Lauren Bates, Vice President of Global Gaming Women and Vice President of Sales at Light & Wonder, recently stated that the quality of nominations for diversity-related awards in the gaming industry has significantly improved in recent years, reflecting the industry's increased focus on diversity and inclusion. As a member of the iGB Most Influential Women (MIW) jury, Bates noted that nominations have grown exponentially in level, diversity, and quantity. She encourages women in the industry to actively participate in the MIW selection process, with nominations closing on October 31 and the winners expected to be announced at the end of November. Bates also shared the development history of the GGW organization, emphasizing its important role in creating connections and community opportunities for women.
Development and Progress of Industry Diversity Awards
Lauren Bates, Vice President of Global Gaming Women, recently shared her observations on the development of diversity awards in the gaming industry. She pointed out that the quality of nominations for awards recognizing industry diversity and outstanding individuals has significantly improved in recent years, reflecting positive changes in the industry.
Bates particularly emphasized that this improvement is not only reflected in the number of nominations but also in the diversity and professional level of the nominations, indicating that the industry's attention to diversity issues is increasing.
Judging Experience and Professional Insights
As a member of the iGB Most Influential Women (MIW) jury for the second consecutive year, Bates has extensive judging experience. She stated, "I have participated in many judging panels and can confirm that the level, diversity, and quantity of nominations have all grown exponentially."
Bates believes this change is "incredible and exciting," indicating that the gaming industry has made substantial progress in professional development and diversity promotion.
Development of the Global Gaming Women Organization
Bates has played a key role in helping the Global Gaming Women (GGW) organization develop. The organization has grown into a multinational, diversified entity dedicated to supporting women's career development and hosting related events.
Looking back at the organization's development, Bates stated that GGW emerged at a time when the gaming industry most needed such an organization, filling a gap in building women's communities.
Personal Career Background and Role
In addition to her role at GGV, Bates is also the Vice President of Sales for slot machine supplier giant Light & Wonder, based in Las Vegas. This dual role allows her to observe the development of the gaming industry from both the supplier and industry organization perspectives.
Her cross-disciplinary experience brings a unique perspective and understanding to the judging work, helping to comprehensively assess the contributions and impact of nominees.
Industry Needs and Organizational Mission
Bates recalled that the motivation to establish GGW stemmed from observing the insufficient number of female members in the gaming industry. "We are really working hard to create these opportunities for building connections and communities," she explained.
The organization helps women in the gaming industry build stronger networks and richer resources by providing career development support and social opportunities.
Participation Encouragement and Nomination Initiative
Bates strongly encourages interested parties to actively participate in the iGB Most Influential Women selection process. She urges potential nominees to "act immediately" and encourages colleagues to submit their own work or recommend others.
This initiative aims to ensure that the selection fully reflects the diverse contributions and achievements of women in the gaming industry, showcasing the industry's broad talent pool.
Nomination Process and Schedule
The nomination for the iGB Most Influential Women selection is currently open and will officially end on October 31. Nominations can be submitted through officially designated channels, with a process designed to be simple and easy to operate.
The list of winners is expected to be announced at the end of November, at which time those women leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the gaming industry will be officially recognized.
Event Support and Follow-up Interviews
To support the call for entries, iGB will release more interview content during the Most Influential Women event. These materials will provide more references and inspiration for potential nominees.
Through these interviews, industry professionals can better understand the selection criteria and the qualities of excellent candidates, thereby improving the quality of nominations.
Industry Impact and Future Outlook
Bates' observations and encouragement reflect the positive trend in the gaming industry towards promoting diversity. As the quality of nominations improves, these awards are gradually becoming an important indicator of industry progress.
In the future, as more women gain recognition and support, the diversity and inclusiveness of the gaming industry are expected to continue to improve, creating a more equitable development environment for everyone.
