International Women’s Day: Voices of changes
To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th, we had the honor of interviewing eight of our colleagues from different studios.
Francesca White, a 3D animator in Middlesbrough, Tink Leguiader, a senior programming team lead in Montreal, Tiffany Bolivar, a programmer in Toronto, and Sanziana Tudose, a programmer in Rotterdam, share their experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future.
Sebastien Billard-Sukermann, a senior 3D animator from Montreal, Anthony Gruskovnjak, a programmer from Toronto, Igor Vermeulen, a senior programmer from Rotterdam, and Jawad Tariq, a senior 3D artist from Middlesbrough, open up about their role as allies.
These testimonies will offer you valuable insights into what it means to be a woman in the workplace today and reflect aspirations for a more equal future.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Francesca
It serves as an important reminder to everyone, both professionally and personally. It’s crucial that we come together and support each other, regardless of what we identify.
Tink
It’s a moment where we can celebrate achievements in our professional and personal lives, and to discuss the challenges that we still have to to face. Although I do understand the reason this day exists, I think that today we should consider transforming it into something more inclusive that goes beyond women’s rights, to reflect on questions that go beyond gender binarity.
Tiffany
It’s the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of women. It’s important to appreciate the women who came before us, shaping the lives we live today. This includes the women in our families, our friends, mentors, and those who fought for our rights.
Sanziana
I would say it’s a moment to celebrate women everywhere and appreciate how far we’ve come regarding gender equality, while also recognizing the work that still needs to be done. On a personal note, I grew up in Romania, where Women’s Day is filled with tradition and cultural activities. For me, it’s also a reminder to show gratitude to the important women in my life, like calling my mom and my grandma.
As an ally, what does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Igor
International Women’s Day is an inspiration for everyone. It’s a reminder that women didn’t always have the same rights and, to this day, are still fighting for equality.
It’s also a moment for women to inspire others, to bond over common hardships. Sharing stories on this day is very important, both success stories and accounts of unfair situations. Awareness goes a long way, and International Women’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to raise this.
Jawad
International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate the incredible contributions of women in all fields, including the games industry, which has long been a male-dominated space. Despite this, women have made their mark and continue to prove their importance every day, driving innovation, creativity, and change.
Having worked in this industry for over 10 years, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with and learning from many talented and inspiring women. Their passion and resilience have not only shaped the industry but also challenged norms, making it a more inclusive and diverse space.
As an ally, I see this day as a reminder to actively support, uplift, and advocate for gender equality—not just today, but every day. It’s about fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of gender, feels valued, heard, and empowered to thrive.
Anthony
For me, International Women’s Day is meant to celebrate the women of the world. It’s a day to highlight all the achievements women have accomplished, understand the hardships they have conquered, and recognize the issues women around the world face.
Furthermore, it’s a day to empower future generations by giving opportunities for youth to discover women role models in fields that are generally male-dominated.
Sebastien
Having grown up in a household with an older sister I looked up to and a mother who was the leader of the family, International Women’s Day is about the women I’ve had the privilege of learning from. Whether family, friends, or professional mentors, the women in my life have been great leaders and mentors, and I wouldn’t be the man I am today without them.
Have you ever felt gender barriers in your field?
Francesca
I haven’t. However, there was one time when I interviewed for a completely different job at another company. My friend worked there and described the workplace as a bit of a “boy’s club”. She felt very excluded and advocated for me to join her because I was also a woman. They didn’t hire me and ended up hiring a man instead. Obviously, I don’t know his skill level, but she eventually left because of how toxic the work environment was. I think I ended up lucky not getting the job.
Tink
I wouldn’t say there have been barriers. It’s actually the opposite. I was once told I was hired for a job because I was a woman, since my colleagues were all men and that my presence was going to bring balance to the team.
But that can lead to an inferiority complex. I never know if I’m here because of my gender or because of my skills. So, I’d say it’s been pretty handy to be a woman in the gaming industry.
I do often ask myself : am I here because I’m a woman instead of my technical expertise?
Sanziana
I have experienced gender barriers, as many women have. Gender barriers are still very much present, even though we have a communal effort to reach an ideally equal society. You can see gender disparities everywhere, from work environment to health to research. The barriers I have seen are often subtle and indirect.
I started programming when I was twelve, and throughout high school, I was the only girl in my programming class. I sometimes felt like the odd one out, which made me question if I chose the right field or if I was up for the challenge. These doubts faded when I realized that I’m good at what I do.
For example, when I mention graduating from a Technical University, people sometimes act surprised. These subtle comments used to make me feel like I had to constantly prove myself to be perceived differently. But over time, I learned not to seek this type of validation as much.
What stereotypes persist in your field?
Francesca
I feel like women are often seen as empathetic and overly caring towards their work. I’m surprised that companies haven’t valued this in the past, as having empathetic people in managerial or leadership roles brings a different perspective. It’s beneficial to teamwork and helps projects grow.
