In recognition of Women’s History Month this March, USC Games will host an in-person event that delves into the rich history and promising future of women in the video game industry.
Under the banner of USC Games Presents: Women in Games Now, the event aims to explore the significant milestones and contributions made by women in the gaming sector.
The event is scheduled for Friday, March 8, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time, and it will take place at the Ray Stark Family Theatre on the campus of the University of Southern California.
In 2023, women accounted for nearly half of all gamers and 25% of game developers globally, as reported by Women In Games and Zippia. USC Games seeks to acknowledge and celebrate the impactful role women have played across diverse positions, from C-level executives to content creators and studio heads.
USC Games Presents: Women in Games Now will feature a distinguished panel of industry veterans representing some of the most recognizable brands in gaming. Among the current confirmed speakers are Jill Braff, vice president, head of Bethesda/ZeniMax & Casual Suite Studios at Microsoft.
Braff is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience, Braff’s career spans notable roles at Nintendo, Sega, Glu Mobile, and Xbox. She currently leads the mobile and casual games division at Microsoft’s Xbox and was appointed as the head of Bethesda and ZeniMax Media’s development teams in December 2023.
Another speaker will be Moonlit Beshimov, head of gaming, Americas partnerships and global industry strategy at Google. With almost 15 years in the gaming industry, Moonlit leads cross Google Gaming partnerships in the Americas and global strategic initiatives. Her expertise spans Google Play, Google Ads, Google Cloud, and YouTube.
More speakers are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Apart from the panel discussion, the event offers attendees a unique opportunity to network and engage with industry peers. Interested students and professionals can reserve their spot at Women in Games Now.
Martzi Campos, assistant professor and designer at USC School of Cinematic Arts Interactive Media & Games Division (IMGD), said in a statement, “USC Games is honored to be in the position to host some of the brightest minds in games and recognize the endless contributions women have made to the industry we all adore.”
She continued, “No game or platform would have been made possible without the many women at the helm of perfecting these experiences, and although there is still much work to be done to improve diversity, equity, and inclusivity in our industry moving forward, we want to continue to recognize women’s tremendous impact in games along the way.”
USC Games is a collaboration between the USC School of Cinematic Arts Division of Interactive Media & Games and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Department of Computer Science. The program has been ranked No. 1 for twelve years, as evaluated by the Princeton Review.