Gamers Change Lives

Grant Rousseau, the Global Director of Esports and European Director of Operations for Team Falcons, the biggest esports organization in the Middle East, recently appeared on the Gamer’s Change Lives podcast with host Tom Leonard. During the conversation, Rousseau discussed a range of topics, including how to start an esports team, how to recruit players, how to manage teams as businesses, event s...

Today’s guest is Boban Totovski, the Secretary General of the International Esports Federation. Our conversation includes talking about the role of International Organizations such as the International Esports Federation. How do they: Encourage development of national organizations Provide education and training Promote youth and development programs Strengthen the ties among national organization...

In today’s episode we talk with Gerald Solomon, the Executive Director of the North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) and founder of the Orange County High School Esports League. Gerald shares how he was inspired to use esports as a way to reach kids who were underserved, disenfranchised, and disengaged from traditional education. NASEF's goal is to reinvigorate classrooms and engage k...

Welcome to Season 3 of the Gamers Change Lives Podcast: Building a Business, Esports 101. In Season One we talked about jobs. In Season Two we talked about sources of funding for esports ‘Follow the Money’. And now in Season Three we will be talking about Building an Esports Business. Season 3 is all about building a thriving esports business, and we've got some special features to help you along...

This podcast is an not a government production. The views expressed do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Military Academy, United States Army, Department of Defense or the US Government. Today’s guest is Victor Castro, the US. Director of @Army West Point Esports and Deputy Director of the West Point Simulation Center. In the Gamer's Change Lives podcast, host Tom Le...

Welcome to Season 3 of the Gamers Change Lives Podcast: Building a Business, Esports 101. In Season One we talked about jobs. In Season Two we talked about sources of funding for esports ‘Follow the Money’. And now in Season Three we will be talking about Building an Esports Business. Season 3 is all about building a thriving esports business, and we've got some special features to help you along...

We have five guests today: Kwesi Hayford President of the Esports Association, Ghana with the team he took to the IESF World Championship in Bali in December 2022: Emmanuel Manu-Gyamfi (NELLmvp), Edmond Addo Mensah (shyBOY), Daniel Sungna Iddi (SPAMA), Boris Osisiadan-Nimpong (Atunaye). Micdad Morgan Agbotui (MUFASA) also went to Bali but was not able to appear on this episode. Hear the amazing st...

Our guest today on the podcast is Jeremy Utley, the Director of Executive Education at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. The Stanford d.school. Our discussion included: Jeremy talks about ideas. Where they come from, and how to develop skills to generate more. This is the concept that he describes in his book, written with Perry Klebahn, called “ Ideaflow ”. There really isn’t su...

Our guest today on the podcast is Ronny Lusigi, the CEO of IndexG Esports in Nairobi, Kenya. Plus for the first time our podcast Executive Producer, Reginald Nsowah, is joining the conversation from Ghana. Our discussion included: Ronny’s talks about his journey into esports, with a start in traditional sports in Kenya. He received a sports scholarship to attend Chavakali High School in the wester...

Today’s guest is Rebecca Longawa. Highly regarded as a maven in the esports industry, she a global speaker and founder of the esports consultancy firm, Happy Warrior. Our discussion included monetization in esports, mentorship and networking, plus women in esports today. Rebecca is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota which has a robust esports community in the upper mid-west part of the United State...

What a year we have had in 2022! Our first episode on February 15 started our journey talking about how esports can create jobs around the world. We have been fortunate to have had so many guests who generously gave us their time and their stories. Over 30 episodes – yes 30! – we have hosted 32 guests from 19 countries from every part of the world. We have learned so many things, about teams, tour...

We have two guests today: Nick Smith and Romain Tixier – Co-founders of GosuRabbit a next gen marketing agency based in the UK. Nick is in the UK and Roman is in Lyon, France. Our discussion included: The story of how both Nick and Romain became interested in the business side of esports after a few years of competitive playing. “One night my dad came downstairs, me playing World of Warcraft, and...

Our guest is Mohamed Karar. He is a Venture Partner at Launch Africa, one of the most active early-stage venture capital firms in Africa. Once Mohamed, talking to us from Cape Town, South Africa, learned what a venture capital partner does, he knew that was perfect for him. After meeting Zachariah George at Launch Africa, he was one of their very first hires. Even without experience in finance bef...

