Gamers Change Lives

Leading a Strong Esports Team: Lessons from West Point

This podcast is an not a government production. The views expressed do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Military Academy, United States Army, Department of Defense or the US Government.
Today’s guest is Victor Castro, the US. Director of @Army West Point Esports and Deputy Director of the West Point Simulation Center.
In the Gamer's Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Victor Castro, US Director of Army Esports at West Point. They discuss Victor's background and the unique esports program at West Point, focusing on the importance of recognizing military sacrifices and commitment. West Point aims to train leaders who will commit to long-term careers in the Army, using gaming and esports as tools for leadership development.
Victor explains the inception and growth of the esports program at West Point, as well as its importance in developing leadership skills among cadets. He emphasizes the need for a long-term plan and alignment with the institution's core values. Esports can help develop character and teach students how to manage toxicity in communication, creating a realistic learning environment that fosters growth.
The conversation covers the program's structure, gender inclusion, and decentralized approach to training, which mirrors aspects of the army. The focus on academics, physical fitness, and military training limits practice time compared to other universities. Victor also touches on international cooperation, funding sources, and the potential for collegiate level esports events.
Victor highlights the importance of transparency, open dialogue, and social media in promoting the West Point esports program. He recommends following their social media accounts and learning from others in the field to improve one's own program. West Point offers a visitors’ program for those interested in learning more about the academy and its unique esports initiatives.
 
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/leading-a-strong-esports-team-lessons-from-west-point
*  *  *
Featured in this episode:
Victor is the Director of Army West Point Esports and currently serves as a Department of Defense civilian at the United States Military Academy. Victor specializes and Game Art and Design and Instructional Design and is an Analysis, Modeling and Simulations professional.
Email: victor.castro@westpoint.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-l-castro-85764737/
Website: https://www.westpoint.edu/military/department-of-military-instruction/simulation-center/esports
Twitter: https://twitter.com/armywpesports
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armywpesports/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG5wjt7As3sEpAj3q4rOBKg
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/armywestpointesports
 
*  *  *
Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/ to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives  
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gamerschangelives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gamerschangelives/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8TRl42z9cbMyZMhcpNo0cw
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gamerschangelives
Journey of a Gamer: http://journeyofagamer.com
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Three our theme is “Building a Business: Esports 101”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

Season 3 Introduction: Building a Thriving Esports Business

Welcome to Season 3 of the Gamers Change Lives Podcast: Building a Business, Esports 101.
In Season One we talked about jobs. In Season Two we talked about sources of funding for esports ‘Follow the Money’. And now in Season Three we will be talking about Building an Esports Business.
Season 3 is all about building a thriving esports business, and we've got some special features to help you along the way.
Key Points and Factors for Building a Thriving Esports Business:
Identify a niche to stand out in a crowded market and build a loyal following.
Develop a strong brand identity to differentiate yourself from the competition.
Build a strong team of dedicated and talented individuals who can bring different skills and perspectives to the table.
Understand the rapidly evolving industry landscape and stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments.
Develop a clear and effective monetization strategy to build a sustainable business.
Embrace innovation and experimentation to stay ahead of the curve.
Foster a strong and engaged community of passionate fans and supporters.
Prioritize the well-being and health of your players and team members.
Special Features of Season 3:
Join our exclusive Facebook support group to connect with other esports entrepreneurs and get advice and support. Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/gamerschangelives to sign up now.
Download our free worksheets to help you implement the key points and strategies for building a thriving esports business.
Call to Actions:
Subscribe to our podcast to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and strategies for building a successful esports business.
Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach more aspiring esports entrepreneurs.
Follow us on social media to stay connected and engaged with our community.
Conclusion:
Thanks for tuning in to the first episode of Gamers Change Lives Season 3, where we'll be diving deep into the key factors and strategies for building a successful esports business.
Stay tuned for more episodes, where we'll be featuring interviews with successful esports entrepreneurs, sharing case studies and success stories, and providing actionable tips and advice to help you build a thriving esports business.
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/season-3-introduction-building-a-thriving-esports-business
 
*  *  *
Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/ to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gamerschangelives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gamerschangelives/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8TRl42z9cbMyZMhcpNo0cw
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gamerschangelives
Journey of a Gamer: http://journeyofagamer.com
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/ 
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Three our theme is “Building a Business: Esports 101”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

