The Here's Waldo Podcast Lizzie Mintus

🎮 Ever wondered how video games made it to the Smithsonian? What does it mean to be a Game Evangelist? How do you figure out what gamers really want? In this episode of the Here's Waldo Podcast, Chris Melissinos, the Principal Evangelist for Video Games at AWS, shares his profound passion, rooted in the belief that video games are among the most significant art forms of our time, offering immersive, interactive experiences that connect people, convey powerful stories, and explore complex themes. Melissinos' work, from his role as Chief Gaming Officer at Sun Microsystems to his involvement with the Smithsonian on 'The Art of Video Games Exhibition', showcases his dedication to highlighting the cultural, technological, and educational value of video games.
Every play counts, every story matters, and every game can leave a lasting imprint on human experience. Tune in to discover insights shedding light on the past, present, and promising future of video gaming as a creative and impactful medium.

Join us as we dive into the secrets of driving business growth with Mike Wallen, Chief Commercial Officer at Keywords Studios. With over 29 years of experience, Mike's career has been a fascinating journey from recruiter and agent to VP at Lakshya Digital, and now Global Business Development Director at Keywords. His key insight? Understanding the fundamental importance of client-centric leadership. Since joining Keywords, Mike has played a pivotal role in scaling the company by 500% across 70 studios in over 25 countries. Tune in to learn more about his approach to business development, the importance of culture and values in scaling companies, and the innovative strategies that propelled Keywords Studios to the forefront of the game industry.

Jordan Weisman is a 40-year industry legend with four entrepreneurial company exits to Disney, Microsoft, Topps, and Paradox Interactive. His achievements include winning over 100 awards, becoming a New York Times bestselling author, and co-creating iconic tabletop games such as BattleTech, Shadowrun, MechWarrior, and Earthdawn. Today, he is the CEO of Endless Adventures Inc., a no-code game creation platform designed to empower game designers, storytellers, authors, and artists to create their own narrative video games and drive innovation. 
From founding groundbreaking companies like FASA to spearheading innovative projects at Microsoft and launching Endless Adventures, tune in to learn about Jordan's journey and the key lessons he's learned along the way.

Alyssa Walles is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in entertainment, gaming, tech, and publishing. Known for catalyzing innovation and driving revenue growth, she has played a key role in launching the Walt Disney gift catalog, Sony PlayStation, and negotiating National Sports League agreements for the video game franchise Backyard Sports with the NFL, MLB, and NBA. 

In addition to her new role as the COO of Midwest Games, an indie game publisher, Alyssa serves as an executive director with the International Game Developers Association Foundation, a global charitable organization that provides professional development programs to underrepresented and marginalized developers and individuals building their careers within the game industry. Listen in for more on the art of deal making, advice for smaller companies and indie developers, and insights into board membership and advisory roles.

Wondering what it takes to build successful game franchises or start your own game studio? 🎮 🎮 Join host Lizzie Mintus on the latest episode as she chats with Bill Roper, a gaming industry veteran behind iconic franchises like Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo. 

Starting as employee #17 at Blizzard Entertainment, Bill's journey took him from voice actor and writer to Vice President in just nine years. His impressive career includes roles as CEO and co-founder of Flagship Studios, CCO at Cryptic Studios, and VP GM of Core Games and Head of Disney Interactive Central Creative at the Walt Disney Company. He also served as CCO at Improbable World in London and co-founded Author Digital in Washington. Now the CEO of Lunacy Games, Bill Roper shares invaluable advice on turning vision into reality. Learn about handling adversity, building strong teams, and creating a lasting impact in the gaming industry.

In this episode of the Here's Waldo Podcast, host Lizzie Mintus sits down with Sarah Anderson, Head of Global Marketing and Partnerships at Amazon Games. With over 30 years of experience in the gaming industry, Sarah has held strategic roles at Sega, Canopy, 2K Games, and now Amazon Games, where she leads growth initiatives and fosters community for major titles like New World and Lost Arc, along with overseeing upcoming releases.

Join us as we uncover Sarah's career journey, gain insights into building effective teams and nurturing talent, and uncover the authentic marketing strategies that have shaped the success of renowned titles like Bioshock, Borderlands, and Civilization, as Sarah provides a behind-the-scenes look at her impactful contributions to the gaming world.