When I announced my decision to leave a great role at Betting Jobs in 2019 to join Push Gaming, I was met with bewildered looks. For most people, the decision made no sense. Why would I leave a comfortable job that paid very well to explore a whole new area of the industry where I had zero experience?
I understood the gaming industry from a recruitment perspective. I’d had a lot of success, built a solid career and forged a strong network of contacts. The supplier side, though? That was entirely new territory. I was also stepping away from my position as a director and taking a sizeable pay cut in the process.
However, to me, this was just another example of something I had always done: backed myself. I have never been one to shy away from a new challenge and I fully believed, perhaps naively in some people’s eyes, that I would go on to succeed.
A route to the top
Like most iGaming professionals, I entered the industry unexpectedly. If we’re honest, very few of us grow up dreaming of working with online slot games and sports betting platforms. I left Ireland in 2010 after working for a recruitment company called Manpower and joined Betting Jobs, one of the top two niche iGaming recruitment agencies.
I spent nine very successful years there, climbing the ladder and advancing to senior leadership. I was fortunate to work alongside some incredible CEOs and industry experts early in my career, many of whom helped shape who I am today. I built a strong reputation, earned a good salary and managed major accounts.
Everyone I knew, both professionally and personally, was stunned that I would walk away from a secure, high‑profile role to start almost from scratch on the supplier side at Push Gaming. I knew the recruitment side of the business inside out, but the supplier side was a different beast.
I was incredibly naive about what the job would involve. I thought it would be to agree on commercials, do the deal and walk away. I didn’t have a clue what an integration was and I had no idea I was going to have to fight so hard for positioning with every release and that there would be so much pressure.
However, if I knew anything, it was that I would figure it out. As I have done, time and time again throughout my career, I backed myself to succeed. I was eager to learn, and if I have learned anything, it is that the desire to learn is half the battle.
Asking stupid questions
One of the key lessons these changes have taught me is that the moment you let go of the need to impress everybody is when you really begin learning. Your ego can be a huge barrier to success, and I’ve seen people fail not because they aren’t talented, but because they are too proud to admit they don’t know something.
Throughout my time at Push Gaming, I witnessed the company undergo significant growth. We went from having around 45 staff members with a new in-house platform and no existing integrations to around 300 with 80 direct integrations. We secured hundreds of partnerships in the regulated market and eventually saw the company acquired.
Achieving this was extremely different, but I will credit aspects of it to an ability few people want to talk about: not being afraid to ask stupid questions.
It is a skill I would encourage everyone to develop: asking questions without ego. Whether you are new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, asking questions and learning are essential to progress. When I joined Games Inc as MD/CEO last year, the CTO would often explain something technical to me and I would have to stop them and ask exactly what they meant.
A supportive industry
In my experience, the people worth learning from will never judge you for not knowing something, but they will judge you for making preventable mistakes because you were too proud to ask for support.
Another key lesson I’ve learned during my years at various levels in the industry is that the notion that everyone at the senior level is hyper-competitive is nonsense. Yes, the industry is competitive, but it is also collaborative, and those at the top are always looking for more insights. I’ve received support and mentorship from many of my peers, but that support only came because I was brave enough to ask for it.
I also speak to many of my competitors on a regular basis and we share support and help each other out. The industry is full of incredibly talented people and the only barrier to them, in most instances, is yourself.
Important lessons
If you’re new to the industry or someone in the middle of their career looking for a little bit of advice, then this is what I have to offer: never be the smartest person in the room and, if you are, get out of that room quickly.
Likewise, never be afraid to make yourself redundant. Holding back your skills or knowledge won’t benefit you in any way – share your experiences and benefit your team. If you are no longer needed at a company, you will almost definitely be needed at another.
Finally, be curious and have fun. The iGaming industry is full of brilliant people and it is one that encourages curiosity and risk-taking. Never be afraid to ask someone what something means and show a genuine interest in the industry. I will always want to work with people who have a genuine interest and passion – you cannot fake that.
And don’t forget to enjoy it. The industry has presented me with incredible opportunities. I get to travel to amazing events, chat with brilliant people and have a laugh. There are not many industries that offer you that, so embrace it.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/people/fiona-hicket-games-inc-asking-stupid-questions-founders-column/