Another stereotype is that we assume men will undermine or judge us, and we have our reasons for this assumption. However, I’ve been fortunate to work with men who are supportive and advocate for us. It’s nice to know we have men as allies as well.
Tink
Even if efforts are made to have better representation of women in videogames, we still convey many stereotypes, especially in dialogs. We still have very few games that show the gender’s full spectrum. There’s a lot of work left by developers to ensure better representation.
Tiffany
I’ve read that there is a stereotype about not wanting to hire women because they’re seen as not worth the resources invested in them, due to potential maternity leave and similar reasons. I hope we have moved past that point. Thankfully, I haven’t experienced this stereotype myself.
Sanziana
The game industry is still a male-dominated field. One stereotype I often encounter is the perception of women being bossy instead of assertive or confident. When I’m in a leadership position, I find myself paying more attention to how I act or phrase things to avoid coming across as too dominant. It’s a habit I’ve picked up, but I’m consciously working on getting rid of it. There are many unwritten rules that women must learn to navigate. However, breaking these rules can also feel quite empowering at times.
What changes have you observed since the beginning of your career?
Francesca
One thing I’ve noticed is that when I joined Behaviour – UK, there were only about four or five women. We ended up employing a lot more women, which felt much more inclusive. Many of those women are now in leadership roles. It’s inspiring to see women in leadership positions who can guide you and show that you can also reach those heights.
Seeing so many female streamers and women playing video games has been impactful. Watching women create their own space on social media and platforms like Twitch is inspiring. It opens the door to games for future generations, as people are introduced to gaming through different streamers. This diversity is incredible.
Tink
I’ve seen the creation of numerous programs that promote careers in the gaming industry. I know that Behaviour has participated in some of these programs. I feel there’s still a long way to go, but there are more and more instances of strong female protagonists, gamers and streamers.
When I was younger, in school, there weren’t many girls who played videogames. Nowadays though, it’s definitely more common.
What changes do you hope for future generations in society?
Francesca
Continuing in the way we are as a company, and if other companies could also support women and acknowledge them when they’ve done amazing work, would be great.
Women sharing their experiences on days like March 8 will make other women who come after them, and maybe experience the same things, feel included and supported. They will know there are others in their corner who have experienced similar situations.
Tiffany
I hope that future generations feel empowered to pursue any dream or career they want without worrying that their identity or who they are will hold them back.
Tink
I’d say there are already a lot of things in motion, and I can see that through my daughter who tells me all about it. She’s aware of these topics and I have the feeling we’re part of this generation that’s maybe still too attached to this binary notion of men and women, but I can see that my daughter has already overcome these stereotypes.
Sanziana
I’m quite an idealistic person. I believe that humans are inherently kind, and I really hope that people start approaching the subject of gender with more kindness.
My dream is of a world where people focus less on someone’s gender and more on who they are—their values, their morals, their skills, what makes them interesting. I was encouraged not to conform to what other people want me to be. I hope that future generations will continue to have this type of support from friends, family, and colleagues.
Who is a woman that inspires you and why?
Francesca
I have to say that Taylor Swift has been an icon throughout my whole life. I’ve listened to her music since I was a teenager, especially songs like “The Man”, “You Need to Calm Down”, and “How Did It End?” All those songs have been incredibly empowering. She writes about issues like representation as a woman, and she’s been very vocal about that. She’s an icon for this generation and the generations to come.
Tiffany
I was always inspired by my female teachers and professors. At the time, it wasn’t something I really thought about, but looking back, seeing them succeed in this field subconsciously encouraged me to believe that I could also find my place and succeed as a programmer, despite it being very male-dominated.
Tink
There’s a woman I really look up to, Lamya Essemlali. She’s the president of Sea Shepherd France, an organization that works towards the protection of marine flora and fauna. It’s a male-dominated environment, but she imposes and defends her ideas with great determination. You can see her passion, the stars in her eyes. I think it’s inspiring, and it makes you want to support her struggle.
Sanziana
Instead of choosing one person, I want to shout out any female game developer who has spoken publicly about their experiences in games, good or bad. It takes a lot of courage to do that, and it doesn’t come without hardships.
As a kid, I would see other women get on stage when they won an award or give an interesting talk at a conference. Seeing these things is priceless. It showed me that women belong in the games industry, no matter what others might say. This is what pushed me to pursue a career in making games, and it still inspires me to improve myself.
What action can be taken to encourage women to join the field like you did?
Tink
We need to share more stories of women who have achieved success in their field. It’s also essential to mentor girls at a young age. In my opinion, the next generation will be treating us differently.
Sanziana
Making games for women is a great way to get people hooked and interested.
Another important aspect is spreading awareness and education for all genders. There are still things to be improved, and it’s crucial not to hide the bad parts.
Personally, representation was the most important. Giving women the space, both in making games and in speaking about their experiences, is vital. It’s very powerful to see other women sharing their experiences.
