Li says women should not have to choose between a career and family. Photo: Tencent Interactive Entertainment Group
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you receive differential treatment based on your gender, Gaga Li’s advice is to “transform it into an advantage”.
“As you gain a deeper understanding of yourself, you’ll discover that what people perceive as a weakness can sometimes become your strength,” says Li.
“Women possess unique advantages in terms of thinking patterns, physical strength (they can go through the pain of childbirth!), and family roles.
“Also, women excel in communication, empathy, and meticulousness, which are highly valuable characteristics in the game industry, particularly in game publishing.
“These qualities enable women to effectively lead teams, understand the needs and ideas of users on a more personal level, and foster a better working atmosphere and team cooperation efficiency,” says Li who is the associate producer of Regional South East Asia Publishing for Tencent Interactive Entertainment Group.
What people perceive as a weakness can sometimes become your strength, says Li. Photo: Tencent Interactive Entertainment GroupTencent Interactive Entertainment Group (TIEG) is responsible for the R&D, operations, and development of the company’s interactive entertainment business including online gaming, live broadcasts, and offline eSports.
Li, who is based in Shenzhen, China, spearheads the publishing operations for interactive entertainment projects in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region.
With her extensive knowledge and passion for the gaming industry, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the success of the company’s titles in the SEA market. She supports the planning and execution of marketing campaigns, events, and community engagement initiatives.
Li admits that she rarely dwells on the challenges she has encountered as a woman in the gaming industry.
“Instead, I focus on what is most suitable for my position,” she says.
According to Li, it’s important for more women to be represented in the gaming industry.
“The number of women entering the gaming industry is steadily increasing, contributing to its growth and enhancing the gaming experience for all players.
“Currently, products targeting female users as the primary audience are on the rise. As is the number of female users.
“This makes the involvement of more women in the game industry, necessary to provide valuable insights and diverse perspectives and foster a more inclusive gaming environment and overall experience,” she says.
Gaga Li on a hike with her husband and child. Photo: Tencent Interactive Entertainment Group“We should warmly welcome more women with a passion for games to join the industry. Taking that initial step is crucial as it opens the door to a world of exciting opportunities and possibilities,” she adds.
Li agrees that education plays a pivotal role in promoting gender equality and diversity, on overall and specifically in the gaming industry.
“The gaming industry thrives on diversity and inclusion, so it is necessary for individuals to embrace and value diverse perspectives.
"Education plays a crucial role in developing an understanding of equality and a respect for diversity and this is beneficial whether one is doing game design, development, publishing, or marketing. For example, if you understand about gender equality, you can incorporate its principles into games,” she says.
“Educating people about gender equality and diversity cultivates greater awareness and understanding, and this leads to more inclusive and respectful portrayals of female characters and elements within games,” says Li.
Li encourages women to courageously embrace their passion, broaden their horizons and ultimately become the best version of themselves. Photo: Tencent Interactive Entertainment GroupTo young women who wish to go into the gaming industry, Li says to “make sure you’re fully passionate about it and have at least one game that you deeply recognise and will continue to play for a long time”.
There are four things that she says have helped her in her journey to success: firstly, value people who are honest with you; secondly, be sincere, open, focused and excited to try new things because you never know who you may meet; thirdly, start a hobby outside of work and stick to it; and fourthly, pay attention to your mental and physical health.
“I hope all woman can courageously embrace their passion, broaden their horizons and ultimately become the best version of themselves,” she concludes.