Bonus Episode! Team Ghana Goes to Bali

We have five guests today: Kwesi Hayford President of the Esports Association, Ghana with the team he took to the IESF World Championship in Bali in December 2022: Emmanuel Manu-Gyamfi (NELLmvp), Edmond Addo Mensah (shyBOY), Daniel Sungna Iddi (SPAMA), Boris Osisiadan-Nimpong (Atunaye). Micdad Morgan Agbotui (MUFASA) also went to Bali but was not able to appear on this episode.
Hear the amazing stories that lead to this team’s life-changing adventure of going to Bali, how it was made possible, what it was like to meet players in person they have looked up to for years online, their take on food in Indonesia, and much, much more. One of our best episodes and definitely the liveliest.
Our discussion included:
How the entire adventure started out, from the qualifications to Kwesi’s determination to make it happen.
The training that allowed them to compete on the world stage, sometimes under challenging conditions that they were able to overcome.
Hear about the reaction from everyone on the journey. From disbelief that people actually traveled half-way around the world to play video games, to the official in Jakarta who gave the team the VIP treatment because he was PUBG gamer himself.
Each team member talks about the challenge of raising funds needed for visas with the majority of travel and accommodation covered by the IESF.
“Travel opens the players’ eyes. Gives them bigger horizons.”
The real highlight of the conversation is to hear from each player what it meant to be able to meet players – some from professional teams – that they have been learning from for years online. These pros were humble, and very willing to help the team in any way they could showing the camaraderie among all players that esports enjoys.
Kwesi asks the gang to talk about the food and the fun, and the team responds with some wonderful stories.
Kwesi sums it up by saying:
“Bali was life-transforming for us. First time we have sent out an entire team. Bali is a pivot point for Ghana Esports. It is a talking point to go out to brands. But it is also a talking point to go out to families that this is real work.  Everyone’s family now knows that esports is a big deal.”
And finally, hear about their future plans now that they have had the journey of a lifetime.
One great conversation. Check out their links below and go support them!
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/team-ghana-goes-to-bali
*  *  *
FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
Kwesi Hayford
Kwesi Hayford is an Esports Evangelist, Creative Designer, and a Digital Media enthusiast with a passion for the youth culture, technology, and education.  He inspires and empowers young people to create opportunities for themselves via Esports. He is the President of Esports Association, Ghana, and Founder of PlayArena, KiddieEsports and Ruutz Esports.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekwesihayford/
Email:  qkwecy@gmail.com
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/thekwesihayford
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLl9uEkVPuhtYOZcS5M2tHg
 
Boris Osisiadan-Nimpong
Boris Osisiadan-Nimpong known in the gaming space as Atunaye. An Efootball esports athlete and Ghana’s representative at International eSports Federation (IeSF) world championships in Bali.
Email: officialatunaye@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/atunayeGH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/atunayegh
YouTube: https://youtube.com/atunayegaming
Discord: https://discord.com/officialatunaye
Twitch: https://twitch.com/atunayegh
 
Daniel Iddi
Pubg Mobile player, Role: Fragger, Age: 22
Email: danieliddi11@gmail.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/pg.spama?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
 
Emmanuel Manu-Gyamfi
I’m NELLmvp, in-game leader for Team Ghana at IESF World Championship.
Email: gyamfi_22@yahoo.com
Esports Athlete
Twitter: https://twitter.com/egmanv
Instagram: https://instagram.com/nell_pubg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nell2584
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-manu-gyamfi-0b07a9155
Discord: https://discord.com/NELL#8487
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@nellmvp
Twitch: https://twitch.com/NELLmvpGaming
Wikipedia: https://liquipedia.net/pubgmobile/IESF/World_Esports_Championships/2022
 
Edmond Addo Mensah
28 years, PUBG mobile esports athlete/player, represented Ghana in the 14th World Esports Championship in Indonesia, Bali.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShybwoy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eddieshybwoy.mensah
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmond-mensah-9b0313229
 
 
*  *  *
Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/  to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/ 
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Two our theme is “Follow the Money”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

