Women in Gaming on What They Wish They’d Known Earlier

^{Whether it’s a matter of sisterhood or professional support, successful women at G2E seemed more than happy to support each other. (Matteo Secci / ZUMA Press Wire)}

LAS VEGAS – One of the most valuable things I experienced at my first G2E this year was connecting with some remarkable women who made me think differently about my career. I asked them all what advice they would give their younger selves.

When I started working in gaming, my first boss was tough and professional, yet kind and thoughtful while somehow managing three children long distance while putting in 12-hour days interviewing poker players at the WSOP. In retrospect, I wish I had picked her brain more.

At G2E, held at the Venetian Expo Center, I had the chance to ask some of those questions of four women whose careers in the gaming industry have taken different paths: Katie Kohler, senior iGaming communications lead at BetMGM; Jessica Welman, deputy director of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling; Pamela Buckley, executive vice president of Global Gaming Women; and Nicole Russo, operations director at UNLV’s International Center for Gaming Regulation.

^{Virtual roundtable: At G2E, our writer turned to Katie Kohler, Jessica Welman, Pamela Buckley and Nicole Russo (from left) for lessons from their unexpected paths through gaming.}

Together, they provided good advice about learning the business, resisting the urge to measure yourself against others, owning what you bring to the table and remaining open to a career that may look nothing like the one you originally imagined.

Forge Your Own Path

I ran into Katie Kohler in the media lounge. I’ve known her for years, and I’ve always admired how good she is at what she does with a brand that’s grown rapidly.

Kohler started her career as a beat reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News, before finding her way to PR and marketing agencies, which eventually led her into gaming communications.

Her first tip for a G2E first-timer like me was to become a student of the business.

“Learn the products and become a lifelong student of the industry,” Kohler said. “You can't discover and tell great stories about something you don't fully understand.”

That made sense, but oh my, just seeing the speaker lineup and walking the expo floor at G2E made me realize how much there is to know.

“Sit in on meetings,” Kohler told me. “Ask questions, network with people in your organization and the industry.”

I also met Welman in the media room. Her career took her from content and editing roles at Bluff Magazine, the WSOP, and SBC Gaming to recently becoming a responsible gambling advocate.

“I would love to go back and tell 23-year-old me not to gauge your success by the other women alongside you in the industry,” Welman said. “I was so fixated on what others were accomplishing that I didn't see all the opportunities available to me that just fell into a different mold.”

Kohler echoed that advice. “Your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's.”

Know Yourself, and Self-Advocate

Kohler and Welman were just the first two people who I crossed paths with and found immediate good guidance and inspiration.

I met Buckley outside the Global Gaming Women’s Lounge, where she had created a room that served as a G2E retreat for mind, body, and spirit. The room had a true feeling of community and gave me a moment to exhale. In our brief interaction, Buckley struck me as remarkably organized while maintaining an aura of positivity.

“I would tell my younger self to stop worrying so much about what other people think and have the confidence to be my authentic self,” Buckley said. “There is tremendous value in understanding who you are, what you bring to the table, and being comfortable owning that.”

Her advice echoed both Kohler and Welman. Kohler said women shouldn’t be afraid to talk about themselves and their work. Welman emphasized the importance of finding advocates, but also of becoming your own.

The gaming industry can require a thick skin, Welman cautioned, particularly because much of its customer base remains male.

“That doesn't mean you need to be a people pleaser or a pushover,” Welman said. “Speak up for yourself if there is an instance where you see an opportunity for change or growth.”

Buckley’s message to women entering gaming was similarly direct: Be curious, remain willing to learn, build genuine relationships and don’t be afraid to be yourself.

“You don’t have to have everything figured out, and you don’t have to change who you are to succeed,” she said.

Stay Open to the Unexpected

Russo’s career may be the clearest example of how unexpected the journey can be.

She was recently named to the Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 under 40 Class of 2027. This honor was presented by The Innovation Group in collaboration with Global Gaming Business and iGaming Business.

Russo started as pre-med in college before working in poker as the marketing and promotions manager for iGaming at WSOP.com. From there, she moved through media and affiliate marketing roles before arriving in regulatory research and education.

Although her jobs may appear different, Russo said each has drawn on many of the same core skills.

“You never know where this industry's going to take you, and there are a million different microeconomies and opportunities,” Russo said. “Just take a chance and say yes to opportunities. You never know where you're going to end up.”

That willingness to follow an unconventional path ran through all four conversations. There is no perfect career map. You learn the business, ask questions, find people who support you and remain open to opportunities you couldn’t have anticipated.

Before we finished talking, Kohler offered one final way to tell whether that path is taking you somewhere worthwhile.

“Pay attention to how you feel on Sunday night,” Kohler said. “If you're excited for the week ahead, you're in the right place. Never forget where you came from, hold onto your values, and keep the people who are proud of you close. That's what carries you through.”

Of all the things I brought home from my first G2E, that may be the advice that stays with me longest.

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