Irena Pereira is the Founder and CEO of Unleashed Games, a video game startup developing games that unite players through cooperative gameplay. Irena is also the Owner of Digital Experiments, a company that specializes in helping gaming teams elevate user participation, putting the player first. A pioneer in user experience, Irena is a seasoned veteran in game development with a focus on connecting people. She’s worked in various roles across industry verticals, including as a user interface designer, chief creative officer, executive creative director, and product designer. A thought leader in gaming, Irena has been featured on Gaingels and has been a panelist at the MIT Gaming Industry Club.
Inspirational speaker Simon Sinek asserts that companies often hire the most intelligent person in the room only to silence them. This creates a toxic environment where people fear speaking up, and diversity and inclusion are undervalued. How can leaders create a safe, diverse, and inclusive work culture?
Entrepreneur and business leader Irena Pereira believes traditional work cultures have instilled the idea that it’s unprofessional to show vulnerability. To counteract this belief, she suggests companies devise and implement inclusive practices. Training on unconscious bias, holding employees accountable for their actions, and creating a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and harassment are positive steps to establish a comfortable work environment. Irena also advocates for genuinely listening to team members, seeking out dissent, and identifying people who disagree with leadership and are willing to explain their reasons.
In this episode of the Here’s Waldo Podcast with Lizzie Mintus, Irena Pereira, Founder and CEO of Unleashed Games, discusses leadership in entrepreneurship. Irena shares the inspiration for creating Unleashed Games and its mission, how to build a successful team and implement a diverse and inclusive culture, and the lessons she’s learned during her entrepreneurial journey.
