The nominees are in for GamesBeat’s inaugural BOSS Mode Awards.
Last month, GamesBeat opened up submissions for the BOSS Mode Awards, our new award series intended to celebrate and elevate women across games, media and technology. After a weeks-long review period that included public nominations and a careful inspection by our committee of industry-defining judges, we’ve narrowed the group of nominees down to a shortlist of 10 women leaders for each of three categories, listed below.
We’ll be announcing the winner of each category at GamesBeat Summit next month in Los Angeles, but every single one of the nominees below is more than deserving of the spotlight. The shortlist of nominees for each BOSS Mode Award category is a Who’s Who of female leaders making a difference in gaming, both for other women in the space and for the industry as a whole. Sponsors for the BOSS Mode Awards include Scopely, Webtoon, k-ID, Medal and the Entertainment Software Association.
“We launched the Boss Mode Awards to spotlight where global influence is increasingly being shaped. Gaming has emerged as connective tissue across AI, technology and entertainment — not merely reflecting culture, but actively creating it,” said GamesBeat CEO Gina Joseph. “This moment calls for a redefinition of leadership, and of how women in games are recognized within it. These leaders are driving the interactive economy with measurable impact, shaping what comes next across industries. Boss Mode is about elevating gaming to the global business stage and ensuring the individuals building its future are seen, understood, and recognized for the market-moving influence they deliver.”
Check out the full shortlist of nominees for each category below, organized alphabetically.
The BOSS Mode Woman of the Year Award honors a woman who has significantly influenced the industry over the past year. Nominees for this category include:
- Zoe Bell, executive producer of games at the New York Times
- Trinidad Hermida Black, chair of the board of directors of Black in Gaming
- Jen Donahoe, executive producer and host of Deconstructor of Fun and founder and chief strategist of JadeInferno Consulting
- Amy Huang, chief executive officer of Mattel163
- Eunice Lee, chief operating officer of Scopely
- Laura Miele, president of EA Entertainment
- Dr. Nika Nour, SVP and head of international business development of Savvy Games Group
- Susanna Pollack, president of Games for Change
- Maya Rogers, chief executive officer of The Tetris Company
- Rebecca Shepard, senior vice president, general manager and global play lead of Magic: the Gathering at Wizards of the Coast
The Future Boss Rising Star Award honors an up-and-coming woman in the industry who has managed to make a splash in a short time. Nominees for this category include:
- Noor Amin, senior tech game designer at Riot Games
- Kübra Gündoğan, co-founder and CEO of Loom
- Rachell Hofstetter, creator known as Valkyrae
- Keisha Howard, founder of Sugar Gamers
- Magali Huot, director of games marketing for mainstream games at Netflix
- Amanda Kruse, vice president of business development at Blumhouse
- Fatma Meheni, co-founder and studio director of Last Lion Studio
- Talia Shmuel, director of slate strategy at Scopely
- Adele Simpson, executive vice president of performance at Green Man Gaming
- Sharon Wang, product marketing manager at Meta
The Final BOSS Award for Lifetime Achievement highlights a legend who has been in the industry for over 10 years and has made a lasting positive impact on the space. Nominees for this category include:
- Kim Centeno, vice president of product marketing and strategy at Blizzard Entertainment
- Susan Cummings, chief executive officer of 10Six Games
- Felicia Day, actress, producer and writer
- Vicki Dobbs Beck, interim chief product officer of Lucas Learning
- Kate Edwards, chief executive officer of Geogrify
- Jennifer Hale, voice actress
- Amy Hennig, co-president of the New Media Division at Skydance Media
- Helene Juguet, managing director of Ubisoft Film and TV Paris
- Holly Longdale, vice president and executive producer of World of Warcraft
- Jade Raymond, producer and game industry executive
We’ll be celebrating the winners of the 2026 BOSS Mode Awards live and in-person at GamesBeat Summit next month. To secure your spot at the event, register for a ticket — or joining GB MAX to ensure your seat at GamesBeat events this year.