Divergent Thinking, Eliminating Judgement, and the Value of a Bad Idea

Our guest today on the podcast is Jeremy Utley, the Director of Executive Education at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. The Stanford d.school.
Our discussion included:
Jeremy talks about ideas. Where they come from, and how to develop skills to generate more. This is the concept that he describes in his book, written with Perry Klebahn, called “Ideaflow”.
There really isn’t such a thing as a new idea. Our ideas come from a combination of existing thoughts and experiences. Therefore we need more of those which Jeremy likens to Lego blocks.
One way to have more Legos is to intentionally create a network of divergent voices, ones from outside your industry and company.
Jeremy talks about who an esports entrepreneur should be listening to in order to broaden their perspective. He mentions the work of Beau Lotto (his content links are below) who talks about how one of the only areas where human beings seek out uncertainty is play.
Jeremy reviews how he approaches learning himself, and how that can fuel his passion. He wanted to talk with women founders as an example to do just that.
“That was a pretty large inflection point for myself. I have to take responsibility for my own learning.”
How can you get more ideas?
Hear his examples from Malcolm Gladwell and others. To think out of the box, you need to get out of the box.
Being an idea generator is key to your success and Jeremy describes how you can create a team around you of who become an idea-generating machine.
The four stages of creativity are discussed, with the realization that they are often taken out of sequence and that incubation is often given less attention than needed.
Learn why efficiency should not be the goal, but instead entrepreneurs should focus on effectiveness. And how sometimes being productive doesn’t actually look like being productive.
The key cultural orientations have to shift:
From efficiency to effectiveness
From a solution orientation to a problem orientation
From a fixation on answers to the approach of discovering problems
And the discussion leads to judgement: how self-judgement and the judgement of others can hinder the idea generating process. 
“There is an orientation towards I am willing to share bad ideas. Bad ideas that see daylight have the potential to trigger something, trigger creativity in someone else. And it’s worth the risk.”
 
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/divergent-thinking-eliminating-judgement-and-the-value-of-a-bad-idea
*  *  *
FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
Jeremy Utley
Jeremy Utley is one of the world's leading experts in innovation. As the Director of Executive Education at Stanford's renowned Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (aka "the d.school"), his courses have been experienced by nearly a million students of innovation worldwide. He advises corporate leaders on how to imbed the methods and mindsets of design thinking into their organizations, and works with professionals to cultivate a robust personal creative practice.
As co-host of "Stanford's Masters of Creativity," Jeremy shines the spotlight on exemplars of creative practice across disciplinary boundaries, from entrepreneurs like Randy Hetrick (TRX) to authors like Kim Scott (Radical Candor) and Daniel Pink (Drive, To Sell Is Human) to corporate innovation leaders like Astro Teller (Google X).
A self-proclaimed “recovering MBA, spreadsheet junkie, and management consultant,” he now studies innovation in large enterprises and startups. He advises CEOs and senior leadership teams in the United States, Europe, and Asia on growth and innovation strategy, and has led scores of capacity-building initiatives worldwide.
He's a prolific blogger and podcaster, and is co-author (alongside Perry Klebahn) of “Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric That Matters,” published by Penguin Portfolio Oct 25th, 2022.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley/
Email:  jeremyutley@gmail.com
Website: https://www.jeremyutley.design/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyutley
Also mentioned in this discussion:
Beau Lotto - Prof of Neuroscience | Author | CEO & Founder at Lab of Misfits | CEO & Founder at Ripple Inc. | TED Speaker | Advisor at Clarion CannabisThe Lab of Misfits https://www.labofmisfits.com/ Check out the fun exercises there.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beaulotto/
 
*  *  *
Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/  to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/ 
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Two our theme is “Follow the Money”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

Going Global: Navigating Media Strategies and Attending International Esports Events

