"Establishing credibility was my biggest hurdle as a young entrepreneur"

To mark International Women's Day we reached out to the games industry to secure a snapshot of the women working in across games today. We're highlighting the work they do and get their tips on how to break into the sector.

In this interview we speak to WalkMe Mobile Solutions founder and CEO Lígia Gonçalves about building WalkMe Mobile Solutions to a company with 40 million downloads worldwide, and the challenges facing women and young entrepreneurs in the games sector.

PocketGamer.biz: First can you tell us a little about yourself, how do you get started in the industry? 

Lígia Gonçalves: My passion for technology and gaming started in my childhood, playing all kinds of games. At 14, I discovered programming and was hooked. The ability to create, innovate, and bring ideas to life with code was incredibly exciting.

I decided to follow that passion at university, after which two friends and I decided we wanted to build our own studio. That led to WalkMe Mobile Solutions, which is now 11 years strong and has achieved 40 million downloads worldwide.

What made you want to co-found WalkMe Mobile Solutions? 

I wanted to co-found WalkMe Mobile Solutions because I saw a gap in the market for intuitive, user-friendly mobile experiences.

I was driven by the desire to create technology that simplifies people's lives and empowers them to achieve their goals. The opportunity to build something from the ground up, to innovate and shape the future of mobile technology, was incredibly exciting.

And why the focus on mobile? What made that platform a core focus? 

We started thinking about founding WalkMe Mobile Solutions between 2011 and 2012. Mobile development was a relatively new frontier at the time, and we saw immense potential. It was going to allow us to build experiences that were immediate, personal, and accessible in a way that hadn't been possible before.

While there has been some progress, the games industry still remains male-dominated, especially at a more executive level and among leadership roles. How does this make you reflect on your own journey and what lessons do you think the industry should learn from? 

Seeing the industry's continued gender imbalance, especially in leadership, reinforces the importance of my journey and the need to pave the way for others. It highlights that while progress has been made, we must continue challenging biases and creating equitable opportunities.

The industry needs to prioritise mentorship, sponsorship and inclusive hiring practices. This will ensure that women are not only present, but empowered to lead and shape the future of gaming. I hope that in the future, it becomes so normal that this question is no longer relevant.

What challenges did you have to face as a young entrepreneur in the mobile games sector? And how did you overcome them? 

As a young entrepreneur in mobile games, establishing credibility was my biggest hurdle, and I often had to work harder to prove my expertise and vision.

I overcame this by believing in my abilities, demonstrating them to others with results and surrounding myself with a talented team to create a strong portfolio. Putting my knowledge and dedication into action was key.

What advice would you give to other women looking to break into the games industry?

My advice is to be bold and persistent. Don't let anyone diminish your passion or potential.

Seek out mentors, network with other women in the industry, and build a strong portfolio showcasing your skills. Most importantly, trust your instincts and remember that your unique perspective is a valuable asset to the gaming world.

Going back to WalkMe Mobile Solutions, what do you think makes a successful mobile game in today’s market? 

A successful mobile game is one that players genuinely love to play. It requires a delicate balance of engaging mechanics, responsive design and a commitment to continuous improvement based on player feedback. We strive to innovate constantly, ensuring our games evolve and stay relevant.

And what are some of the biggest technical challenges in game development?

Keeping up with the ever-evolving landscape of mobile hardware and software is a constant challenge. There’s a massive range of mobile devices out there, and maintaining a high level of performance across all of them requires a lot of dedication from our team.

On top of that, modern game engines are getting increasingly complex, and more players are looking for seamless online experiences, both of which require specialist expertise.

WalkMe recently decided to develop a VR game, what was the idea behind this new pursuit and how does it compare to mobile development? 

We were interested in VR as it’s such a powerful, immersive platform. We felt that would allow us to push the boundaries of what games are capable of and deliver our players an unprecedented level of interactivity.

Compared to mobile development, VR demands a deeper understanding of spatial design, user immersion, and performance optimisation in a 3D environment. The team has had to grapple with all that, but it’s been more than worth the effort, as it means we can now engage with our players from an entirely new perspective. 

And finally what should we be on the lookout for from WalkMe Mobile Solutions? 

In the future, you can expect WalkMe to continue pushing the boundaries of interactive entertainment. We're committed to innovating across mobile, VR, and whatever new technologies the future holds, delivering engaging experiences that captivate and delight players worldwide. 

We'll focus on leveraging emerging technologies to create even more immersive and personalised gameplay, always staying true to our passion for creating games that entertain and foster learning through fun.