Open Gaming Alliance’s New Creative Leadership Special Interest Group Launches First Initiative –
Women in Software and Entertainment Representation
BEAVERTON, Ore. and SAN FRANCISCO, Ca; August 11, 2016 –The Open Gaming Alliance (OGA), a non-profit trade association focused on the business of the games industry, in collaboration with Unity Technologies, today announced the launch of WISER (Women in Software and Entertainment Representation), a professional speakers bureau for women in games, entertainment, VR/AR and technology.
WISER is a collective of female professionals working in gaming, entertainment, VR/AR and technology interested in speaking on panels, emceeing, presenting at public events and teaching workshops. These women are experts in their field and speak on topics ranging from leadership, product management, engineering, design, and market trends. WISER includes company representatives and thought-leaders, independent creators, and business professionals.
The OGA is officially kicking off recruitment for the speakers bureau and is asking women interested in speaking to sign up here: WISER.
A long-time proponent of supporting equal opportunities for women and minorities, Wanda Meloni, executive director of the Open Gaming Alliance and CEO of M2 Advisory Group explains, “We believe having a wide range of experiences and voices does more to help business excel. We are thrilled to be partnering with Unity as one of OGA’s corporate members to bring this great resource to fruition.”
The goal of WISER is to evolve the conversation from getting women in the fields of gaming, entertainment, VR/AR and technology, to normalizing their visibility and representation at events and on industry stages. The overall objective is to encourage and enable women to be on stage speaking about their specific area of expertise.
Professional women interested in speaking at industry events and conferences can visit WISER and fill out the speaker profile form, without fear of that personal information being sold or shared for other purposes. The OGA will then coordinate with various conference organizers and OGA corporate members looking to broaden their speaker list. Please contact Wanda Meloni to get additional information or request access.
Unity recently announced its commitment to empower and encourage women in the greater gaming community and boost gender diversity, beginning with their first initiative, the Women in Gaming workshop series.
“We’re passionate about encouraging women’s participation in the broader gaming community, of which events and conferences are a vital part,” said Elizabeth Brown, Chief People Officer at Unity Technologies. “By making it easier for qualified women to contribute to the conversation, we can ensure their voices are heard and contributions recognized while continuing to lay the groundwork for the next generation of professionals to come.”
With the launch of WISER, the Open Gaming Alliance also announced the formation of the OGA Creative Leadership Special Interest Group (SIG). With the focus of building a positive and diverse entrepreneurial spirit, the Creative Leadership SIG will work to build awareness, disseminate creative and diverse approaches and practices, and support leadership enhancement initiatives and opportunities.
Megan Gaiser, CEO at Spiral Media LTD, will be the Diversity Strategist and Co-Chair working in tandem with Co-Chair Cindi Wiggin, game dev event manager and diversity lead from Intel. Megan Gaiser says,
“I am excited to support the OGA and its members to ensure diversity of people and thought becomes integrated as an organizational priority,.” And Cindi Wiggin continues, “I’m thrilled to be part of this leadership and diversity SIG that will drive impact and change around gender diversity in the gaming industry. Prioritizing diversity and empowering girls and women with computing and leadership skills is a personal passion. Let’s all #LeanInTogether.”
Related: Open Gaming Alliance Teams Up with Vuzix
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