My journey to becoming the CEO of games provider BGaming was not a carefully plotted course with clearly defined progression points. When I started, there was no grand vision in place. I did not know what type of leadership I would subscribe to or the roles I would play. All I knew was I wanted to remain authentic to my values, challenge conventions and not allow anyone to put me into a pre-defined box.
I can’t imagine many of us grew up dreaming of becoming the CEO of an iGaming company. However, like most people in the industry, it has become somewhere that I have found a home and an environment where I can excel and make a difference.
I’ve also discovered an industry that allows creativity to flourish and celebrates diversity and freedom of expression. As CEO, I want to help change the wider perception of the industry and highlight its positive work.
Key principles for leadership
My first role was at SoftSwiss in 2014, where I held various roles in player account management, product and project management. Within four years, I would leave to join BGaming. I became an executive director before securing my current role as CEO in 2022.
It was a rollercoaster period and those initial few years provided me with essential values that I have carried forward through my career.
A crucial lesson I have learned is if you want to succeed in leadership, you need to operate with a few core principles and rules. Firstly, honesty is always the best policy. You need to be brutally honest, not just with your team but with yourself. As a leader, your team needs to trust you and they need to know you will not lie to them or fluff things up. If something isn’t working, it needs to be addressed, and there needs to be total respect across the board.
This goes both ways. It can be very easy for a leader to have blind spots and you have to trust your team to help point them out. Likewise, you should be able to be honest with yourself, look in the mirror sometimes, and address any issues with your performance or output.
Second, stick to your word. If my words and actions don’t align, then there is no point in even trying. Not honouring your word or being dependable for people is a recipe for failure in the long term.
And finally, common sense. It is very easy to get suffocated by success and to believe your own hype. Staying grounded is essential to success. Business takes place in the real world and keeping your feet on the ground during this process is important.
Challenging conventions
I’ve come across people who claim that I’m “advocating for a change in representation”. To be honest, I don’t entirely view it that way. Instead, I see myself as someone who is just leading by example.
We have set our standards at BGaming and want to spread positive and strong messages throughout the industry. We want to challenge stereotypes and address misconceptions that hold the industry back.
Take, for example, the misconception that iGaming is a male-dominated space. That’s simply not true. Look around. At every event I attend and every meeting I have, I am surrounded by strong, inspirational women who will not be defined by what people think of the industry. iGaming has evolved and it is time our perception of it does, too. The C-suite rulebook has been ripped up and I am proud to be a part of that movement.
There is also a misconception that the iGaming industry is nothing more than a licence to print money where people operate in the shadows. I would be burying my head in the sand not to acknowledge these people exist, but there is much more good in the industry than bad. I regularly work alongside people looking to make positive changes to the iGaming industry and the communities in which they operate.
If I look at our work to battle these perceptions within the BGaming leadership team, I am incredibly proud. Take our ‘When Arts Meets Gaming’ initiative, for example. We team up with local artists when attending an exhibition to showcase their talents and highlight the importance of art in the community, something I am extremely passionate about.
iGaming is an industry that constantly creates and finds new ways to explore and celebrate cultures. As a leader, I want to be a part of this and help the industry push boundaries and celebrate diversity.
A voice for change
My leadership style is firmly rooted in my key principles. Authenticity, a grounded approach and transparency with my team have helped get BGaming this far, and I will continue to be a voice for change, helping to redefine perceptions of the industry and what leadership looks like.
The previous Female Founders Column edition looked at the expansion of iGaming in Africa with Lois Bright.
CEO Marina Ostrovtsova discusses her BGaming leadership style, and challenging the notion that iGaming is male dominated.