Tom Leonard
Gamers Change Lives
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives. The Gamers Change Lives Podcast is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of an inspiring esports entrepreneur and learn how they solved one particular problem that everyone will ultimately face. I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. G...
Author
Tom Leonard
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Nov 22, 2025
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Unlock Learning: Gaming is the Secret Weapon for Students 22.11.2025 28:45
Season 6: New Voices, New Perspectives Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force fo...
Uplifting Voices: Diversity, Representation and Resilience in Gaming 15.11.2025 37:13
Season 6: New Voices, New Perspectives Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force fo...
From Player to Pioneer: Michael Rüsz's Two-Decade Esports Journey 08.11.2025 42:41
Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing some...
Learning Through Play: How Esports is Changing Education 01.11.2025 51:14
Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing some...
Beyond the Hype: How One Shoutcaster Found His Voice in Esports 05.07.2025 38:58
Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing some...
Code, Community and Mentorship: Women Leading Africa’s Game Development 28.06.2025 40:19
Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing some...
Beyond the Game: Building Community and Developing Talent in Esports 21.06.2025 27:55
Season 6: New Voices, New Perspectives Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force fo...
The Intersection of Esports and Game Development 14.06.2025 25:52
Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing some...
The Power of Tournament Organizers in African Esports 07.06.2025 31:55
Season 6: New Voices, New Perspectives Episode 2: The Power of Tournament Organizers in African Esports Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand...
Building Africa’s esports Future: A Conversation with Désiré Koussawo 31.05.2025 42:32
Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing some...
Mettlestate: Forging the Future of South African Esports 15.02.2025 51:37
Summary In this final episode of Season 5 the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard speaks with Barry Louzada and Carly Twaddle from South Africa about their gaming journeys, the evolution of e-sports in the region, the challenges faced in gaming infrastructure, and the growing presence of women in e-sports. They discuss the importance of community, job creation in the gaming industry, an...
Game Changers: African Women Making a Difference in Esports 14.12.2024 40:31
Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard engages with two women from Africa, Bambina and Dabi, to discuss their experiences in the eSports industry. They share their personal journeys into gaming, the challenges and opportunities they have encountered, and the importance of female representation in the gaming community. The conversation highlights the various ro...
Hiring to Build An Esports Empire in Saudi Arabia 30.11.2024 51:06
Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard speaks with Sultan and Nestor from Saudi Arabia about their journeys in the gaming and eSports industry. They discuss the rapid growth of eSports in Saudi Arabia, the establishment of Levels Gaming Group, and the importance of networking in securing jobs in the industry. Sultan shares insights on the hiring process and th...
Esports Without Borders: Landing Global Roles With Experts Tips and Coaching 23.11.2024 51:32
Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard engages with guests Adam Hobbs and Jihyeok Choi to explore the evolving landscape of the eSports job market. They discuss personal journeys into the gaming industry, the importance of career development and education in eSports, and the challenges and strategies involved in seeking international opportunities. The convers...
Shout and Connect: How Esports Shoutcasters Land Their Big Break 16.11.2024 1:00:57
In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard delves into the vibrant world of esports shoutcasting in Africa with three dynamic guests: Alex ‘Slymorh’ Boateng, a renowned Ghanaian esports shoutcaster; Elijah ‘Kal’ Jefia, an esports caster and analyst from Ace Gamers; and Calebson Agbenyega, the founder and CEO of Ace Gamers Esports Ghana. The discussion covers their persona...
The Hunt for Talent: How Can Networking Land You a Job in Esports 09.11.2024 40:28
Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard speaks with Ben Finnegan and Emma O'Neill from Feenix Group about their personal journeys into the gaming industry, the evolution of their agency, and the importance of networking and diversity in eSports. They discuss their current roles, the significance of real-world experience in hiring, and how self-promotion can l...
The Hunt for Talent: What Do Game Recruiters Look for in a Developer? 02.11.2024 1:00:23
Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard dives into e-sports and game development careers with Darren Butler , a gaming recruiter, and Oliver Collier , a gameplay programmer at Endreams. They explore their unique journeys into the gaming industry, covering what recruiters seek in developer candidates, the importance of research, and how networking can pave the w...
Hunt for Esports Talent: Perspectives from a Recruiter, Copywriter,and Intern 26.10.2024 44:19
Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard engages with guests Sheila Cruz, Jem Sagcal, and Yen ( Adrienne Moya ) from Tier 1 Entertainment to discuss the evolving landscape of eSports and job creation within the industry. Shiela is the people operations director, Jem is the senior marketing writer and Yen is a marketing intern all at Tier One Entertainment. They...
The Hunt for Talent: How Do Esports Coaches Recruit Top Players? 19.10.2024 46:17
Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Marlon Melo from Team Secret in Brazil and Adrian from the UK. They discuss their journeys in esports and their current roles in the industry. Marlon is the head coach and team manager for Team Secret's Rainbow Six Siege project, while Adrian is a player on the team. They talk about the responsibilities of thei...
Innovating for Change: The Story of Mountain Hub in Cameroon 30.03.2024 38:53
In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Martin Elonge, the director of Mountain Hub, a startup accelerator in Cameroon. They discuss the mission and programs of Mountain Hub, including ecosystem building, capacity building, and venture building. Martin explains the difference between startups and SMEs and emphasizes the importance of business skills for entr...
From Theory to Practice: Impact of Simulation Training for Immigrant Founders 23.03.2024 43:34
In this episode, Tom Leonard interviews Mai Phan, the founder of Propel, a startup that builds job simulations to better train nurses. Mai shares her journey from Vietnam to Norway and explains how she started Propel. She discusses the challenges nurses face in the healthcare industry and how Propel's simulations aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Mai also talks about her experienc...
The Business of Esports: Recruitment and Market Growth in the Gaming Industry 16.03.2024 46:39
In this episode, host Tom Leonard interviews Mirko Minenza, the Business Strategy Manager at Antal and a gaming enthusiast. They discuss Mirko's background in gaming and his journey into the gaming industry. They also explore the challenges and opportunities in the gaming industry, including the impact of the pandemic and the differences between European and US game development companies. Mirko sh...
Venture Building in African Markets: Insights on Building Sustainable Businesses 09.03.2024 55:04
In this episode, host Tom Leonard interviews Daniel Kwaku Merki, the founder of Boxplay Ventures, a venture builder and startup consultant in Africa. They discuss the role of Boxplay Ventures in supporting early-stage financing for startups and SMEs, as well as providing operational support and strategic guidance. Daniel shares his background in investment banking and how it influenced his decisio...
From the Classroom to the Real World: The Role of Universities in Accelerating Entrepreneurship 02.03.2024 53:44
In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Andreas Johansson, CEO of SSE Business Lab, a startup incubator, and accelerator based in Stockholm. They discuss the difference between incubators and accelerators, the selection criteria for participants, and the importance of founders in startup success. Andreas also shares insights on networking, coaching, and ment...
Tales of Impact: Game Development Drives Social Change in Africa 24.02.2024 57:29
In this episode, Tom Leonard talks with Glenn Gillis and Bella Rogerson from Sea Monster and Games for Change Africa. They discuss the power of games to create social impact and drive change. They also talk about the role of storytelling in games and the importance of collaboration within the gaming industry. The conversation highlights the work of Games for Change Africa in promoting impactful ga...
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