Our guest is Soufiane EL FILALI. He is Marketing & Communication Director at La Fédération Royale Marocaine des Jeux Électronique – FRMJE (The Royal Moroccan Federation of Electronic Games) Our discussion included: Soufiane describes the journey of establishing the Royal Moroccan Federation of Electronic Games. The Royal Moroccan Federation of Electronic Games is part of the policy of social, econ...

We have two guests today: Kieran Sanford. Co-Founder of ForG4MERSake in London, and Baba Dioum, the Manager SOLO Esport in Dakar Senegal. Our discussion included: How Kieran and Baba each came to esports from different paths. They each talk briefly about the state of esports in their home countries, the UK and Senegal. Baba was recently invited to an esports conference hosted by the Royal Federati...

Our guest is Tushaar Garg from India. He is the Founder and CEO @StreamO as well as the Founder and CEO of Irony Esports. Our discussion included: Tushaar talks about how large the market is in India, for those playing and those watching video games. Note: it is huge! From his beginning as a championship tennis player, Tushaar worked in traditional sports with the IPL – the Indian Premier League C...

Our guest is Frank Sliwka, Global Esports, Gaming & Digital Entertainment Opinion Leader, Keynote Speaker, COO, and Hon. Professor from Singapore. Our discussion included: Frank’s introduction to esports while watching the excitement of gamers, bringing them to one of the largest consumer electronics shows in Europe. “I saw these kids playing competitive gaming – what are they doing? It’s so fanta...

Our guest is Jon Satterley from Melbourne Australia. He is CEO & Co-Founder at Fortress Australia. Our discussion included: How a passion for heavy metal music and the world of entertainment led to the creation of a cathedral to games culture. Jon’s career spanning music, entertainment, and video games, including the value of spending 3 years cleaning toilets. How Jon took his experience as Chief...

Our guest is Malph Minns from the UK. He is Managing Director at Strive Sponsorship. Our discussion included: The difference between esports sponsorship and that of traditional sports and other entertainment industries based on Malph’ s extensive experience over the years. The importance of knowing your industry, knowing your audience, knowing your fan base. Is there such a thing as a typical espo...

Our guest is Dave Harris from Australia. He is Managing Director at Guinevere Capital. He is also an Investor and former Chairman of EXCEL Esports and a Founding Partner at League of Legends Circuit Oceania. Our discussion included: How investing in esports works, including ways for a person seeking investment can have the best chance of securing that all important deal. Dave’s start in esports co...

Our guest is Christian Bishop, Director of Twitch Properties - Gaming & Esports. Our discussion included: Christian’s esports journey from venues, esports arenas, production companies, tournaments/leagues, teams and now on the platform side. “Going through the grind.” In Person Esports Events - TwitchCon Revenue streams from in person events: The difference between TwitchCon and other events The 5...

Sidick Bakayoko from Côte d'Ivoire is the Founder and CEO at Paradise Game. Our discussion included: Sidick’s background including how he learned that being number one in a startup is a lot different than being #2 or #3. Paradise Game Paradise Game's mandate is to entertain, educate and empower young Africans through video games and esports. How FEJA: Electronical and Video Games Festival of Abidj...

Our guests are Trev Keane, Director Esports Strategy: EPIC Global and Advisor/Judge at Stadia Ventures, and Cholwe Shabukali, Co- Founder and Managing Director at Team Gematrix and a Zambian Esports Pioneer. Our discussion includes: Cholwe’s background including how being selected for an accelerator program at BongoHive started her on turning a passion into a business. Trev’s background recalling...

Today’s guests is Luca Tucconi from Cape Town, South Africa. He is the National Gaming & Esports Specialist at Red Bull. Before that he founded ORENA, South Africa's Premier Esports Tournament & Events Agency. Our discussion included: Luca’s background including how he saw a void in the local tournament scene in South Africa and decided to fill it. Red Bull South Africa: Where esports fits into th...

The Gamers Change Lives Podcast Season Two: “Follow the Money” Do you have big goals for your esports team, or tournament, or enterprise? I’ll bet the answer is a big “YES!” We are gamers, right? We know what thinking big and winning feels like. But the one thing holding us back from reaching our goals is money. There is never enough investment to start out or grow our business. We don’t have enou...