Our guest today on the podcast is Ronny Lusigi, the CEO of IndexG Esports in Nairobi, Kenya. Plus for the first time our podcast Executive Producer, Reginald Nsowah, is joining the conversation from Ghana.
Our discussion included:
Ronny’s talks about his journey into esports, with a start in traditional sports in Kenya. He received a sports scholarship to attend Chavakali High School in the western part of the country.
Ronny founded IndexG Esports which is organized around four major areas:
Tournaments and tournament organizers
Help build ‘capacity’ in esports in Kenya: coaches, players, branding, etc.
Content – storytelling about esports, attracted sponsors to create short films
Esports for social good – a powerful tool of social development
Mentorship, both internally at IndexG Esports and externally in the esports world, have been an important part of Ronny’s approach to improving esports locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
A key program has been to connect esports players with traditional A-level athletes such as Ferdinand Omanyala. Players learn about how to approach esports with the proper mind-set.
”Many gamers do not grow up thinking they will be a live performer. They think their skill alone will be enough. But when you go and speak to an elite athlete you now realize that your skill is just one aspect. You need the discipline; you need the resilience.”
International Events
Ronny recently returned from taking his teams to Istanbul to a Global Esports Federation event. You can hear how he packed the event to attract sponsor and the training plus media strategy that made it successful.
“Ronny talks about what he learned from the trip, and what others can expect. Even if the primary objective is the competition, you find out it is much more than that.”
International events can also help train esports entrepreneurs on things such as media training. For example, the IOC provides information for journalists on how to report on the events. The link to their guidelines is below.
Media Strategy
Ronny’s approach to bringing esports to mainstream media highlights the importance of finding emerging journalists who more flexible and willing to write about something new. Each connection in the media is created with a purpose in mind, with an audience in mind, whether it is government officials, policy makers, corporations, universities, and even parents.
His strategy is based on the objective of having the story of the impact of esports on individuals and society told to as large of an audience as possible.
“The top 3 media houses had less than 5 stories about esports. We have pushed that number to 30.”
Curiosity
Both Ronny and Reginald demonstrate their level of curiosity which leads them to seek information from a large and diverse set of sources.
For Ronny he listens to:
Steven Bartlett:  The Diary of the CEO for resilience https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-diary-of-a-ceo-with-steven-bartlett/id1291423644
Audiobooks from Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKEUKTxFomE
Ricardo Fort Unofficial Partner Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unofficial-partner-podcast/id1459630823
Reginald’s favorites include:
Masters of scale by Reid Hoffman https://mastersofscale.com/episodes/
Grit and Growth – talks about entrepreneurs from Africa and Southeast Asia https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/grit-growth
Always in Pursuit https://www.alwaysinpursuit.org/
Deciding to Win – his own podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deciding-to-win/id1535231372
Reginald talks about
‘One of the things I have learned from this project is that it is good to have people from other countries, developed countries, coming into your country and try to solve problems. But it is at a different level when it is people from that country take on the challenge. Ronny, you are part of the 20% making a difference.”
Mobile Gaming
Ronny describes how mobile games fit into the esports ecosystem in Africa today.
Olympics
He also believes that the Olympics should include esports.
The Olympics should include esports because international competition really helps the growth of esports in every country. The level of football in Saudi Arabia has benefited because of their participation in the World Cup. We couldn’t have gotten the Minister of Youth and Sport’s attention if we were going to a private competition. Because it is about the flag, he pays attention.”
He also gives a shout-out to every organization that is currently creating international esports events including GAMRX in Nigeria.
 
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/going-global-navigating-media-strategies-and-attending-international-esports-events
*  *  *
FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
Ronny Lusigi
Ronny Lusigi is the CEO of IndexG Esports and the competitions manager at the Esports Federation of Kenya.
Before venturing fully into esports, he has previously worked as the Digital Media Manager for Football Kenya Federation and before that, Kariobangi Sharks FC, a football club in the Kenya Premier League.
He is committed to taking esports to the mainstream in his country and the East African region and use it for social good.
Ronny studied Physical Education and Sports at the University of Nairobi.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronny-lusigi-2448b7100
Email:  ronny@indexgesports.com
IndexG Esports: https://indexgesports.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RAyumba
Instagram: https://instagram.com/indexg_
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@index-gesports464
Chavakali High School: https://chavakalischool.sc.ke/
The IOC Media Regulations https://olympics.com/ioc/gender-equality/portrayal-guidelines
 
*  *  *
Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/  to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/ 
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Two our theme is “Follow the Money”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

