Episodes

  • Meet a VP of Product Innovation! Featuring Diana Hughes from Age of Learning
    Nov 13 2024

    Exploring the Leadership and Game Design Career Paths with Diana Hughes | Careers in Esports Series 🎮

    Join us for an insightful conversation as Rich and Peter from the USAEL sit down with Diana Hughes, VP of Product Innovation and AI at Age of Learning. With a wealth of experience in building educational games, Diana shares her journey from studying game design at USC to developing mixed-media digital experiences, starting at Age of Learning as a game designer and growing to the position of VP of Product Innovation and AI.

    Whether you're a student aspiring to enter the gaming industry or an industry professional seeking inspiration, this webinar is sure to be a treasure trove of knowledge and insights.

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    59 mins
  • Meet a Product Marketing Manager! Featuring Robert Oles from Kabam
    Oct 30 2024

    Exploring the Esports Product Marketing Manager Career Path with Robert Oles | Careers in Esports Series 🎮

    In this edition, we explore the Marketing career pathway with Robert Oles, a Product Marketing Manager at Kabam. Robert graduated from Carleton University, where he founded Carleton Esports and was a Tespa coordinator. Later, after working with various esports and gaming organizations, including EA, Robert began working with Kabam, a Canadian video game developer and publisher.

    The podcast is a must-listen for students and educators alike, providing a unique perspective on the expanding realm of esports careers far beyond the more conventional roles of players and coaches.

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    37 mins
  • Meet a Video Game Designer! Featuring Matt Makuch from Sony Bend Studio
    Oct 16 2024

    Exploring the Video Game Designer Career Path with Matt Makuch | Careers in Esports Series 🎮

    With a wealth of experience in the gaming industry, Matt shares his journey from his college days to his current role, offering valuable insights and advice along the way.

    Early Aspirations: From discovering the world of video game development early on to solidifying his passion for game design in high school, Matt outlines the major milestones that shaped his career path.

    College Years: Matt delves into his college experience, detailing how each year contributed to his growth as a designer, culminating in leading his capstone team to success.

    Entry into Sony Bend: Learn how Matt's junior year project played a pivotal role in securing his position at Bend Studio, where he quickly immersed himself in the challenges of game development.

    Professional Growth: Discover Matt's journey, growth, and eventual promotion to Senior Technical Designer.

    Gain valuable industry insights as Matt reflects on his experiences working on projects like Days Gone and shares the lessons he's learned along the way. Whether you're a student aspiring to enter the gaming industry or an industry professional seeking inspiration, this webinar is sure to be a treasure trove of knowledge and insights.

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    44 mins
  • Meet a Game Production Engineer! Featuring Jordan Runyan from Bungie
    Oct 2 2024

    Exploring the Esports Game Production Engineer Career Path with Jordan Runyan | Careers in Esports Series 🎮

    In this edition, we explore the production engineer career pathway with Jordan Runyan, a Senior Production Engineer from Bungie. Having worked on Destiny 2 and with former experience as a test analyst for Blizzard's World of Warcraft, Jordan has a Bachelor's degree in Game Development and was the head coach and co-founder of the University of Utah's competitive esports program.

    While the specific role of a Production Engineer is somewhat unique to Bungie, demand is growing for similar roles at software and game development companies. At their core, production teams at game development studios drive organization and alignment.

    Production Engineers are force multipliers who use their expertise across Bungie systems and their passion for supporting others to augment the studio's effectiveness at shipping high quality content. Production Engineers are usually the first line of support called to aid various departments. They know who to talk to and where to find them. Production Engineers succeed when everyone can focus on what they do best.

    This series is a must-listen for students and educators alike, providing a unique perspective on the expanding realm of esports careers far beyond the more conventional roles of players and coaches.

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    47 mins
  • Special Edition - Meet the Team Behind the US Academic Esports League!
    Sep 18 2024

    Meet the USAEL team! Featuring Steven Cooper, Martin So, Sabrina Spadafino and our hosts, Rich Conti and Peter Polygalov | Careers in Esports Series 🎮

    This insightful episode features the dynamic team members behind the USA Esports League (USAEL) team! Meet our talented team members as they share their diverse backgrounds and educational journeys in esports, academics, and gaming. Discover the unique paths that led them to the exciting world of USAEL, how their experiences shaped their careers, and the role they play in fostering esports excellence. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the minds driving innovation in the esports and education landscape!

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    20 mins
  • Meet an Esports Director! Featuring Sky Kauweloa, Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii and Jay DeShong from Grand Canyon University
    Aug 21 2024

    Exploring the Esports Director Career Path with Jay Deshong and Sky Kauweloa | Careers in Esports Series 🎮

    In this edition, we explore the collegiate esports director career pathways with Nyle Sky Kauweloa, Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Jay DeShong from Grand Canyon University. Esports directors in postsecondary education institutions are responsible for managing and overseeing all aspects of the esports program on campus. This includes registering teams/players for competition, recruiting players for all supported titles, scheduling practice and match times, managing coaches for each title, and assisting with events as needed.

    The webinar is a must-attend for students and educators alike, providing a unique perspective on the expanding realm of esports careers far beyond the more conventional roles of players and coaches.

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Meet an Esports Physical Therapist! Featuring Dr. Matt Hwu, CEO and Founder of 1HP
    Aug 7 2024

    Exploring the Esports Physical Therapist Career Path with Dr. Matt Hwu | Careers in Esports Series 🎮

    Dr. Hwu has extensively contributed to the esports community by supporting athletes in optimizing their physical condition for gaming. He is also an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist with a deep-rooted interest in biomechanics and physical health.

    Dr. Hwu’s journey is a testament to the diverse career paths within esports. After completing his Physical Therapy education and an Orthopedic Residency, he embarked on a unique path that combined his love for gaming and healthcare, including launching the innovative 1HP - a platform that focuses on providing accessible healthcare to gamers and desk workers.

    This is a must-attend for students and educators alike, providing a unique perspective on the expanding realm of esports careers, far beyond the conventional roles of players and coaches!

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    1 hr
  • Meet a Game Developer! Featuring Andrew Sabri from Frost Giant
    Aug 7 2024

    Exploring the Game Developer Career Path with Andrew Sabri | Careers in Esports Series 🎮

    Esports has rapidly grown in popularity in recent years and has become an integral part of many educational institutions. However, many students still have questions about how to pursue a career in esports and what jobs are available outside of being a pro player.

    In this episode, Andrew Sabri will share his experiences and expertise on how to pursue a career in game development and design, including various connected career pathways, the roles of developers, directors, and engineers, and how gaming can be a catalyst for young people to pursue technology and computer science in education and the job market. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from an expert and gain valuable insights into the world of academic esports!

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    57 mins