“There are no dedicated games leadership conferences in Europe... so we decided to make one!”
That’s how the IGDA introduces its September 30th summit, Leadership Day by IGDA Finland.
It’s a one-day international event in Helsinki, dedicated to discussing how we build companies, teams and working cultures.
It will take place at Helsinki’s City Hall and consist of speaker sessions, a working lunch, and an evening mixer. And it’ll be free, although spaces are limited.
Fantastic Finland
It kick-starts several days of essential games industry activities in the region. Our very own Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki 2019 runs through October 1st and 2nd over at the Cable Factory.
We’re proud to be a partner of Leadership Day by IGDA Finland. The volunteers at the IGDA do fantastic work building and maintaining the international games community and we’ve worked closely with them to build the Pocket Gamer Connects series of events since launch. Helsinki remains a must-visit destination for game makers, with its network of successful firms and talented indies.
We spoke with IGDA advisor Teemu Haila about what the Leadership Day will achieve. He was a co-founder of PlayRaven, an investor and entrepreneur, and one-time member of the IGDA board of directors, having been active in the IGDA for over a decade.
PocketGamer.biz: Who is invited to attend the Leadership Day?
Teemu Haila: The Leadership Day is for individuals who are passionate about pushing the envelope in games leadership. We have something for both seasoned serial entrepreneurs refining their craft as well as developers taking their first steps in leadership responsibilities.
We at IGDA Finland believe nobody should live in a bubble and just do their own thing in gamesTeemu Haila
Is there a theme for the day? What will be the main areas of consideration?
This year we decided to focus on "building companies to build the best games”. Specifically, we want to put words behind things that are often invisible or taken for granted, like company culture, soft values and diversity.
We will both challenge and provoke attendees with dangerous new ideas that they can take home, develop further and make their own!
What’s the significance of running the Leadership Day in the same week as Pocket Gamer Connects?
Our collaboration with Pocket Gamer Connects is a great example of how we at IGDA Finland believe nobody should live in a bubble and just do their own thing in games! Having more events during the same week gives even more reasons for the international audience to visit Helsinki and get new perspectives to the future of game development.
Don't miss out
The event is free but spaces are limited so pre-registration is essential. If you’re going to be in Helsinki that week in order to attend PGC Helsinki on October 1st and 2nd, please consider attending the Leadership Day by IGDA Finland on September 30th and pre-register now.
