League of Geeks
- EA Firemonkeys
- Hipster Whale
- Tin Man Games
- Mountains
- Kpow Audio
- Valve
- 1MoreStoryGames
- RMIT
- Game Developers’ Association of Australia
What participants achieved
From participant feedback after the program:
- Started new jobs at AAA studios — including a dream role at a AAA studio in the UK
- Progressed from junior engineer to mid-level technical artist at a major international studio
- Shipped commercial games — including a first release as Lead Artist
- Had game music performed by a live 13-piece orchestra at underSCORE, PAX 2019
- Won a scholarship to the Grace Hopper Conference in the USA
- Received a Freeplay Award, and a Highly Commended at the Premier’s Design Awards
- Landed first paid game commissions and freelance contracts
- Negotiated pay rises, moved into new roles — and got headhunted
“I feel empowered to talk about and negotiate pay. I feel really confident with job applications. I got head hunted by someone!”
“The program was invaluable to me. I was in my first year of games employment on a temporary contract, and was feeling extremely lost … My mentor was a genuine life saver.”
“My confidence and feelings of self-worth regarding my value and contributions to the industry have been boosted in such a positive way.”
The final breakfast
Funded by Film Victoria
Film Victoria invested $50,000 to support a Victorian games industry where women and non-binary practitioners are equal.
In the press
- Women’s Agenda: Girl Geek Academy launches Games Career Incubator with big investment from Film Victoria
- Startup Daily: Girl Geek Academy launches Games Career Incubator for women and non-binary people in games industry
- PowerUp!: Girl Geek Academy launches Games Career Incubator
- Women Love Tech: Girl Geek Academy launches new Games Career Incubator
Run an incubator with us
Games, tech or any industry losing women mid-career — we design and deliver career incubators that keep them in. See more from SheMakesGames and ourother case studies.