## Whats Absent in Your Enterprise? – Eco-Friendly Gaming – iGB
Just seven days before International Women’s Day, Jennifer Innes, the leader of a prominent gaming staffing agency, states that the sector is making headway in diversifying its personnel. However, there’s still a considerable amount of work to be done to bring women into the sector and reap the rewards of inclusive hiring practices.
**What’s Missing from Your Company?**
As a mother of two young twins and the head of a staffing agency, I’ve learned a thing or two about managing a hectic schedule. So I was surprised when a client recently requested that I only send them male applicants.
They were concerned about maternity leave and how dedicated women could be to the company. Needless to say, we declined to fill the position.
Unfortunately, this type of attitude is something many women still encounter, along with a more subtle but widespread assumption that the industry is for men.
Most job descriptions don’t explicitly state they want men. But they’re often crafted in a way that’s typically masculine.
If you ask someone to describe the perfect candidate for a new job, they often say, “He should have…”, “He should be…”, or “He should come from this specific industry…”. It’s up to you to decide if this is a careless use of pronouns or if it shows a way of thinking that already excludes women from the possible choices.
In my experience, this assumption often applies to me personally and my position in this company. I have been the Director of Gaming for almost ten years and have held senior positions for even longer. However, I am often mistaken for a secretary or receptionist when I answer the phone, something that never happens to my male colleagues.
To change this, a major change in the way people think about women in the workplace is needed. As a small part of this group, we should all speak up when we see this happening.
But here’s the good news – and there is good news – because things are changing. Last year, we saw a 26% increase in the number of women joining our industry. Many are in marketing, creative departments, and human resources. But there was also a 17% increase in tech, my area of expertise, and a 13% increase in operations. Most importantly, when we look for reasons for change, we see a higher percentage of women in top management positions than men.
For the last several months, we’ve brought on board women in key leadership roles. These include the Chief Marketing Officer for a bold cryptocurrency client, the Chief Human Resources Officer for a worldwide brand, and the Chief Compliance Officer for a company with significant growth plans this year.
They join a team of Regional Directors, Senior Project Managers, Finance Directors, and Casino Product Directors in the European market. These already successful women will mold the future of our field.
In certain US states, hiring quotas are now legally mandated, requiring diverse groups to be included in the applicant pool, and a specific percentage must be women. Many Europeans desire to see these quotas implemented here to eliminate the “old, male, and pale” workforce. However, despite the above experience, I don’t share that view.
Many of our clients have already begun to access the untapped and previously underutilized talent pool of women. It’s comforting that some of the largest and most recognized companies in our industry are also pushing for greater equality.
One group, with leading brands in several US and European markets, recently introduced an open submission agreement for qualified women in technical roles.
We strongly encourage the pursuit of exceptional female talent in fields traditionally dominated by men. We recognize that even without specific open positions, these candidates will be considered for any suitable roles.
Let fresh ideas and viewpoints thrive, which will set your clients apart from rivals who may be stuck in their ways and hinder progress.
Therefore, in honor of International Women’s Day, I urge you to take a look around your executive team and ask yourself what’s missing.
This isn’t merely about fulfilling a political correctness requirement or appearing to do the right thing. It’s about invigorating your company culture and embracing original concepts that may have been overlooked or dismissed in the past.
The future of this industry is already being shaped by remarkable women, many of whom are assisting businesses in setting their products apart. If you can afford to miss out, good luck. At least it might give you more time to pick up the children from school.
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