For me, International Women’s Day is a chance to reflect. Not only on progress that has been made in igaming, but to recognise people and experiences that helped shape my career. When I first started in igaming in 2010, it was definitely daunting. Not just because I was at times the only woman in the room, but because this industry is incredibly fast-paced and not one for the faint hearted. It takes courage, passion, and if I am being brutally honest, a lot of sacrifice to succeed at a high level in this space. For that, you need a strong mind, and a strong network. You need people to guide you through it.
There have, of course, been challenges being part of an under-represented group (which was much more so back then), but I think I was lucky. I was lucky to align myself with people who valued expertise, ideas and encouraged growth. Not only that, but they were also incredibly generous when it came to sharing knowledge. My own personal journey was defined less by barriers, and more by opportunity. Opportunity that was created by people who have been there and done it. Back then, amazing mentorship programmes like Global Gaming Women weren’t a thing yet – so it’s not surprising that a lot of people who helped get my feet in the door were actually men. They were the people at C-level and decision-makers. I know not everyone has been as lucky in their personal journey.
Mentorship matters
That’s why I think there is a huge need for more mentorship that isn’t defined by gender. For me, it appeared more organically – and informally. We had a couple of large-scale clients to kickstart us into igaming, so people were more inclined to have a conversation with me which was helpful. So, I grew my network from conversations after meetings, and from leaders who trusted me with their projects far sooner than I expected based on a couple of big names we managed to get on our books.
As we evolve and grow as an industry, we need more people to step up and take on more of that mentorship role. That will encourage a diverse group of people from all types of backgrounds to be able to thrive in this space. We all have a responsibility to play a part in that, to pay-it-forward to the next generation of talent in igaming.
That’s why I started the Digital Footprints Accelerator Fund, and mentor programme, and I hope that as a female founder, some of the fantastic, aspirational women in igaming will join me.
A big worry for people when they start is visibility, but that can be resolved – the deeper issue is access. You need to speak to the people with the keys to the castle. Our initiative was specifically aimed at startups for a reason. There were lots of accelerator funds surrounding investment, but money isn’t always the issue – connections are. Being in a room with the right people can be of far more value than a cash investment. We live in a world where capital is king. Let’s see if we can grow together and add as much value as possible to make igaming better for everyone.
As managing director of Digital Footprints, Sharon McFarlane has built a digital marketing agency from the ground up to serve over 100 clients worldwide. Established in 2010, this award-winning agency was created specifically for the igaming ecosystem, servicing affiliates, operators and suppliers.
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The post IWD: The power of mentorship and growing together in igaming first appeared on EGR Intel.
As EGR’s International Women’s Day series continues, Digital Footprints managing director Sharon McFarlane advocates for support and access to key decision-makers to accelerate career development
The post IWD: The power of mentorship and growing together in igaming first appeared on EGR Intel.