Gamers Change Lives

Season 6: New Voices, New Perspectives

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change.

In Season 6, we’re doing ...

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change.

In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over ...

Season 6: New Voices, New Perspectives

Episode 2: The Power of Tournament Organizers in African Esports

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pas...

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change.

In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over ...

Summary

In this final episode of Season 5  the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard speaks with Barry Louzada and Carly Twaddle from South Africa about their gaming journeys, the evolution of e-sports in the region, the challenges faced in gaming infrastructure, and the growing presence of women in e-sports. They discuss the importance of community, job creation in the gaming industry, and the hiring process for gaming-rel...

Summary

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard engages with two women from Africa, Bambina and Dabi, to discuss their experiences in the eSports industry. They share their personal journeys into gaming, the challenges and opportunities they have encountered, and the importance of female representation in the gaming community. The conversation highlights the various roles available in eSports beyond jus...

Summary

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard speaks with Sultan and Nestor from Saudi Arabia about their journeys in the gaming and eSports industry. They discuss the rapid growth of eSports in Saudi Arabia, the establishment of Levels Gaming Group, and the importance of networking in securing jobs in the industry. Sultan shares insights on the hiring process and the qualities they look for in potent...

Summary

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard engages with guests Adam Hobbs and Jihyeok Choi to explore the evolving landscape of the eSports job market. They discuss personal journeys into the gaming industry, the importance of career development and education in eSports, and the challenges and strategies involved in seeking international opportunities. The conversation highlights the competitive na...

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard delves into the vibrant world of esports shoutcasting in Africa with three dynamic guests: Alex ‘Slymorh’ Boateng, a renowned Ghanaian esports shoutcaster; Elijah ‘Kal’ Jefia, an esports caster and analyst from Ace Gamers; and Calebson Agbenyega, the founder and CEO of Ace Gamers Esports Ghana.

The discussion covers their personal journeys into esports, the challe...

Summary

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard speaks with Ben Finnegan and Emma O'Neill from Feenix Group about their personal journeys into the gaming industry, the evolution of their agency, and the importance of networking and diversity in eSports. They discuss their current roles, the significance of real-world experience in hiring, and how self-promotion can lead to career opportunities in the ...

Summary

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard dives into e-sports and game development careers with Darren Butler, a gaming recruiter, and Oliver Collier, a gameplay programmer at Endreams. They explore their unique journeys into the gaming industry, covering what recruiters seek in developer candidates, the importance of research, and how networking can pave the way to success. The conversation also ...

Summary

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard engages with guests Sheila Cruz, Jem Sagcal, and Yen ( Adrienne Moya ) from Tier 1 Entertainment to discuss the evolving landscape of eSports and job creation within the industry. Shiela is the people operations director, Jem is the senior marketing writer and Yen is a marketing intern all at Tier One Entertainment. They share personal gaming stories, insi...

Summary

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Marlon Melo from Team Secret in Brazil and Adrian from the UK. They discuss their journeys in esports and their current roles in the industry. Marlon is the head coach and team manager for Team Secret's Rainbow Six Siege project, while Adrian is a player on the team. They talk about the responsibilities of their roles, the difference between a m...

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Martin Elonge, the director of Mountain Hub, a startup accelerator in Cameroon. They discuss the mission and programs of Mountain Hub, including ecosystem building, capacity building, and venture building. Martin explains the difference between startups and SMEs and emphasizes the importance of business skills for entrepreneurs. He also shares insights ...

In this episode, Tom Leonard interviews Mai Phan, the founder of Propel, a startup that builds job simulations to better train nurses. Mai shares her journey from Vietnam to Norway and explains how she started Propel. She discusses the challenges nurses face in the healthcare industry and how Propel's simulations aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Mai also talks about her experience participating in incubator and ac...

In this episode, host Tom Leonard interviews Mirko Minenza, the Business Strategy Manager at Antal and a gaming enthusiast. They discuss Mirko's background in gaming and his journey into the gaming industry. They also explore the challenges and opportunities in the gaming industry, including the impact of the pandemic and the differences between European and US game development companies. Mirko shares advice for those interested in...

In this episode, host Tom Leonard interviews Daniel Kwaku Merki, the founder of Boxplay Ventures, a venture builder and startup consultant in Africa. They discuss the role of Boxplay Ventures in supporting early-stage financing for startups and SMEs, as well as providing operational support and strategic guidance. Daniel shares his background in investment banking and how it influenced his decision to focus on supporting entreprene...

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Andreas Johansson, CEO of SSE Business Lab, a startup incubator, and accelerator based in Stockholm. They discuss the difference between incubators and accelerators, the selection criteria for participants, and the importance of founders in startup success. Andreas also shares insights on networking, coaching, and mentoring in the startup ecosystem. He ...

In this episode, Tom Leonard talks with Glenn Gillis and Bella Rogerson from Sea Monster and Games for Change Africa. They discuss the power of games to create social impact and drive change. They also talk about the role of storytelling in games and the importance of collaboration within the gaming industry. The conversation highlights the work of Games for Change Africa in promoting impactful games and supporting game developers ...