Pitching to Brands, the Power of Mentorship, plus Women in Esports

Today’s guest is Rebecca Longawa. Highly regarded as a maven in the esports industry, she a global speaker and founder of the esports consultancy firm, Happy Warrior.
Our discussion included monetization in esports, mentorship and networking, plus women in esports today.
Rebecca is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota which has a robust esports community in the upper mid-west part of the United States.
Rebecca’s experience began in promoting traditional sports with many major teams. Her work at Stadia Ventures, which also began in the world of traditional sports, introduced her to esports and she fell in love with the space.
There are both similarities and differences between traditional sports and esports. Rebecca is in a unique position to describe both from her extensive experience.
“Demographics are different: in esports the audience is younger but also they were born digital. They don’t like to be marketed to; they want to build relationships. With a traditional sports fan, they are okay with being marketed to.  That’s the way it has always been done – product endorsement.”
She describes the learning curve when it comes to working with non-endemic brands in the esports world.
Storytelling is a central part of creating marketing success in esports. Rebecca works with both endemic and non-endemic brands to craft the right stories to tell.
‘If you consider what makes a streamer very successful, it is their ability to entertain and tell stories while they are playing video games.”
Rebecca describes in detail what an esports organization needs to do to present themselves to brands and agencies. It has to be more than just playing games. She describes the value, and difficulties, of creating authentic communities in esports. Her list of three things to consider are worth remembering.
In addition to her consulting work, Rebecca works on building the strategy for *gameHERs, a social media community that works with women and those who identify as women to connect and grow. She talks about the current status of women in esports and where she think things need to go in both the short-term and long-term future.
” *gameHERs connects women to jobs. Storytelling about women in this space so they can see someone who looks like them, doing something that they maybe didn’t even know it was a job. Giving women permission to go after these jobs.”
As an advisor at Stadia Ventures, you can sense Rebecca’s passion for working with founders in an accelerator program to create successful esports enterprises.
In closing, Rebecca describes the value of networking and how it has led to her own podcast.
“I always liked people. And solving problems. I can help people find their gaps.”
 
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/pitching-to-brands-the-power-of-mentorship-plus-women-in-esports
*  *  *
FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
Rebecca Longawa
With over 20 years of experience in sports marketing and innovation, Rebecca is a master connector and networker. Highly regarded as a maven in the esports industry, she a global speaker and founder of the esports consultancy firm, Happy Warrior. Her client work includes helping pro esports teams monetize their organizations through brand partnerships and growth strategies and working with advertising and media agencies to bring their brand accounts into the esports ecosystem with authenticity and credibility.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalongawa/
Email:  rebecca@happywarrior.us
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RLongawa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca_longawa
*gameHERs: https://thegamehers.com/
Stadia Ventures: https://stadiaventures.com/
*  *  *
Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/  to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/ 
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Two our theme is “Follow the Money”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

Review and Gratitude for 2022

What a year we have had in 2022! Our first episode on February 15 started our journey talking about how esports can create jobs around the world.
We have been fortunate to have had so many guests who generously gave us their time and their stories. Over 30 episodes – yes 30! – we have hosted 32 guests from 19 countries from every part of the world.
We have learned so many things, about teams, tournaments, community building, sponsorship, investment, and so much more. But the most important topic has been to discover how esports can create jobs. Jobs that can make a huge difference to the person getting it.
The Gamers Change Lives is also starting to make an impact by connecting people for potential sponsorship and investment. We have also sponsored teams traveling half-way around the world to step out on the world stage. Our conversations have also brought the message of global esports to many top executives. Our message is that no one should be left behind.
The podcast would not have been possible without an outstanding team that have joined us:
Reginald, who has been able to find outstanding guests even when we were brand new. His positive attitude and tireless efforts have made us a success. Thanks Reginald.
Wendy, who has created a social media program that which lets us tell our stories, and the stories of our guests, to a growing audience. Thanks Wendy.
Winky, our designer who makes us look good. Just check out our outstanding logo and you will see that we are a professional organization. Thanks Winky.
Richard, our audio engineer who has been able to take our recorded episodes and always make us sound great. Thanks Richard.
Cholwe, in Zambia, who was a podcast supporter even before there was a podcast. She was so generous with her ideas and network. Thanks Cholwe.
Where will we go in 2023 to build on our efforts. We want to hear from you. Go to social media (you know where we live) and tell us. Facebook, IG, YouTube, Twitter, and even create a video on TikTok. What are the stories that would help you on your esports journey?
You can also send us email at info@gamerschangelivespodcast.com
Thanks to every one of our guest, fans, and members of our community. We are just getting started!
 
