Category: Podcast

Ethan Evans is a career development expert dedicated to helping professionals overcome career blockages and advance to the next level. After retiring as VP from Amazon, where he built Prime Gaming, managed Amazon’s first game studio, and contributed to Twitch, he shifted his focus to paying forward his good fortune by assisting clients from top US companies. With 70+ patents, over 10,000 resumes reviewed, more than 2,500 interviews conducted, and experience leading global teams of 800+, Ethan offers a wealth of expertise. Join host Lizzie Mintus to explore his remarkable career journey, including insights on overcoming career challenges, the significance of proactivity and emotional intelligence, and practical advice for advancing your career.

Shawn Foust is the Co-founder and COO of Fortis Games, a global game studio with a mission to create worlds that matter – that challenge minds, build connections, and inspire communities. Before founding Fortis, Shawn was VP of Central Operations at WB Games after its acquisition of PlexChat, which he co-founded and led as CEO. Tune in to learn about his journey from a lawyer to an executive and founder of multiple studios. The episode also touches on Sean’s personal experiences with layoffs from both perspectives, scaling global remote teams, and navigating the ups and downs of startup life.

Chelsea Blasko, co-CEO and Partner of Iron Galaxy Studios, started as the company’s 13th employee and quickly became the catalyst behind the studio’s incredible expansion across multiple locations. Tune in to this week’s episode of the Here’s Waldo Podcast for exclusive insights on cultivating a values-driven culture and understanding the crucial role of diversity and mentorship in building a successful game studio.

Chris Melissinos is the Principal Evangelist for Video Games at AWS. In this episode of The Here’s Waldo Podcast, Chris shares his profound passion, rooted in the belief that video games are among the most significant art forms of our time, offering immersive experiences that connect people, convey powerful stories, and explore complex themes.

Every play counts, every story matters, and every game can leave a lasting imprint on human experience. Tune in to discover insights shedding light on the past, present, and promising future of video gaming as a creative and impactful medium.

Join Lizzie Mintus on this episode of the Here’s Waldo Podcast to dive into the secrets of driving business growth with Mike Wallen, Chief Commercial Officer at Keywords Studios. With over 29 years of experience, Mike’s career has been a fascinating journey from recruiter and agent to VP at Lakshya Digital, and now Global Business Development Director at Keywords. Since joining Keywords, Mike has played a pivotal role in scaling the company by 500% across 70 studios in over 25 countries. Tune in to learn more about his approach to business development, the importance of culture and values in scaling companies, and the innovative strategies that propelled Keywords Studios to the forefront of the game industry.

Jordan Weisman is a 40-year industry legend with four entrepreneurial company exits to Disney, Microsoft, Topps, and Paradox Interactive. Today, he is the CEO of Endless Adventures Inc., a no-code game creation platform designed to empower game designers, storytellers, authors, and artists to create their own narrative video games and drive innovation. Tune in to learn about Jordan’s journey and the key lessons he’s learned along the way.

Alyssa Walles is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in entertainment, gaming, tech, and publishing. Known for catalyzing innovation and driving revenue growth, Alyssa currently serves as the COO of Midwest Games and the Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association Foundation. In these roles, she leads initiatives to support an ecosystem for underrepresented developers in the gaming industry. Listen in for more on the art of deal making, advice for smaller companies and indie developers, and insights into board membership and advisory roles.

🎮 Wondering what it takes to build successful game franchises or start your own game studio? Join host Lizzie Mintus on the latest episode as she chats with Bill Roper, a gaming industry veteran behind iconic franchises like Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo. Beginning as employee #17 at Blizzard Entertainment, Bill rapidly ascended from voice actor and writer to Vice President within nine years. His distinguished career features executive roles at Flagship Studios, Cryptic Studios, Disney Interactive Central Creative at the Walt Disney Company, and Improbable World.Now the CEO of Lunacy Games, Bill Roper shares invaluable advice on turning vision into reality. Learn about handling adversity, building strong teams, and creating a lasting impact in the gaming industry.

Sarah Anderson is the Head of Global Marketing and Partnerships at Amazon Games. With over 30 years of experience in the gaming industry, Sarah has held strategic roles at Sega, Canopy, 2K Games, and now Amazon Games, where she leads growth initiatives and fosters community for major titles like New World and Lost Arc, along with overseeing upcoming releases. Join us as we uncover Sarah’s career journey, gain insights into building effective teams and nurturing talent, and uncover the authentic marketing strategies that have shaped the success of renowned titles like Bioshock, Borderlands, and Civilization, as Sarah provides a behind-the-scenes look at her impactful contributions to the gaming world.

Perrin Kaplan is a global strategic marketing and communications C-level executive known for her award-winning work in tech, entertainment, consumer products, gaming, mixed reality, AI, and more. Noted in several books, documentaries, and publications, Perrin co-founded female-owned Zebra Partners, a global communications and integrated marketing firm following her role as Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Affairs for Nintendo.

Perrin shares her remarkable journey, from her early career in government to becoming a pivotal force in video game marketing. Tune in to gain valuable insights into branding, differentiation, strategic partnerships, crisis management, and the evolution of the gaming industry, along with a glimpse into Perrin’s impactful nonprofit work through Saving Great Animals, a large active nonprofit rescuing and having homed more than 9000 dogs.