The Here's Waldo Podcast

David Elton brings nearly three decades of expertise in the game industry, having worked with top studios like Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Zynga, and Capcom. He has held diverse roles from Vice President - Product to Creative Director, contributing to a wide array of titles from Microsoft's Solitaire to iconic franchises like Need For Speed and SSX. Today, David serves as the Fractional COO at Dave Elton Consulting, guiding studios in striving for operational excellence while they develop their best games possible. Join us to explore David's role as a fractional executive, his insights on game development and business development, and his contribution to Mario Kart Bowser's Challenge for Universal Studios, the first major attraction to incorporate AR. The discussion highlights the intersection of virtual and physical worlds in gaming and theme parks, offering a glimpse into the future of interactive entertainment.

Yonatan Raz-Fridman is the CEO and founder of Supersocial, Inc., a pioneering studio that builds boundary-pushing virtual worlds on immersive social platforms like Roblox. Roblox is the most engaging platform on the Internet, with its 72 million daily active users spending an average of 2.4 hours per day—three times more than TikTok and five times more than Instagram. Brands are racing to tap into these immersive gaming experiences, and Supersocial is at the forefront, setting new standards in interactive and engaging digital experiences for the next generation. Discover Supersocial's innovative collaborations with influential brands like NARS Cosmetics and GUCCI, and learn about Yon's vision for shaping the future potential of Roblox as a platform for gaming, social interaction, and commerce.

Justin Sacks has worn many hats in his 15+ years in the game industry—from competitive gamer to content creator to leading business development for a global multimedia game company. Today, he serves as the CEO of Nexus, a platform specializing in building and managing creator programs for the world's top live service games. Nexus provides a comprehensive platform that not only supports creators but also offers publishers key insights into their performance. Tune in to learn about the evolution of game marketing, the significant impact and potential of content creators, and effective strategies for incentivizing creators to authentically engage with games they truly love, fostering long-term partnerships and sustainable content creation.

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. Prior to that, he served as SVP of Business Operations at Machine Zone following its acquisition of Quark Games, where he was also 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. She has been instrumental in guiding the studio’s leaders through product development and collaboration. She also established Iron Galaxy’s career coaching program, ensuring every employee has a senior mentor to support their career growth and interests. Tune in for exclusive insights on cultivating a values-driven culture and understanding the crucial role of diversity and mentorship in building a successful game studio.

🎮 Ever wondered how video games made it to the Smithsonian? What does it mean to be a Game Evangelist? How do you figure out what gamers really want? In this episode of the Here's Waldo Podcast, Chris Melissinos, the Principal Evangelist for Video Games at AWS, shares his profound passion, rooted in the belief that video games are among the most significant art forms of our time, offering immersive, interactive experiences that connect people, convey powerful stories, and explore complex themes. Melissinos' work, from his role as Chief Gaming Officer at Sun Microsystems to his involvement with the Smithsonian on 'The Art of Video Games Exhibition', showcases his dedication to highlighting the cultural, technological, and educational value of video games. 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 us as we 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. His key insight? Understanding the fundamental importance of client-centric leadership. 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. His achievements include winning over 100 awards, becoming a New York Times bestselling author, and co-creating iconic tabletop games such as BattleTech, Shadowrun, MechWarrior, and Earthdawn. 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. From founding groundbreaking companies like FASA to spearheading innovative projects at Microsoft and launching Endless Adventures, 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, she has played a key role in launching the Walt Disney gift catalog, Sony PlayStation, and negotiating National Sports League agreements for the video game franchise Backyard Sports with the NFL, MLB, and NBA. In addition to her new role as the COO of Midwest Games, an indie game publisher, Alyssa serves as an executive director with the International Game Developers Association Foundation, a global charitable organization that provides professional development programs to underrepresented and marginalized developers and individuals building their careers within the game 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. Starting as employee #17 at Blizzard Entertainment, Bill's journey took him from voice actor and writer to Vice President in just nine years. His impressive career includes roles as CEO and co-founder of Flagship Studios, CCO at Cryptic Studios, and VP GM of Core Games and Head of Disney Interactive Central Creative at the Walt Disney Company. He also served as CCO at Improbable World in London and co-founded Author Digital in Washington. 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.

In this episode of the Here's Waldo Podcast, host Lizzie Mintus sits down with Sarah Anderson, 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.

Join host Lizzie Mintus in this episode of the Here's Waldo Podcast as she sits down with Perrin Kaplan, 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.