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/review-and-gratitude-for-2022
 
*  *  *
Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/  to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/ 
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Two our theme is “Follow the Money”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

How to Bring Esports to Brands

We have two guests today: Nick Smith and Romain Tixier – Co-founders of GosuRabbit a next gen marketing agency based in the UK. Nick is in the UK and Roman is in Lyon, France.
Our discussion included:
The story of how both Nick and Romain became interested in the business side of esports after a few years of competitive playing.
“One night my dad came downstairs, me playing World of Warcraft, and he said ‘Can you stop what you are doing. We need to talk.’ And he told me ‘Well you are playing video games. Amazing. Good for you. But you need to transform it into something that will help you make a living from it.’ – Romain
They also explain the origin of the unique name for their marketing agency: GosuRabbit.
Both Nick and Romain describe the work done by their agency, focusing on helping brands reach out to new generations and customers using gaming and esports.
The first thing to find out, to understand is ‘what does a brand mean by esports’. They are looking to help brands move away from just wanting to test something new. And the importance of truly understanding what the brand is looking to achieve.
Romain describes how the process involves not only learning more about the brand, but to be able to match up the right esports partner.
A common theme that we hear often on the Gamers Change Lives Podcast is that pitch decks that talk only about the esports team or event and not referencing the brand rarely make a positive impression.
Hear the call to have more marketing people involved in esports, at all levels.
The discussion includes hearing how an esports organization can get people talking about them, and it involves much more than just social media.
How important is winning to the brand?
Listen to how culture and language makes an impact on esports marketing through their agency.
We briefly touch on the Metaverse – what it is and what it isn’t. And their predictions about the future.
And hear their take on whether the Olympics should be including esports into their official program. They have definite opinions on the games that have been selected.
 
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/how-to-bring-esports-to-brands-with-nick-smith-and-romain-tixier
*  *  *
FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
Nick Smith
Having spent time working as a director at other gaming agencies, Nick's decade worth of experience in marketing strategy and consultancy lead him to co-found his own gaming and new media marketing agency - GosuRabbit.
As GosuRabbit's CEO and influencer marketing and consultancy specialist, Nick is passionate about connecting brands with new generations through gaming and esports.
Nick’s gaming origin story begins with Mario, Zelda, and Tetris on the NES. Eventually, he graduated to CSGO where he founded his own esports teams, fulfilling player, coach, and managerial roles.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickgosurabbit/
Email:  nick@gosurabbit.com
GosuRabbit: https://www.gosurabbit.com
Romain TIXIER
Romain is a subject matter expert when it comes to gaming and esports, having 22 years of experience in the field.
He was previously the owner of the gaming club oXmoze, from 2003 until it was sold in 2010. Since then, Romain has worked in various business and marketing roles in gaming and esports including influencer marketing campaigns for PMU, Melty, Bouygues Telecom, Sony PlayStation etc.
Upon co-founding GosuRabbit, Romain focused his abilities on consultation and providing creative marketing communications solutions. With his decades of experience in gaming, Romain’s strategies and executions are always authentic to the gaming community.
Romain is a PC gamer and FPS pro. He grew up with games such as Wolfenstein 3D and Doom but began his career in gaming with Half Life Deathmatch and Counter Strike.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rtixier/
Email:  romain@gosurabbit.com
GosuRabbit: https://www.gosurabbit.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chouwanga
 
*  *  *
Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/  to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gamerschangelives/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gamerschangelives 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8TRl42z9cbMyZMhcpNo0cw 
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/ 
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Two our theme is “Follow the Money”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

