Gaming is in Maya Rogers’ blood.
Rogers’ father, Henk, is responsible for the global success of Tetris, securing the rights to distribute the game outside Russia in 1988. Since 2014, Maya Rogers has served as the CEO of the Tetris company. The younger Rogers has become a bona fide gaming industry legend in her own right, successfully leading Tetris into a second renaissance bolstered by new releases like Tetris 99 and the 2023 “Tetris” feature film.
But while Rogers grew up in a household infused with gaming, working in the industry wasn’t always her plan. On an episode of the BIG Show, GamesBeat’s new podcast capturing industry leaders’ candid opinions and insights in a relaxed, after-hours environment, Rogers shared her trajectory into gaming — including her mother’s insistence that she develop experience working for the American division of Honda Motor Company for her first job out of college.
“My parents never really pushed us into joining whatever family business there was — who knows if it was going to be around when we were adults?” Rogers said during the podcast episode. “But they did show me what it was to be entrepreneurial and have their own business, and paved the way. So, I think that spirit really was instilled upon our family.”
During the 28-minute episode, Rogers and GamesBeat lead news writer Alexander Lee (that’s me!) touched on a wide range of topics, from the ways Tetris balances nostalgia and brand loyalty with a healthy dose of innovation to her trailblazing role as one of the gaming industry’s most prominent woman leaders.
“We all have a responsibility to change what leadership looks like everywhere, right?” Rogers said. “It’s not just video games.”
To listen to the show, click on the Spotify player above — or you can click here to watch the full video if you’re a GB MAX member. Stay tuned for more episodes from the first full season of the BIG Show.