How to empower diverse perspectives at the Games for Change Festival

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“Whoever you are or wherever you’re from, we all have the power to evoke change, to go outside our comfort zone and evolve, so we can change the world into a better, more diverse, inclusive and equitable place” said Leo Olebe, Managing Director for Global Games, Play Partnerships at Google during his keynote at the 2022 Games for Change Festival. “Games can help us do just that.”

For close to two decades, the Games for Change Festival has been a central discussion hub for the conversation around the global social impact of games and immersive media. From July 13-16, developers, educators, researchers, students and other game-changers gathered in-person in New York City and virtually for curated talks, panels and arcades to network, share insights and build a blueprint for transforming the world.

This year’s event, sponsored by Google for Games, featured Olebe’s opening remarks, “Change Matters. Games Matter. You Matter,” which celebrated those around the globe working to create real change, and why games have such tremendous power. In addition, Careen Yapp, Strategic Partnerships, Stadia and Immersive Stream for Games, Chairman of the Board of Women in Games International, and ESA Foundation Board Member, highlights what you should know about applying to industry scholarships as a student, from an expert herself.

“Games have the global reach and impact to connect with people on a personal level, and be our catalyst for change,” Olebe said.

With the global games industry surpassing 3 billion players, the games we create can tell more