Join host Lizzie Mintus as she interviews inventor and entrepreneur Jeri Ellsworth, co-founder of Tilt Five, the world's first augmented reality tabletop gaming system. 🏁 From building race cars and owning a computer store chain to creating toys for millions, her early achievements set the stage for a groundbreaking career. She then moved on to creating an entire Commodore 64 into one of its iconic joysticks 🕹️, played a pivotal role in creating components found in most VR headsets today, and even convinced the legendary, Gabe Newell at Valve to sell her the technology that is now Tilt Five. Driven by grit and a passion for tech innovation, Jeri continues to enhance gaming experiences worldwide by pushing boundaries in AR. Listen in to this week's episode of the Here's Waldo Podcast to explore Jeri's early adventures to breaking into Silicon Valley and her take on the future of AR in games.

Join host Lizzie Mintus as she sits down with Charles 'Chuck' Tolman, a seasoned CTO/CIO with a rich history in the video game industry. Chuck's career began at Atari in 1993, and he has since made significant contributions to over 30 games, including major franchises such as titles like Spider-Man, Call of Duty, and The Walking Dead. In this episode, Chuck shares his journey beginning with his unexpected start in game development to becoming CTO at studios like The Workshop, acquired by Skydance. Discover Chuck's insights on how his leadership propelled Skydance's success in VR gaming, and explore valuable tips for VR game development, including navigating technical challenges, creating immersive experiences, and balancing gameplay mechanics.

Jen Donahoe is a publishing, marketing, and growth leader with over 20 years of experience in the game, toy, and entertainment industries. She started her career in the toy industry at Hasbro, Disney, and Mattel before moving to the game industry, where she led marketing and growth teams at EA, Zynga, Scopely, and Riot. Today, she is a strategic marketing consultant at Beta Hat and Jade Inferno Consulting. Tune in for insights on the importance of integrating marketing strategies early in the game development process, highlighting the impact on consumer insights and overall success. We also discuss the significance of company culture, employee treatment, and the role of diversity and allyship in creating a thriving workplace.

Join host Lizzie Mintus, and guest Scott Hartsman, as they dive deep into the secrets to creating successful live games, streamlining hiring processes, and making tough decisions as a leader. Scott's extensive track record speaks for itself, with a portfolio of successes dating back to the early days of online gaming. From EverQuest 1 and 2 to Rift, Trove, ArcheAge, Gemstone, Scepter, and even online Warcraft, his contributions have generated billions in revenue and engaged hundreds of millions of players. Currently, he serves as an advisor at Brain Jar Games and is an active investor in various companies.

🎮💡 Unpopular Opinion: #DEI isn't just one person's job! Hiring a DEI specialist or expecting marginalized employees to carry the burden of change isn't going to magically transform your culture. So how can we truly promote positive DEI change? Join us as we sit down with Trinidad Hermida-Black, the Executive Director of Black in Gaming Foundation and CEO of The Hermida Company, focusing on "Building Equity through Empathy." Her work includes shaping inclusive strategies at billion-dollar corporations, launching Niantic's Black Developers Initiative, and so much more. Listen now for insights on hiring for potential, fostering genuine internal communities, overcoming imposter syndrome, navigating board positions, and Trinidad's personal cheat codes for success.

Join us as we sit down with Russell Ovans, Board Member at East Side Games (ESG). Russell is a free-to-play games executive with a Ph.D. in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence). His diverse career includes founding Backstage Technologies, teaching college, holding executive roles in a tech incubator, and owning a brewery. In 2018, he returned to ESG, where he played a pivotal role in quadrupling the company's revenue and leading it through its IPO. Russell is also the author of "Game Analytics, Retention and Monetization in Free to Play Mobile Games. Tune in to explore key topics such as the importance of having a growth mindset, understanding data literacy across gaming roles, and navigating career paths both within and outside the gaming industry.

Join us as we sit down with Don McGowan, former General Counsel at Bungie. If you're in the game industry, you've likely heard about Bungie's groundbreaking lawsuit protecting employees from online threats, aka the "Pizza Attack." Don orchestrated the whole process and is here to share the behind-the-scenes details in full. Don's career in the entertainment industry also included stops at The Pokémon Company International and Xbox Game Studios Publishing, where he launched some of the biggest IPs in gaming. Tune in as we dive into the legal side of the gaming industry, discussing topics like employee safety and employer obligations, brand IP and M&A strategies, AI and copyright Issues, the Epic Games vs Apple antitrust lawsuit, and more.