This sponsored post is producd by the International Game Developers Association.

The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is the largest nonprofit membership organization in the world that serves all individuals who create games. The IGDA exists to advance the careers and enhance the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on issues that affect the developer community.

Following its mission, the IGDA conducted its successful Leadership Forums from 2007 to 2011.  These focused on advancing the state of the art in game production and management. The conferences were invaluable for game developers in leadership positions as well as for individuals who sought to improve their leadership skills. While “leadership” is most often associated with management, our goal is to empower game industry professionals to exhibit leadership in all its forms, regardless of their role in the process of game creation. To that end, we have sessions aimed at the following types of leadership roles:

  • Aspiring Leader: You’re a front-line contributor interested in progressing your career into a leadership role.
  • Leader of Others: You’re at the first line of leadership in your organization, responsible for one or more front line contributors. Examples: Lead programmer, mo-cap director.
  • Leader of Leaders: You obtain results by managing the performance of other leaders. Examples: executive producer, project lead.
  • Company Leader: You have responsibility for P&L’s and the performance of one or more products. Examples: Studio head, CEO, VP and above.

Whatever one’s role, and regardless of an individual’s experience, the Summit is designed to challenge them with diverse, dynamic speakers in both a lecture and workshop-style learning environment.

Why the specific emphasis on “leadership”? As the game industry continues to grow and mature, individuals and companies are ever-searching for new ways to explore games as an art form and to leverage game technology in new directions. These activities require leadership skills fundamentally built on the legacy of where we’ve come from in our industry but structured so as to help us discern where we can go. Creativity and business skills help individuals enter into the game industry, but leadership skills will enable them to evolve change the industry for the better.

The roster of presenters includes respected leaders and experts in and around the game industry, including our stellar keynotes:

  • Kristina Reed: the Oscar-winning producer of Big Hero 6 and the shorts “Paperman” and “Feast”
  • Rami Ismail: indie developer at Vlambeer (Super Crate Box, Ridiculous Fishing) and prolific speaker
  • Shannon Loftis: general manager of Microsoft Games Publishing
  • Scott Crabtree: the “chief happiness officer” at Happy Brain Science
  • Dean Takahashi of VentureBeat, interviewing Megan Gaiser of Contagious Creativity and Daniel Bernstein of the Corum Group

Already in Seattle for PAX Prime? Conveniently, stay just a few more days so as not to miss this great opportunity to grow and pivot your career on a newfound axis of engagement, innovation and creativity.

Get more information or register here.Register today with code LS15-DEAN to receive a 15 percent discount!

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