Deep Dive Into Venture Capital Investing in Africa

Our guest is Mohamed Karar. He is a Venture Partner at Launch Africa, one of the most active early-stage venture capital firms in Africa.
Once Mohamed, talking to us from Cape Town, South Africa, learned what a venture capital partner does, he knew that was perfect for him. After meeting Zachariah George at Launch Africa, he was one of their very first hires.
Even without experience in finance before joining the firm, what made venture capital so appealing to Mohamed? It was his natural curiosity. And his ability to ‘live in the future’.
The Goldman Sach’s approach to hiring transfers extremely well to venture capital, and to startups in general. “They weren’t as concerned about your technical skills, but whether you are someone who can succeed in such an intense environment.”
On whether an early-stage VC is actually investing in the founders more than the concept, Mohamed points out that, “If you are making a startup, the odds are that you are not going to figure it out the first time. It is going to take some humbling along the process.”
Mohamed is a Venture Partner, which means that he is out there actively searching for the next homerun. Once he buys into the potential investment, it goes to the larger team and then to the all-important investment committee. Hear more details on that journey every founder wants to go on.
And where does a venture capital firm get its money? It depends. There are many potential sources for firms and Mohamed explains how Launch Africa is a bit different. You also can hear his interest in how sovereign wealth funds and even governments are becoming more active in all sectors.
The all-important question of what a venture capital firm is looking for in a potential investment is answered. At least for Launch Africa. Hear the checklist of questions in case you are a founder looking for an advantage.
Regulation has a huge impact on investing around the globe. And a founder who has that under control brings a tremendous advantage to the discussion.
At Launch Africa, they are building a community, a portfolio of companies that can help each other. Synergy is alive and well. Learn more about what the VC firm can bring to the founders beyond writing a check.
With the recent investment in media and esports, Launch Africa is looking to expand and diversify their portfolio with strategic opportunities.
Because of his experience across all of Africa, Mohamed talks about the challenges founders in emerging markets face. And the potential opportunities.
And find out what you will receive as a prize if you get to a deal with Mohammed when you mention the Gamers Change Lives Podcast.
 
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/deep-dive-into-venture-capital-investing-in-africa-with-mohamed-karar
*  *  *
FEATURED IN THIS EPISDOE:
Mohamed Karar. He is a Venture Partner at Launch Africa.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamed-karar/
Launch Africa: https://www.launchafrica.vc/
*  *  *
Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/  to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/ 
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Two our theme is “Follow the Money”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

Government Support for Youth Through Esports

Our guest is Soufiane EL FILALI. He is Marketing & Communication Director at La Fédération Royale Marocaine des Jeux Électronique – FRMJE (The Royal Moroccan Federation of Electronic Games)
Our discussion included:
Soufiane describes the journey of establishing the Royal Moroccan Federation of Electronic Games.
The Royal Moroccan Federation of Electronic Games is part of the policy of social, economic, and sporting development inspired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
The focus on youth in Morocco at all levels of the government has allowed for an organization that works with many associations throughout the region and country to be created in just a few years’ time.
Training is a large part of the organization’s approach with the support of national teams at the top of the list with inclusion being on of the pillars of support.
Soufiane describes how youth centers across Morocco have been included in the program, where they organize tournaments as well as train players and organizers.
With some justifiable pride he relates that, “Some cities, some regions told us that this is the first time someone has come to us and organize something for us.”
The inclusion of the esports and gaming programs includes creating opportunities for girls and women, and not just boys and men.
Soufiane also notes some of the other countries who are also supporting esports through governmental programs, in the region and around the world. He says that “We want to be one of the best. Why not become the gaming hub for Africa?”
Soufiane and the organization he represents is also working across the African continent, guided by a south/south strategy and gives many reasons why Morocco may be uniquely suited for carrying out this important role.
One of the most important themes of the conversation is focusing on the importance of working with other associations and federations at all levels.
“A professional player is valued today on the job market as a skill capable of leadership, analysis, quick adaptation to the world, challenges related to the metaverse, AI, cryptocurrency.”
And hear Soufiane talk about the challenges and opportunities for the future of esports in his country of Morocco and beyond. His thoughts on working with publishers is also covered.
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/government-support-for-youth-through-esports-with-soufiane-el-filali
*  *  *
FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
Soufiane EL FILALI. He is Marketing & Communication Director at La Fédération Royale Marocaine des Jeux Électronique – FRMJE (The Royal Moroccan Federation of Electronic Games) based in Rabat, Morocco.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soufiane-el-filali/
The Royal Moroccan Federation of Electronic Games – FRMJE: https://frmje.ma/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frmjeofficiel/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frmjeofficiel/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FRMJEOFFICIEL
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/frmjeofficiel
 
*  *  *
Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/  to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/ 
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Two our theme is “Follow the Money”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!