46 min

The Business of Esports: Recruitment and Market Growth in the Gaming Industry Gamers Change Lives

    • Entrepreneurship

In this episode, host Tom Leonard interviews Mirko Minenza, the Business Strategy Manager at Antal and a gaming enthusiast. They discuss Mirko's background in gaming and his journey into the gaming industry. They also explore the challenges and opportunities in the gaming industry, including the impact of the pandemic and the differences between European and US game development companies. Mirko shares advice for those interested in starting a career in gaming and emphasizes the importance of community in the gaming world. The episode concludes with a discussion about Mirko's interest in starting a podcast.
Takeaways:
The gaming industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, but it also faces challenges, such as layoffs and studio closures.
Eastern Europe is emerging as a hub for game development, with countries like Poland and the Czech Republic experiencing rapid growth in the industry.
Universities play a crucial role in promoting game development by offering specialized courses and creating a talent pool of skilled developers.
Networking and building connections within the gaming community are essential for career development in the industry.
Passion for gaming and a willingness to learn and adapt are highly valued traits in the hiring process for gaming companies.
*  *  *
Featured in this episode:
Mirko Minenza, Business Strategy Manager @Antal | Gaming Recruitment Solutions, EMEA & Americas | Esports Passionate | Ex Overwatch Top 500 EU
Avid Gamer, EX Tekken Tag team Tournament 2 and Overwatch professional player (old gold times, sigh), I love to talk about the gaming world both personally and professionally. Get in touch with some nerdy pick-up line and you will 100% get me!
Formally I'm a Lead Recruiter who helps PC/mobile companies operating in #gamedev and #esports to hire the best talents worldwide.
 
Whether you're curious about how I can help your company growth or simply willing to discuss our favorite top 5 games ever released, don't hesitate to connect :)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirko-minenza/
Website: https://antal.cz/
*  *  *
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 
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
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Executive 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.
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

In this episode, host Tom Leonard interviews Mirko Minenza, the Business Strategy Manager at Antal and a gaming enthusiast. They discuss Mirko's background in gaming and his journey into the gaming industry. They also explore the challenges and opportunities in the gaming industry, including the impact of the pandemic and the differences between European and US game development companies. Mirko shares advice for those interested in starting a career in gaming and emphasizes the importance of community in the gaming world. The episode concludes with a discussion about Mirko's interest in starting a podcast.
Takeaways:
The gaming industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, but it also faces challenges, such as layoffs and studio closures.
Eastern Europe is emerging as a hub for game development, with countries like Poland and the Czech Republic experiencing rapid growth in the industry.
Universities play a crucial role in promoting game development by offering specialized courses and creating a talent pool of skilled developers.
Networking and building connections within the gaming community are essential for career development in the industry.
Passion for gaming and a willingness to learn and adapt are highly valued traits in the hiring process for gaming companies.
*  *  *
Featured in this episode:
Mirko Minenza, Business Strategy Manager @Antal | Gaming Recruitment Solutions, EMEA & Americas | Esports Passionate | Ex Overwatch Top 500 EU
Avid Gamer, EX Tekken Tag team Tournament 2 and Overwatch professional player (old gold times, sigh), I love to talk about the gaming world both personally and professionally. Get in touch with some nerdy pick-up line and you will 100% get me!
Formally I'm a Lead Recruiter who helps PC/mobile companies operating in #gamedev and #esports to hire the best talents worldwide.
 
Whether you're curious about how I can help your company growth or simply willing to discuss our favorite top 5 games ever released, don't hesitate to connect :)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirko-minenza/
Website: https://antal.cz/
*  *  *
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 
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
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Executive 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.
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

46 min